Volvo intends to one day only sell all-electric vehicles, and it’s so serious about the commitment that it no longer has any factories building combustion engines. But many people are still averse to EVs, with insufficient infrastructure among the top gripes, and to help bridge the gap, Volvo has revealed the 2028 XC60 and XC90 plug-in hybrids. With up to 78 miles of all-electric driving possible on a single charge of the XC60, and up to 73 miles possible for the XC90, Volvo’s best-selling vehicles offer the longest electric range of any plug-in hybrids sold in the American market. Of course, even PHEVs may be too new-fangled for some, so both XC60 and XC90 are still available as mild hybrids.
Facelifted Volvo XC60 and XC90 Are Smarter and Safer
Volvo’s new XC60 gets a redesigned grille, front bumper, hood, front fenders, and wheels, with the headlights getting an updated take on the Thor’s Hammer LED running lighs. At the rear, horizontal lines are more defined, but it’ll be tough to spot the changes in Volvo’s subtle Scandinavian design, which is always more iterative than evolutionary. Things have changed inside, too, with the dashboard and door panels being redesigned with Brown Ash wood decor and Cardamom ventilated Nappa leather. In the center, an 11.2-inch screen with Google Gemini controls all major functions, and there is still a physical knob for volume, but the climate control is adjusted on the display. As a Volvo, safety is one of the most important elements of any updated model, and the new XC60 gets the brand’s latest suite of active safety tech, which includes a system that can respond to potential collision scenarios with both steering and braking interventions. Vehicle exit warnings, lane change assist, and a 360-degree 3D camera are also included.
After a comprehensive update for 2025, the changes to the XC90 are almost invisible, but the interior gets similar treatment, with wood, elegant ambient lighting, and the same sort of touchscreen, also now with Google Gemini. Things are similar under the hood, too. Both the XC60 T8 and the XC90 T8 PHEVs feature a 2.5-liter four-cylinder gas engine, producing 455 horsepower and 523 lb-ft of torque. For the XC60, that power goes to all four wheels quickly enough to produce a 4.5-second 0-60 mph sprint. The XC90 is half a second slower, thanks to the added weight of being a bigger vehicle, but both have eight-speed automatic transmissions that encourage smoothness, as does the 112 mph speed limit on both family cars.
Autoblog’s Take
The XC60 T8 will debut its second facelift late next year as a 2028 model, while the XC90 will come along later. With a launch so far away, Volvo hasn’t revealed pricing, but the XC60 should start around $65,000 and the XC90 will be near $80,000. If Volvo is still the king of EV range in plug-in hybrids by the time these vehicles are launched, it’ll have a unique selling point, and if customers respond well and use the crossover or SUV as intended – charging overnight and using all-electric mode as much as possible – the jump to a fully-electric Volvo will be easier. With restrained looks, a strong reputation for safety, and the efficiency of all-electric driving alongside the security of a gas engine, these new Volvos could help change the game. If they flop, Volvo could be in big trouble.
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