Test Drive: 2022 Volvo XC60 Recharge T8 Inscription

The 2022 XC60 Recharge is quite a well-designed, Volvo-dorky-but-loveable machine that you’ll love driving even if your Insta only features supercars. It’s speedy, it’s sharp around corners, and its interior is clean and well-designed as one expects from a luxury brand.

True, you’ll pay a bit more than other PHEVs in its class, but the accompanying quality and fun driving experience will make the sticker worth it for fans of the brand. You also qualify for a federal income tax credit of $5,419 upon purchase and there may be other state and local incentives as well.

What’s new?

This year saw a tune-up looks wise, with updated wheel designs and a tweaked bumper and grill. Upgrades to the driver-assistance software via the radar, camera and ultrasonic sensors as well as a new pair of USB-C ports up front (that didn’t support my Droid) and a Volvo-specific Android-based infotainment interface are here for you as well.

There are four trims levels for 2022: Inscription Expression, R-Design, Inscription, and Polestar Engineered. Our Inscription, we discovered subsequent to the test, is the most popular choice among buyers, and that suited us. Its MSRP is $62,845 and it delivers full Nappa leather upholstery, ventilated front seats with power-adjustable side bolsters and a leather-covered steering wheel. Have a click here to see all the goodies that come with each trim, and their price tags.

Performance:

You’ve got a 2.0 litre turbocharged as well as supercharged 4-cylinder gas engine in front, coupled with a small electric motor located on the rear axle.The electric motor gets its energy from a rechargeable 11.6-kWh battery pack. An eight-speed automatic features a manual shifting mode that works pretty well if you think to use it.

Between the turbocharger and the supercharger, you’re talking about 400 horsepower and 472 pound-feet of torque, so you’ve got yourself a semi-beast in this class. Volvo estimates zero-to-60 in around 5.3 seconds.

On the road, it’s a fun carver and a quick passer, with little body roll. The only thing that annoyed me was the requirement that I click the gearshift twice before achieving D or R. Why not also install a warning on the driver console reading: “Be home by 8” and “Don’t forget to wear a sweater?”

Comfortable?

Very. This ride was made for long road trips with the fam or gang, or the band. You can even get a self-adjusting air suspension rig as an option. It’s not plush-plush – it’s not that kind of car. But the seats are fine, zero complaints.

Interior

It’s clean, well-laid out and close to perfect, really. The crystal shift on the knob is an especially unique touch. A 9-inch hi-res color touchscreen is attractive, and Lexus should study the XC60’s easy-peasy radio station change layout as theirs are all complicated and aggravating and this one is amazing.

Infotainment/Connectivity

The system is pleasingly simple to use. You can touch or talk to the infotainment center as you wish, and all the apps are available including Google Play and Google Maps. Apple CarPlay compatibility come standard, and iPhones connect via Bluetooth. There’s also Wi-Fi hotspot availability. The sound, musically speaking, is top-top – nice and punchy and sizzly and deep all at once due to an (optional) 16-speaker Bowers & Wilkins system.

Storage

Not so good, boss. The XC60’s cargo space ranks at the bottom of the segment, but it’s not miniscule at 50 cubic feet with the seats down. It’s just that everyone else’s is bigger.

Safety

All trims of the 2022 XC60 Recharge come with blind-spot warning, forward-collision avoidance with pedestrian and bicyclist detection and automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, rear cross-traffic alert, rear collision warning with brake assist, and front and rear parking sensors.

Available safety and driver assistance options (standard on the Polestar Engineered trim) include parallel and straight-in parking assist, a head-up display, surround-view camera, adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability, and the Pilot Assist automatic following and lane-centering system.

Verdict?

A fun, exhilarating new offering from Volvo in a year that saw many great launches from the brand. Check this one out if you’ve still got a warm spot for internal combustion engines but want to see what all the electric fuss is about.