2020 XC60 T8 R-Design - Reliability and PHEV Questions

Wallis83 · Feb 21, 2021

Hello all, I am a Volvo newbie looking to purchase a demo 2020 XC60 T8 R-Design and was hoping to get some further insights before I pull the trigger on the deal. Any help is appreciated!

1.What has been everyone’s experience with the T8 in terms of reliability? I have seen on other posts some issues with the HVCH. Is this a common issue including on the MY2020? I usually keep my vehicles for around 7-8 years so this is a bit of a concern. Any other common issues with these vehicles?

2.When the lithium ion battery is depleted, do you lose AWD? Does the vehicle simply run on gasoline when the battery is depleted or can it still run in a hybrid mode?

3.When using the charge mode with the ICE, do you find there is a decrease in the ICE performance? How long does it take to charge using the ICE? I am trying to determine if it would be recharged on a 1.5 hour highway trip after being depleted.

4. How does the R-Design suspension damping (non air suspension) compare to the Inscription?

Thanks in advance!

FusionRedXC60 · Feb 21, 2021

1. Reliability is good to me. Never get worried about driving it. The HVCH and the early battery coolant thermostat were the only big fixes for my car.

My HVCH was replaced before 2020. I'd think the parts has been revised because it was quite common failure on T8. I can't confirm though.

I am not aware of frequent problems on 2020+ models.

2. AWD is always available because some battery level is reserved, and ICE will be charging the battery in constant AWD mode.

3. When in charge mode, ICE runs at slightly higher RPM. Performance is still good to me as I never run it anywhere near RPM redline.

I don't use charge mode often as it is not good for efficiency. Maybe it can charge several miles of range in 10 minutes. Never tried to charge to full.

4. Air suspension is softer in hybrid mode, but easy to cause problem in frozen weather.

Sent from my Z978 using Tapatalk

Wallis83 · Feb 21, 2021

Thanks for the info! With regards to the air suspension, I’ve had air suspension on a previous vehicle and had several issues in cold weather. I’m in Alberta so I was planning on the non air suspension vehicle simply due to reliability.

lamarguy · Feb 21, 2021

For the T8, I recommend an extended warranty and I'm against extended warranties, in general.

Gary ('16 XC90 T8) is on like his 4th HVCH (around $1500 to replace). Finding independent shops to work on a T8 is nearly impossible, so you're stuck with expensive dealer pricing when things break, and based on my experience and many others in this forum, expensive things will break.

Read this recent thread on extended warranties:

2018 T8–worth extending the warranty?

Hello all. Coming up on three years, 40,000km with my MFY2018 XC-90 T8 Momentum (bought new). No air suspension. Warranty expires after 4 years or 80,000km. Dealership is offering a Volvo Warranty Extension Plan. Not sure on the pricing. Haven’t had any real problems with the car so far aside...

www.swedespeed.com

p07r0457 · Feb 21, 2021

Fwiw, you can lose AWD function at low battery levels, and if you’re driving fast (something like above 73-ish mph — I forget the exact speed) the electric motors won’t drive the wheels at all, regardless of charge, so you lose AWD too.

FusionRedXC60 · Feb 21, 2021

lamarguy said:
For the T8, I recommend an extended warranty and I'm against extended warranties, in general.

Gary ('16 XC90 T8) is on like his 4th HVCH (around $1500 to replace). Finding independent shops to work on a T8 is nearly impossible, so you're stuck with expensive dealer pricing when things break, and based on my experience and many others in this forum, expensive things will break.

Read this recent thread on extended warranties:

2018 T8–worth extending the warranty?

Hello all. Coming up on three years, 40,000km with my MFY2018 XC-90 T8 Momentum (bought new). No air suspension. Warranty expires after 4 years or 80,000km. Dealership is offering a Volvo Warranty Extension Plan. Not sure on the pricing. Haven’t had any real problems with the car so far aside...

www.swedespeed.com

Second this. Many things on new car can be expensive to fix, even simple like A/C evaporator.

If extended warranty is kind of expensive in Canada, I actually think a CPO T8 is better as price is a lot cheaper and can get longer extended CPO warranty.

RootDKJ · Feb 21, 2021

1 . Super reliable. In general the ICE will run less, therefore it will need less unscheduled maintenance. I think Volvo finally fixed the tow hook cover falling out problem. I haven’t seen any posts about that recently.

2. AWD is always available except when traveling faster than 78 mph. It’s hard to think of a use case for requiring AWD at speeds faster than that.

3. There is a 30kw Integrated Starter Generator on the crankshaft that’s always working to some extent since the T8 does not have a traditional alternator. It’s more than capable of providing power to run the vehicle’s electronic systems, charge the battery and power the rear wheels all at the same time.

There’s a feature called Predictive Efficiency that will ration your battery when you use Sensus navigation and your trip is longer than available battery range. This works very well for leaving you just enough electric range to get to your destination once you leave the highway. You can always put the battery on hold too and save it for when you want it. I often do this when the temperature is below freezing.

If your battery was empty, 1.5 hours of ICE charging at 60mph will probably leave you with 8-10 miles. I charge while on long highway trips and don’t find it to effect my fuel efficiency at all. I usually don’t charge at less than 45mph or I want to warm the engine up.

Power Mode is an excellent feature. IMO, advanced package should be required on any T8.

Wallis83 · Feb 21, 2021

All great info and advice. I have negotiated in the 6 year/160,000 km warranty as I figured it was a good idea with this type of powertrain.
Interesting to hear that the AWD is speed limited. Can anyone confirm the speed the AWD stops working? I do some highway driving and that might be a concern. I had to drive 3 hours each way last week on the highway at -35 C and blowing snow, but then again you shouldn’t be driving over 120 km/h in those conditions anyway.

FusionRedXC60 · Feb 21, 2021

The rear motor is designed to disengage after 75mph or so as torque output is too low at high RPM. The torque from rear motor reduces gradually from 30 to 60mph.

Cold weather is a challenge too. The ICE may run at higher RPM extensively to maintain the battery level which drops quickly in cold weather.

RootDKJ · Feb 21, 2021

Wallis83 said:
All great info and advice. I have negotiated in the 6 year/160,000 km warranty as I figured it was a good idea with this type of powertrain.
Interesting to hear that the AWD is speed limited. Can anyone confirm the speed the AWD stops working? I do some highway driving and that might be a concern. I had to drive 3 hours each way last week on the highway at -35 C and blowing snow, but then again you shouldn't be driving over 120 km/h in those conditions anyway.

Like you said... Just slow down if you NEED AWD, it's safer. The cabin of a properly equipped XC60 is a wonderful place to spend some time. I often am saddened that I have to leave the car when arriving at a work site after an hour or two drive in my T8.

p07r0457 · Feb 21, 2021

RootDKJ said:
Like you said... Just slow down if you NEED AWD, it's safer. The cabin of a properly equipped XC60 is a wonderful place to spend some time. I often am saddened that I have to leave the car when arriving at a work site after an hour or two drive in my T8.

In poor conditions, yes... but in dry conditions, AWD can improve handling at high speeds. Torque vectoring, for example.

FusionRedXC60 · Feb 21, 2021

p07r0457 said:
In poor conditions, yes... but in dry conditions, AWD can improve handling at high speeds. Torque vectoring, for example.

I am not AWD expert but torque vectoring is not possible on T8 to my understanding. This one motor drives both left and right wheels on rear axle.

GKN has the new eTwinster that adds torque vectoring but not for T8 yet.

GKN Demonstrates New Electric Torque Vectoring Technology To Automakers

GKN demonstrates new eTwinster electric torque vectoring technology to automakers at Wintertest.

insideevs.com

The plug-in hybrid module combines eAxle technologies with twin-clutch torque vectoring technology. The former has been proven in the Volvo XC90 T8 Twin Engine, Porsche 918 Spyder and BMW i8 plug-in hybrids and the later has been featured in the Ford Focus RS and Range Rover Evoque.

Zenofdog · Sep 13, 2024

FusionRedXC60 said:
Second this. Many things on new car can be expensive to fix, even simple like A/C evaporator.

If extended warranty is kind of expensive in Canada, I actually think a CPO T8 is better as price is a lot cheaper and can get longer extended CPO warranty.

I'm most likely buying a 2019 xc60 t8 R design from a non-Volvo dealer and am wondering on the best extended warrantee to get? Anyone with experience in this process?

2020 XC60 T8 R-Design - Reliability and PHEV Questions

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GKN Demonstrates New Electric Torque Vectoring Technology To Automakers

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