The 2016 Volvo XC90 T8 Twin Engine plug-in hybrid will be your choice if you want a three-row crossover with an electric range. So be prepared write a big check.
The plug-in XC90 will start at $68,100 before a $995 destination charge and an estimated $4,600 in federal tax incentives, Volvo announced Thursday. The R-Design model, with its more aggressive exterior trim and sport seats kicks off at $70,000. And the more luxurious Inscription trim begins at $71,600.
By comparison, the XC90 T6 AWD starts at just under $49,000, although it doesn’t include some of the features like the LED running lights and the Orrefors crystal gear lever the base T8 comes with. The T6 R-Design, for example, starts at about $53,000.
Other incentives will vary by state. In California for example, the XC90 T8 could qualify for a $1,500 rebate as most other plug-ins get.
Even after incentives, the XC90 T8 plug-in will be an expensive SUV. But it’s basically unmatched at the moment for those who want a 7-seat crossover with an electric-only range. And the third-row on the XC90 can actually hold humans, which I realized you can’t take for granted in this luxury crossover class when I got into the 2016 Audi Q7. Volvo says preliminary EPA testing pegs that EV range at 17 miles, which should be enough for at least one school carpool run. I’d like to try that.
Of course, you could also consider the T8 to be the performance option for the XC90. The 2.0-liter supercharged and turbocharged engine found in the T6 is mated to an electric motor to produce a combined output of 394 horsepower, almost 80 more than the T6. And that means a 0-60 time of just 5.7 seconds. Again, I’d like to try.
The already well-reviewed 2016 XC90 will begin hitting showrooms this summer, with the T8 following in the fall.
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