Volvo XC90 T8 Twin Engine: Jet Set without range

Volvo XC90 T8 Twin Engine: Jet Set without range

Feel

Classy, ​​classy and more classy. No other term in my vocabulary describes it better. The XC90 looks and feels classy. The glass gear knob for the automatic transmission, the start knob with the grooved, polished aluminum edge, the fine leather, the light carbon covers - everything is of the highest quality. You sit high in the XC90, but the overview is limited - especially in city traffic. Fortunately, the 360-degree camera works well, otherwise parking in the city center would be pure hell. The big Swede is operated via a huge, central touch display, which is slightly tilted towards the driver. Pretty. The instruments are of course fully digital – of course. There is enough space in the 7-seater in the first two rows. You don't want to drive adults in the third row. Children can still endure this.

Drive

Your jaw drops a little when you step on the gas in the XC90 T8 with a plug-in hybrid engine. The 2-liter petrol engine with turbo and supercharging pushes forward very firmly with a slight growl. 320 hp. And you can feel it. The moose has steam. Plus the finely working 8-speed automatic, which shifts the gears up and down smoothly. The chassis is great. Despite the gigantic 22-inch model, the damping absorbs hard, short impacts just as cleanly as long bumps. If you let the moose fly in dynamic mode, there is still some body roll, but the steering provides enough feedback to be able to pilot the noble bomber accurately. A fine, round thing. Just the consumption, a shame. 11.3 liters on average. Plus the small tank and the high weight. Vienna – Graz – Vienna, a full tank. Just over 400 kilometers. It feels like you get to know every gas station in the area twice in the XC90. And the hybrid battery runs out so quickly that you don't know why you're carrying it with you. Sure, on paper it says consumption is 2.1 liters and only 49 grams of carbon dioxide. But this is pure, shameless fibbing, which is unattainable in everyday life.

Load

Seven seats, at least 640 liters of trunk volume and enough legroom and headroom are the Volvo's strengths. During our test, we were even able to transport half a disassembled motorcycle with the rear seats folded down. Shopping trips to the Swedish car dealership are actually a must for an XC90 driver. 

Conclusion

The noble elk knows how to impress with its high-quality ambience and a powerful engine. There is also enough space to be able to travel as a family over longer weekends. One drawback is the modest range, both electrically and in the mix. Otherwise a great car, but the price is just absurdly high for average earners and dramatically limits the customer base.