SINGAPORE – Singapore is particularly suited to electric vehicles (EVs) for well-known reasons – the same ones that make it rather ideal for plug-in hybrid vehicles too.
The city-state is compact, and the average motorist here clocks no more than 50km a day. Singapore is pretty built-up and, hence, road speeds are quite low. The Government is also growing the charging network ambitiously, aiming for 60,000 chargers by 2030.
Plug-in hybrids are cars with an engine and a motor. The motor is powered by a battery that is recharged by an external power source. If fully charged, most modern plug-in hybrids can be driven for a day almost entirely in electric-only mode in Singapore.
These include the just-released Volvo XC60 T8 plug-in hybrid. The car is powered by a 2-litre turbocharged engine driving the front axle and a powerful motor driving the rear. The rear motor is fed by an 18.8kWh battery.
Combined, the engine and motor produce 455hp and 709Nm of torque, endowing the XC60 with the attributes of a sports car.
Standstill to 100kmh is accomplished in a blistering 4.9 seconds, while top speed is artificially limited to 180kmh to be in line with Volvo Cars’ zero-fatality aim.
The car’s four-cylinder engine kicks in seamlessly and makes a stirring, growling sound not dissimilar to that of power plants from Milan or Bologna. And you get to enjoy this aural delight at low engine speeds too.
This is a stark difference from the Volvo S60 T8 plug-in hybrid test-driven in August 2020. The S60 T8 – which was supercharged, turbocharged and electrically assisted – did not feel as quick as its 4.4-second century sprint suggested, and it was largely devoid of sound and fury.
In the XC60 T8, the engine and motor work beautifully together to make response as instantaneous as an electric vehicle’s (EV), and acceleration as tireless as a beefy V8’s.
The car’s maximum torque of 709Nm is attained from 3,000rpm to 4,800rpm, which is a narrower peak band than non-hybrids, but wider than many EVs’.
Compact conqueror: The car’s turbocharged 2-litre engine is paired with a punchy rear-mounted electric motor. ST PHOTO: CHONG JUN LIANG
There is sufficient shove in any speed. Actually, there is sufficient shove even when the car is driven with its battery depleted (three days out of a four-day test drive).
When the battery is not depleted, the test car consumes as little as 5.3 litres/100km. The four-day average works out to 6.9 litres/100km. This could potentially worsen if you continue to drive the car without recharging the battery.
Volvo states that the car consumes 1.3 litres/100km and 21.2kWh/100km. This is provided the battery is never allowed to go empty and the car is driven with a relatively light foot, so that its engine is rarely called into service.
In this best-case scenario, the XC60 T8, with its 71-litre fuel tank, would pull into a petrol station no more than four times a year – assuming it clocks no more than 50km a day like the average car here.
But that is not the way to enjoy this delicious Volvo. Despite its green credentials, the XC60 T8 is really one of the most engaging and entertaining cars to be had. Electric assistance has made this 2-litre four-cylinder feel and sound like a low-key V8, with a generous helping of soul and substance. To drive it purely for efficiency would be a sin.
Fashionable fascia: The cockpit is stylish and functional, and keeps up with the look and feel of latter-day Volvos. ST PHOTO: CHONG JUN LIANG
That said, to get the best out of its performance requires its battery to be charged. With an empty battery, the car is but a front-wheel drive, albeit still a pretty sporty one. With a low charging speed of 6.4kW (AC), the Volvo can use a home charger or most public ones. A full charge from empty takes three hours.
Elsewhere, the 4,708mm-long, 1,999mm-wide and 1,651mm-tall XC60 T8 is functionally similar to the first facelift of the second-generation car that was reviewed here in 2021. But being a plug-in hybrid, it is around 250kg heavier, at 2,150kg. This makes it 500kg heftier than the Toyota Harrier, which is close to its size.
The Volvo has a relatively long wheelbase of 2,865mm. When combined with ample foot recesses under the front seats, it translates to plenty of legroom. Volvo could, however, have taken pains to conceal wirings under the front seats.
The car’s 598-litre boot will accommodate a bi-fold bicycle with the handlebar intact.
Best for two: The second row is adequately roomy, but the centre occupant has noticeably less legroom. ST PHOTO: CHONG JUN LIANG
Cosmetically, the car has the new criss-cross grille seen on the XC90, and darkened rear lights. Inside, the cockpit shows off styling seen in the electric EX30. Compared with the 2021 car, it has a bigger and faster 11.2-inch infotainment touchscreen, a Harman Kardon hi-fi as standard fare and more soundproofing on its A and B pillars.
Android Auto requires cable connection, while Apple CarPlay and phone-charging are wireless. You can stream music from your Android phone wirelessly, but reconnection is not automatic.
The cabin is surprisingly well insulated against solar heat, and front seats are equipped with ventilation to augment an already powerful air-conditioner.
Space to spare: The boot of the XC60 T8 is huge for a car of its size.ST PHOTO: CHONG JUN LIANG
The car rides on 20-inch wheels with low-profile tyres, which are eminently suited to its sporty demeanour. It handles superbly for a sport utility vehicle with a 21cm ground clearance, with a ride quality which is decidedly firm but not uncomfortable.
While Singapore may be well suited to plug-in hybrids for the reasons cited at the start of this article, the XC60 T8’s success here may well lie in its appeal to folks who love brawny, fast cars which look understated.
Volvo XC60 T8 PHEV
Price: $345,000 with COE, before applicable discounts
Engine: 1,969cc 16-valve inline-4 turbocharged with 145hp motor and 18.8kWh battery
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 455hp at 6,000rpm
Torque: 709Nm at 3,000-4,800rpm
0-100kmh: 4.9 seconds
Top speed: 180kmh (electronically limited)
Fuel/power consumption: 1.3 litres/21.2kWh per 100km
Charging capacity: 6.4kW (AC)
Agent: Wearnes Automotive
Rating: ★★★☆☆
Comparable considerations
Audi Q5 S-Line 40 TFSI quattro ($353,999 with COE)
The Q5 is a competent mid-sized crossover. It is so competent that Porsche uses its platform to build its Macan. A plug-in variant is not available here, but this all-wheel-drive variant matches the XC60 T8’s price, though not its performance nor efficiency. It is fairly spacious, but not as spacious as the Volvo.
BMW X3 20xDrive M Sport ($358,888 with COE)
The X3 is another compact all-wheel-drive crossover that is in the price range of the XC60 T8. But it does not compare well against the Volvo in almost every other aspect. Like Audi, a plug-in hybrid variant is currently unavailable here.
Kia Sorento Hybrid SX Tech Pack ($282,999 with COE)
The Sorento offers unbeatable bang for the buck. It is a hybrid, but not a plug-in hybrid. This means the car recaptures energy to keep its battery charged. Its tested fuel consumption is better than the XC60 T8’s at 6.3 litres/100km. With a 67-litre fuel tank, its range is better than the Volvo’s (on a non-stop journey). The Sorento is slightly larger and has three rows of seats, although the last row is best for small children. It is not as fun as the XC60 T8, but shines in the practicality department.
- Follow Christopher Tan on Instagram @chris.motoring
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