It’s been nearly a decade since Volvo first started rolling out plug-in hybrids in the US, and while the formula for them hasn’t changed much, there are some important details.
One of them is that Volvo has been making the batteries bigger every few years, leading to more electric range, improved hybrid driving capabilities and an overall better combination of attributes.
Another thing that has changed in that time is that Volvo is getting serious about going fully electric. They aim to have a completely electric product line by 2030, with Electric cars will not be more expensive than gasoline cars by 2025.
Volvo just announced this week that S60 will be discontinued, with 2025 being the final model year for this South Carolina-built sedan. It will go away when that factory becomes Volvo’s first globally to go fully electric, creating space for both Volvo EX90 and at the end of that year, North Star 3.
Top up Volvo S60 2024
That said, the S60 Recharge plug-in hybrid just keeps getting better, with a significantly larger 18.8 kwh (14.7 kwh usable) battery pack coming in 2023. This figure up from 11.6 kwh total capacity and 9.1 kwh usable capacity by 2022, and it increases the EPA’s rated range from 22 miles to 41 miles. It’s Volvo’s highest-mileage plug-in hybrid. And when that plug charge is used up, the Recharge is slightly more efficient than before, at a total of 31 mpg.
A few months ago, I spied the S60 Recharge—the 2023 model, just before the late-arriving 2024s arrived. Decision? It’s a bit confusing about its hybrid nature but feels more electric when compared to previous Volvo PHEVs I’ve driven. If you’re on the fence about a Volvo plug-in hybrid, this could be the one that can fully meet your commuting and off-road needs.
Top up Volvo S60 2024
Top up Volvo S60 2024
Top up Volvo S60 2024
S60 charging range: 40 miles in cold weather
I went through three charges during the time it took to charge the S60, not always seeing the range I expected. As we’ve emphasized before with plug-in hybrids and electric vehicles, when you don’t utilize waste heat from the engine, using heat in the cabin comes at a pretty high cost in terms of lost miles.
With the climate control set to 72 degrees on a 44-degree evening and the car starting in Pure (electric) mode, I drove just 33 miles before the S60 started the engine and shifted. to Hybrid mode. The route includes a roughly equal mix of 65 mph highway driving and 30-50 mph boulevards with some hills and traffic lights. Then, on a drizzly night with a temperature of 47 degrees and the cabin temperature still at 72 degrees, I did 36 miles in a mixed distance that included 4 city miles plus the rest at fast pace. 55-70 mph on the highway.
To raise the question of the impact of the climate control system, on a clear 46-degree evening, I drove through a charge without using the cabin heating—just the seat heating and steering wheel—and traveled 44 miles (about 20% farther) while recreating the previous loop. That distance is about 20% farther without using climate control. So, given the year-round driving range and harsh conditions of the year, 40 miles is doable in mild climates.
Interface-wise, the S60 Recharge doesn’t have a ‘B’ shift mode like some hybrids or EVs, but it does have a one-pedal driving setting, in an on-screen submenu. I mostly kept it at the standard light regen setting as it’s not a particularly consistent one-pedal mode.
Top up Volvo S60 2024
Top up Volvo S60 2024
Top up Volvo S60 2024
The S60 Recharge has dreamy seats, a comfortable cabin, and a quiet ride
The climate system is excellent and warms the cabin quickly without starting the engine (but you’ll have to pay extra). The S60 also has handsome front seats, with extendable thigh cushions that make this 6-foot-6 driver feel right at home, along with excellent back support and the warmth of the heated seats. behind the shoulder blades.
Getting in and out of the back seat is easy enough, although the low ride height combined with the horizontal roofline makes installing a child seat — and helping kids get in and out of the back seat — more difficult than I expected.
Once underway, in electric mode, it’s clear to see how hard Volvo has worked to limit road noise. The S60 rides with the same firmness as a European sports sedan, but its dampers absorb the little things without affecting the cabin. The interior and trim are suitably dark on this Black Edition car, but it all has a suitably premium feel.
Top up Volvo S60 2024
Top up Volvo S60 2024
The S60 has a 2.0-liter turbo-4 that produces 312 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque, connected to an 8-speed automatic transmission, with a slim powertrain (143 hp and 228 lb-ft). ft) in the middle. The clutch system only allows the engine to propel the car in electric-only mode, but I did feel (and hear) the transmission shifting along the way.
You can’t accelerate as quickly in plug-in mode as you can in hybrid mode, but it’s plenty quick for most needs. A prominent accelerator stop near the floor helps ensure that you don’t accidentally start the engine when you don’t intend to, and when the car shifts into hybrid mode, Volvo’s exclusive interactive display lets you know when. gasoline engine is running. will kick in based on how much you accelerate and the current state of charge.
The Recharge’s combo mode can be fun but noisy
For all that Volvo has done with that packaging, the engine makes itself known on start-up, and it doesn’t have so much exhaust noise as a general soundtrack. The Turbo-4 has a pretty rough sound. It looks like Volvo has tweaked the powertrain programming to keep the engine running at a slightly lower rev range than in previous versions of the S60, and it sounds crisp.
Top up Volvo S60 2024
The overall system is quick thanks to a stopwatch or drag strip — 0-60 mph in 4.3 seconds, according to Volvo — but it falls short of real-world demands. In hybrid mode, it certainly doesn’t feel like a four-second car or a six-second car, if you floor the throttle at 25 mph. There, even with the engine on, you get a moment where the transmission feels like it’s panicking, downshifting appropriately and revving the engine at full throttle. And then, when it’s delivered, all goes wrong for a moment, with seemingly too much torque being sent to the front wheels (and a nauseatingly light feeling in the steering wheel) before all are fine and you’re moving more smoothly into illegal speeds, all under control. .
But most notably – and yes, this is a criticism – that charm is completely absent in the third to half station, where suburban commuters will spend most of their time while charging.
To test that hybrid mode, I also did a 111-mile round trip with my family to the hiking trailhead and back, gaining about 800 feet of elevation gain at the destination and back. back to where we started, enjoying some of the Power mode. The trip computer showed we averaged a respectable 32 mpg for the trip.
Top up Volvo S60 2024
Top up Volvo S60 2024
Top up Volvo S60 2024
The S60’s Recharge interface is…good, not great
The S60’s 9.0-inch touchscreen system is neither one of the best nor the worst in its class. It’s well organized and the portrait orientation makes perfect sense for following navigation instructions. The air conditioning functions “stick” to the lower part of the screen; you can display navigation instructions on the gauge cluster; and finally, thanks to a recent update, you can use Apple CarPlay on the entire remaining screen—instead of a smaller module. This is a Google-based infotainment system, so some of its native functionality may still rely on that ecosystem.
The 2023 I tested, in top Ultimate Black Edition form, added up to $63,690 and included exceptionally glossy (and difficult to photograph) black metallic paint, iron marks, and a front grille. Black front, black trunk lid badge, charcoal headliner and leather interior. Charcoal nappa leather and matching synthetic trim. The $750 Climate Package brings a headlight cleaner, heated rear seats, and an especially attractive heated steering wheel. And the $3,200 Bowers and Wilkins premium sound system offers plenty of power to enhance sound without distortion, but you’ll need to adjust the sound settings; This cabin is a bit muddy and bass heavy with all the settings in the center. At discount, a similar 2024 would cost $64,145, including a $100 higher destination charge ($1,195).
Top up Volvo S60 2024
It’s also worth noting that the 2023 leftover I tested had a 3.6-kw onboard charger that limited recharging at home with my higher-current 240-volt charger to about four hours. 2024 models already have a 6.6 kw onboard charger, reducing charging time to about 2.5 hours—which means that during a long shopping trip or a leisurely dinner, you can recover most charging time.
Does Volvo finally have the right formula for plug-in hybrids as more and more of its electric vehicles start appearing? That’s for you to decide, but perhaps beyond its original purpose, this Recharge shows better electricity.
Top up Volvo S60 2024
Basic price: $53,895 (Core model)
Price tested: $64,145 (Ultimate Black Edition with options)
Thrust: 2.0-liter inline 4-cylinder engine with 312 horsepower and 143 horsepower; 455 horsepower, 523 lb-ft combined; four-wheel drive
Efficacy of EPA: 41 miles electric range, 31 mpg combined
Hits: Dreamy front seats, excellent climate control, firm yet smooth ride
Missed times: Rough engine, stumbling hybrid system, tight rear roofline
