Is a Volvo XC60 PHEV a good fit for me?

Hi,

I am looking at purchasing a Volvo XC60 PHEV T6, a 2022/2023 model, with approx. pure electric range of 70km. My daily commute is from Cork city to Ringaskiddy (20km) three days per week, whereby I don’t get much over 60km/h most of the journey, then Cork city to Bantry (80km) twice a week, which is relatively standard driving, some overtaking when possible.

Does this car make any sense for what I need, given the variance in journeys? Also does the hybrid behave differently when driving the Bantry journey, or will the range be eaten up straight away?

Simeon (Cork)

Feb 2025 Filed under: hybrid

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Expert answer

Hi Simeon,

I think a plug-in hybrid such as this could work well for you, though best to go into the purchase realising that the car is likely to go no further than 40-50km on electric power most of the time. Nonetheless, if you can charge it up at home on cheap night-rate electricity then it should cost you very little to run. You’d likely do the Cork to Ringaskiddy and back trip barely using the engine.

By default, the car will use the electric motor and ability as much as possible, so on longer runs the drive battery charge will be quickly used up and the engine will be on most of the time from then on. It can affect responsiveness a little.

The Volvo has a setting you can activate to hold the battery charge, or top it up, using the engine as a generator while it drives along. This is useful if you want to have battery charge for later in the journey to allow for electric-only driving, but it isn’t any more efficient as it uses more fuel from the tank to do this.

If you can charge up at home or work, I’d suggest you’re a perfect candidate for an electric car. A vast majority of them could manage the Cork to Bantry return journey without needing to be charged up.

Shane O' Donoghue - Complete Car Advisor