Volvo XC90 T8: review

The numbers are compelling. A combination of 395bhp and 134.5mpg can’t be bad. Add in 5.6 seconds and 24 ZEV miles, and you’ve got quite the renaissance car.

That power comes from a 2.0-litre petrol engine that’s turbocharged, supercharged and aided by an 81bhp electric motor. The latter draws off a battery pack with plug-in charging that’s big enough to allow that 24-mile electric-only range.

And here’s the clever bit. Well, one of the many clever bits. The motor is mounted in the back and drives the rear wheels only, while the engine drives just the fronts. That leaves space for the batteries where the transmission tunnel would have been – meaning there’s no degradation at all to the vehicle’s interior space.

This matters because the XC90 has always been a practicality champ. And the T8 model retains its crown, with the same three-row accommodation as its conventionally engined brethren.

Like them, it presents you with a classy, stylish cabin that’s an ergonomic treat. The seats are excellent, and so is the view they provide of the world around you.

The ambience in there doesn’t get loud on the road, either. Obviously not in EV mode, but even when you’re working the petrol engine hard it remains an oasis of well crafted premium calm.

And you really can work it, too. It’s a small unit for a big car, but with the supercharger bringing the pot to an early boil and the turbo keeping it simmering away vigourously there’s never any shortage of urge. The standard eight-speed auto box ensures this all happens with the maximum of smoothness, too – and the same goes for when the hybrid system is shuffling between petrol and battery power.

Something hybrids don’t always do so smoothly is ride, thanks in part to their extra weight. But our T8 was fitted with optional air springs which did the job very well. An extra £2150 on the bill sounds steep, but on this showing it’s hard not to conclude that they’re worth it.

And even at a hefty £60,455, we’re bound to say the same about the car itself. The official mpg figure might sound ludicrous, but the 49g/km it equates to is what the taxman goes on – and if you’re a company driver with a suitable level of seniority, that will translate into a very tidy sum over the course of your time with the car.

Volvo XC90 T8 Momentum

Price: £60,455

Engine: Four-cylinder in-line, 1969cc, supercharged and turbocharged petrol

Power: 314bhp at 5700rpm (petrol); 81bhp (electric)

Torque: 295lb ft at 2200-4500rpm (petrol); 177lb ft (electric)

Gearbox: Eight-speed automatic

Kerbweight: 2343kg

0-62mph: 5.6 seconds

Top speed: 140mph

Economy: 134.5mpg (combined)

CO2: 49g/km

Search for used Volvo XC90s