2020 Volvo XC90 Hybrid Performance

The gutsiest engine in the Volvo lineup (while technically there is only one), the T8 setup is comprised of a 2.0-liter engine paired with an electric motor and an 11.6 kWh battery that results in total outputs of 400 horsepower and 472 lb-ft of torque. With all-wheel-drive as standard, the XC90 can manage towing loads of up to 5,000 pounds, according to the manufacturer.

One of the benefits of hybridization, other than the obvious environmental impact and better fuel economy, lies in the extra oomph the engine is granted. While the likes of Tesla's Model X manages a whopping 518 hp and 487 lb-ft, Lexus' hybrid SUV offering shows the flip-side of the coin with only 308 hp to play with. The Volvo XC90 slips neatly in between, offering impressive power and sufficient kick to do what it needs to do faster than some rivals: while it's motor can lug the hefty Swedish SUV to 60 mph in the early five-second range (much better than the almost eight-second time of the RX 450h), it can't quite compete with the 3.6 seconds or 4.4 seconds from the Porsche Cayenne Hybrid and Tesla Model X, respectively. Still, it builds up to a top speed of 140 mph without any fuss, and even on pure electric power, it can easily reach near-highway speeds.

At the heart of this SUV lies a 2.0-liter twincharged motor, which - supplemented by an electric motor - is responsible for the 400 hp and 472 lb-ft of torque. This is channeled to all four wheels via an eight-speed Geartronic automatic transmission, which also allows for manual shifting. Together with the drive mode selector, this setup allows you to switch between Pure, Hybrid, Individual, Power, Off-Road, and Constant AWD functions to suit your driving style - transmission shifts and engine responses will tighten up or relax accordingly.

When tapping into the electric power, Volvo has integrated a power/charge gauge to replace the conventional tachometer. It even shows exactly how much throttle will trigger the gasoline engine so you can remain on electric power. Opting to use only the batteries will reduce the XC90's spryness, but a quick poke at the throttle will unlock more trust from the twincharged engine. Driving using the electric power is Rolls-Royce level smooth but the loud groan of the engine often ruins the serenity. You can keep the noise down by remaining light on the throttle but there is no point where Volvo's four-banger sounds anything other than coarse. It remains the major weak point in an otherwise wonderful drivetrain. Shifts from the eight-speed automatic are fairly imperceptible thanks to the electric assistance, with a second motor wedged between the engine and gearbox supplementing any torque deficiency the engine itself may have.

With an ostensible increase in all-electric range, thanks to a larger battery implemented for the 2019 model year, the XC90 is said to manage 18 miles on battery power alone - one whole mile more than the 2019 model was equipped to handle. In addition to offering a combined EPA estimate of 55 MPGe in electric mode, the XC90 manages 26/30/27 mpg city/highway/combined when the batteries and engine work together. While EPA ratings for the Lexus RX 450h are slightly better when using gas only (30 mpg combined), the Volvo PHEV offers a total range of 520 miles on one full tank of gas when supplemented by electrical power, whereas the Lexus won't get much further than 516 miles. As a plug-in hybrid, the XC90 can be fully charged in under three hours.

If we are being frank, your observed fuel economy in the XC90 T8 will be greatly dependent on how much you charge it. With plenty of juice to spare, we drove in stop-and-go traffic to the airport achieving 27.9 mpg (an excellent number for such a large SUV). That number dropped to 25.8 mpg on our highway road trip and even further down to 23.5 mpg when we used the car's self-charging function. If you live close to work and have a place to charge at home, we think the T8 drivetrain will easily be worth the price premium.