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New XC60 T8 Recharge Owner

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6.8K views 52 replies 24 participants last post by  dsl101-1  
#1 ·
Hi all,
Just thought I’d (re)introduce myself. Have been away from the brand a long time… time flies - I still remembered my swedespeed login from almost 20 years ago!
Was a huge Volvo nut from a very young age, and I have owned two 850 T5’s an S60 T5 and a C30 T5. Left the brand for more than a decade which saw me own various models of Audi, Volkswagen, and a Jaguar and Tesla thrown in. I am relatively young at 35, and didn’t know if I’d ever see myself back in a Volvo, but still kept my finger on the pulse in regards to new models and the like.
However, with starting a family on the horizon, I found myself back into the Volvo brand. Whatever Volvo marketing might say and however they might position their various models; they are the ultimate family car.
Volvo have great deals on the XC60 in australia at the moment, so it was a no brainer for me. Can’t wait to get reacquainted with the brand, and re-familiarise myself with these cars. Any other XC60 T8 Recharge Ultimate owners out there who’d like to share their own experiences with the car?
ps - can see Volvo haven’t lost their penchant for exceedingly long and odd trim names for their vehicles! ;)
cheers,
Jason
 
#2 ·
Welcome back and congrats on the growing family!
Yes, I'm fairly certain Volvo's favorite film is "The Incredibly Strange Creatures Who Stopped Living and Became Mixed-up Zombies".
You got yourself a rather nice car. We still see software glitches, but Volvo is working on them and it's better than it had been. It's a quirky brand yet! Overall my customers have been very pleased with the performance and economy of the extended range T8 cars and the overall experience is a positive one.
 
#3 ·
Hi all,
Just thought I’d (re)introduce myself. Have been away from the brand a long time… time flies - I still remembered my swedespeed login from almost 20 years ago!
Was a huge Volvo nut from a very young age, and I have owned two 850 T5’s an S60 T5 and a C30 T5. Left the brand for more than a decade which saw me own various models of Audi, Volkswagen, and a Jaguar and Tesla thrown in. I am relatively young at 35, and didn’t know if I’d ever see myself back in a Volvo, but still kept my finger on the pulse in regards to new models and the like.
However, with starting a family on the horizon, I found myself back into the Volvo brand. Whatever Volvo marketing might say and however they might position their various models; they are the ultimate family car.
Volvo have great deals on the XC60 in australia at the moment, so it was a no brainer for me. Can’t wait to get reacquainted with the brand, and re-familiarise myself with these cars. Any other XC60 T8 Recharge Ultimate owners out there who’d like to share their own experiences with the car?
ps - can see Volvo haven’t lost their penchant for exceedingly long and odd trim names for their vehicles! ;)
cheers,
Jason
I have had my 2023 XC60 recharge ultimate for 2 1/2 months and 7500 km. No issues with mine and a comfortable drive. I’ve owned very many vehicles however this is my first Volvo. Driving range is good and fuel consumption is quite good. My pure electric range has increased to 74 km from 65 km now the warmer weather has arrived.
The car is well equipped but there are a few curious things about the car such as no compass or auto volume. The left (east/ west) steering wheel buttons don’t have a purpose but could be used to change drive modes.
Overall this is a fine automobile that is a pleasure to drive. Enjoy yours.
 
#4 ·
The left (east/ west) steering wheel buttons don’t have a purpose but could be used to change drive modes.
I couldn’t agree more. I just completed the JD Powers new vehicle ownership survey and they have one comment field for what you would most like to pass on the manufacturer. That was my exact request!

Welcome back Jason - enjoy the car. The T8s are fantastic machines.
 
#5 ·
Have 2022 XC60 Polestar T8. FWIW, when Volvo pushes OTA updates for the car, recommend you have it parked in a location outside of your garage. I've experienced an OTA that 'bricked' the vehicle necessitating a tow after extraction from the garage. Would have been better had I had it parked in the driveway or by the curb. Other than that, it's been a great ride. Enjoy!
 
#7 ·
Hi all,
Just thought I’d (re)introduce myself. Have been away from the brand a long time… time flies - I still remembered my swedespeed login from almost 20 years ago!
Was a huge Volvo nut from a very young age, and I have owned two 850 T5’s an S60 T5 and a C30 T5. Left the brand for more than a decade which saw me own various models of Audi, Volkswagen, and a Jaguar and Tesla thrown in. I am relatively young at 35, and didn’t know if I’d ever see myself back in a Volvo, but still kept my finger on the pulse in regards to new models and the like.
However, with starting a family on the horizon, I found myself back into the Volvo brand. Whatever Volvo marketing might say and however they might position their various models; they are the ultimate family car.
Volvo have great deals on the XC60 in australia at the moment, so it was a no brainer for me. Can’t wait to get reacquainted with the brand, and re-familiarise myself with these cars. Any other XC60 T8 Recharge Ultimate owners out there who’d like to share their own experiences with the car?
ps - can see Volvo haven’t lost their penchant for exceedingly long and odd trim names for their vehicles! ;)
cheers,
Jason
Welcome! I pulled the trigger on a 2023 XC60 Recharge Ultimate after retiring my trusty and wonderful 2006 S80. Took possession in February and couldn't be happier, the 2023 model seems to have had all the 'kinks' worked out from previous models, and haven't experienced a single issue. No regrets, very happy!
 
#8 ·
Will be picking up our T8 Ultimate here in about a half hour. The 08 XC90 will be going to a new home but in the family. Not much offer on trade in and my aunt needs a reliable car. The 90 is still good and the maintenance has all been done. Will do the service including new brakes and a replacement windshield. Electrician comes on Tuesday and Chargepoint charger has arrived. Ordered in December and it came in earlier than scheduled. Not as much fun as the Overseas Delivery on the 08 but still hope it will be good for the next decade.
 
#9 ·
Hey since you are new owners and I plan to deep dive into the forum to find more, but am wondering what do people see MPG wise in the default hybrid mode with normal commuting. The idea of constantly switching to pure and back and forth seems counter intuitive to me, so trying to see how well the car itself varies the use of gas vs electric (specifically in the majority city commuting)
 
#10 ·
I leave my T6 in Hybrid mode, and it's used for a daily commute, local errands, with occasional long trips. I'm getting 77 mpg, bearing in mind of course that I'm paying for the power it consumes to charge the battery! Loving the car, no major problems, just the odd software weirdness to be expected with a car that's a computer on wheels. Glad I opted for the T6. Personally I never have the opportunity or need to use maximum power, but when I do push the car harder for fun or to overtake, the performance is more than adequate.
 
#13 ·
What’s great about it is you can drive it on gas or electric with as little or as much input as you want. If you do nothing it will drive you around town on battery alone. You get used to the quiet of no engine idling or gear shifting between traffic stops and love it. Yet I prefer driving on gas on the highway. I don’t worry much about the mpg. It’s really a good overall driving experience, sort of like best of both worlds.
 
#14 ·
Hence my obsession with these lately, it really does seem perfect but I can't get over the price premium once you option these up, hence my deposit on the EX90 yesterday. If I have to spend this much I just need to make the jump, personally.
 
#15 ·
Volvos (at least in my opinion) are overpriced for what you get. I don't think a Volvo PHEV is a more competent vehicle overall than something like a Kia Sorento. The Kia, in fact, probably has nicer cabin electronics. What you pay for with Volvo is a gorgeous interior, great seats, and nice styling. For me, it was worth the premium but I get your resistance (and respect it).
 
#17 ·
One pedal driving isn't a super useful option and it certainly isn't worth the premium of an XC60 over non premium vehicles. I use B mode every single time I get in the car - but it's pretty intrusive for daily driving, making for abrupt starts of the line. I flick the car in and out of B when I am needing to brake on a hill and such. Other vehicles achieve that function with wheel mounted paddles.

Phevs, in general, are a dying breed, but there are plenty of BEVs available with one pedal driving for a lot less than an XC60. My sister's lowly Chevy Bolt mini suv has that option.

I'd also point out that much cheaper PHEVs have truly useful features that are not available on any XC60. For example, the Mit Outlander offers DC charging. HYUNDAI SANTA FE and KIA SORENTO both have cabin electronics that make AAOS look like a joke.

I'm satisfied with my XC60 because it's such a well rounded package and I LOVE the seats. I have horrible back problem and the XC60 is well worth the price simply because I can go on all kinds of long road trips without problems.
 
#22 ·
One pedal driving isn't a super useful option and it certainly isn't worth the premium of an XC60 over non premium vehicles. I use B mode every single time I get in the car - but it's pretty intrusive for daily driving, making for abrupt starts of the line. I flick the car in and out of B when I am needing to brake on a hill and such. Other vehicles achieve that function with wheel mounted paddles.

Phevs, in general, are a dying breed, but there are plenty of BEVs available with one pedal driving for a lot less than an XC60. My sister's lowly Chevy Bolt mini suv has that option.

I'd also point out that much cheaper PHEVs have truly useful features that are not available on any XC60. For example, the Mit Outlander offers DC charging. HYUNDAI SANTA FE and KIA SORENTO both have cabin electronics that make AAOS look like a joke.

I'm satisfied with my XC60 because it's such a well rounded package and I LOVE the seats. I have horrible back problem and the XC60 is well worth the price simply because I can go on all kinds of long road trips without problems.
It's a matter of opinion. My Jaguar I-Pace spoiled me with its one-pedal driving. It's not intrusive in the least. It's in fact a great aid if you know how to use it. You must be kidding when you say "abrupt starts off the line." Nonsense.

DC charging is of very limited use to me. XC60 easily charges fully overnight. Maps, an FM radio and Pilot Assist are all I need in cabin electronics. If you don't want one-pedal driving just turn on creep and stop complaining.

PHEVs may be a dying breed but they remove any thoughts of range anxiety given the inadequate charging infrastructure in the US.. And only one maker offers a PHEV with one-pedal driving.
 
#18 ·
Only overpriced if you don’t need/like certain features, like 400+ hp. I don’t think you can find that kind of power in that price range. I don’t use it often but appreciate that it’s there. Kind of like exterior styling, don’t really need it but it makes you feel good when you drive something you like.
 
#21 ·
There is a flipside to that though. The XC60 is more about performance than economy, so in hybrid mode its really inefficient compared to a Sorento et al.

Personally, I like the tradeoff and I'd rather have the power than the MPG. But, I can see why others would feel different.
 
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#23 · (Edited)
I find it humorous that you start by saying "matter of opinion" and then reduce another poster's opinion to "nonsense".

My OPINION is that one pedal driving is of marginal utility. In typical driving patterns, it almost certainly doesn't save you any real MPG and it reduces drivability. Most VOLVO owners probably never use it. I use it in some form almost every day but my GUESS is that the typical owner sticks the car in drive and doesn't even give regenerative braking a second though. I'd be just as happy with paddle shifters that let me control regenerative braking and vary the aggressiveness of the solution and, in fact, would see that as a more useful solution than "B" mode. As it is, I tend to flick the transmission in and out of "B" mode during a typical commute. That works OK but its not perfect.

I'm glad the car has that feature. I just don't think it is as important as you suggest. In fact, I think it is rather ridiculous to suggest that an XC60 earns its $70,000 price tag through that feature. Also, just so you know (and you may not based on some of your other comments) you can have creep on or off in both D and B.

With DC charging you would have two huge advantages: 1) You can charge more places, 2) You can get a quick bump when you are on the road (and wouldn't have to resort to the Volvo's 5.5 hour charging speed). Now, MAYBE for your own driving needs DC charging would not be useful, but my guess is that it would be a lot more useful to most drivers than one pedal driving. Charging speed is a huge, huge issue for many.

I would swap the one-pedal driving for faster charging speeds any day of the week.

I agree with you about the beauty of PHEVs. I'm also glad that the Volvo offers the option for the driver to control regen braking and I personally use it a lot. I just don't' think anybody cares about Volvo's one pedal driving and almost nobody would consider the premium worth it based just on that feature.

The full package is what earns its price tag to me. The interior materials, the wildly comfy seats, the styling in and out, the competent handling and decent ride, the powerful engines, the visibility, and (and I know many will disagree with me here) AAOS. I'm on my second XC60 in the last four years for these reasons - not because of "B".
 
#24 · (Edited)
It’s been two months and 2500km now since I took ownership of my ‘23 xc60 t8. It was delivered after 6 months since placing order without test driving one first. I traded in 2019 RAV4 Hybrid for it and previous to that I had a 2006 Volvo v50 that I purchased used in 2012. I loved that dark blue V50 from the day I saw it, now has 270,000 km on it and still going strong.

As a teenager back in the late 80’s, I was always in awe of that squarish block of simple styling- the 740 especially in yellow! The strength ,the power and reliability is what brand portrayed to me. Most people my age in my circle would rather a BMW, Benz or more realistically Honda Accord. It also seemed so out of the ordinary that not everyone would want it being so different.
Those features blindly attracted me to it and so much that later on in life it would aspire getting one new. I got the V50 wagon because of the solid clean design it also had room like an SUV even with this smallish design-it was a good price and i loved that floating silver console down the middle and it did not have the flashiness of the luxury brands. I didn’t think of it as a luxury brand at that time but I knew I chose something that cost a little more. Till this day even though I now know Ford was behind it and it was on the Focus platform it gave me great pride as it was something I wanted to always drive. A Volvo wagon!

I purchased a rav4 hybrid in 2019 because i liked the idea of it saving gas and helping the environment. The volvo i wanted was completely out of reach. so that’s why i got that.
So now in 2022 the xc60 comes in with a recharge model with more than 55km range. i researched everything online over and over and over - i was so excited!

i listened to the good and I listened to the bad watching all reviews to better understand different perspectives and what i might expect. I sat in at dealership a regular xc60 b5 with blonde interior and was immediately smitten.

What captured me was the understated elegance and great design. This thing felt like a tank. most other cars lately in this segment seems very cheap in the parts used, the sheet metal is very thin and excessive use of plastics in the outside and on outside over wheels wells bumpers etc. This Volvo xc60 is not like that. You immediately can feel the difference opening up the doors closing it and sitting down. the build quality is solid. no rattles no cheap looking like fake lego plastics. you feel like you are in something of substance.

The outside design being around since 2018 seams timeless. there is nothing extra, weird or really out of place . Nothing in your face, all without being bland. It just quietly exudes classy i feel. Nothing gimmicky everything feels rather intentional. I like that i know i spend good money on this that many would not think it was compared to the other luxury brands out there. Running my hands down the seats, console dash steering wheel i feel very connected.

Everything is moving to screen based operation and i got use to it easily, it’s not the same as real buttons it’s different - but that’s cars of today and tomorrow. I don’t use the voice command as much as i need to practice it more except for directions in the google maps. Whenever i have new passengers they always are amazed by the feeling they have sitting in it. They comment on how beautiful the interior is firstly. I don’t mind waiting in car for wife and child now as it really does relax me. The amazing sounding sound system even on my basic Core model. The Tubi app to watch movies and classic tv shows on is amazing while i also text or surf on my phone is a nice surprise feature in the apps and can’t wait for youtube to come hopefully it still does and perhaps also apple music would be nice natively too.

I hand washed the xc60 myself recently and felt all the creases around the hood, down the sides to the booty and was mesmerized by the workmanship in the styling being so simple and minimalistic. I felt a pride knowing that i bought something that I will still surely love in 10 years. The scratches and any wear and tear when they happen could only bring character and memories to this vehicle by then…. to be continued.. excuse my grammar please..
 
#25 ·
No, Walkabout, the "nonsense" is your saying that one-pedal driving causes "abrupt starts off the line." I use one-pedal driving all the time, as I did in my Jaguar. My wife uses it, too. We have never experienced "abrupt starts off the line" in either car. And you can drive in B gear and not have one-pedal driving by having creep turned on. Then you would have to brake to bring the car to a full stop.

You're entitled to your opinion on one-pedal driving but you post misinformation that others will read when you say it causes abrupt starts.
 
#27 · (Edited)
I think you're misunderstanding what I'm saying and I was honestly a tedious interaction to start, with you making the (quite frankly) dumb leap that "I was complaining" about B .

You're also misunderstanding how creep works. B still works with creep enabled. Maybe go read the manual? B is about regen brakes when you lift off the gas pedal and "creep" is whether the car can roll forward after a full stop. If you enable creep and use B, you'll still get regen braking when you lift off the gas and the car can still come to a full stop. However, it could then continue to roll forward unless you hit the brakes.

As an example, I drive to work using both creep and B everyday. Coming down a hill to a light, I lift my foot off the gas and the regen braking brings the car to a stop before the light 100% of the time. If I don't put my foot down on the brake at that point, however, it would roll forward.

It's great that you see one pedal as a fantastic upgrade that warrants the volvo xc60s premium over mainstream vehicles - I do not and I doubt even 1% off volvo drivers would agree with you. I think phev drivers will care about more central issues like charging speed, quality of cabin electronics, etc. B mode is somewhat useful (at least to me and my daily driving habits) but we won't see it on many phevs because it's not really in demand.

I have also seen numerous posters here complain about driveability issues with B - do a search and you'll see. You and I may enjoy this feature and use it regularly but I'm not sure the bulk of XC60 owners do and I suspect that many would be perfectly happy to see it removed.

In general, value equations rarely favor so called "premium" brands. I think the most reasonable take on that issue came from the poster who pointed out that dealers for other brands are profiteering in ways that volvo dealers aren't (and likely can't). A xc60 is a better value than a kia with a big surcharge over msrp.
 
#30 ·
I’m surprised how much I’ve come to appreciate and enjoy regen braking on my V60 T8. Very smooth braking and nicely programmed for a seamless transition to the mechanical braking system as you come to a stop. I use creep mode though because in full one-pedal mode I find backing out of my garage or reversing into a space feels too unnatural.

A great secondary benefit is almost no brake dust and my brake pads will probably last forever.
 
#31 ·
I’m surprised how much I’ve come to appreciate and enjoy regen braking on my V60 T8. Very smooth braking and nicely programmed for a seamless transition to the mechanical braking system as you come to a stop. I use creep mode though because in full one-pedal mode I find backing out of my garage or reversing into a space feels too unnatural. A great secondary benefit is almost no brake dust and my brake pads will probably last forever.
I also love it. I will go DAYS without touching the brake pedal. Makes me drive more efficient as well...as it's always a game to never touch the brakes and that results in me looking further ahead and "coasting" to time stops/turns perfectly.
 
#33 · (Edited)
Just so you know, if somebody has a different experience in their car than you do, it doesn't necessarily mean there is something wrong with their vehicle. Lots of different drivers in different situations have different experiences. Judging from that agonizingly tedious thread about PURE vs HYBRID, you may think your own experiences are universal, but that's what may be going on here.

Anyway, that comment was just poorly worded and I probably should have deleted it. Rushed wording and I apologize for being unclear.

I was referring to the way "B" mode exerts a drag on the car. I drive in it every day so I'm used to it. When I have passengers, they've asked why the ride felt a bit "jerky" mainly because the regen braking kicks in as soon as you lift your foot off the pedal. That tends to happen more rapidly in a less smooth fashion than ordinary braking. It's not a huge difference (in my opinion) but it is there.

When I pull away from the light, passengers have complained about a "jerk" in acceleration. A lot of times you'll creep forward a few inches, and then hit the acceleration - so passengers notice the switch between regen and acceleration. That's all I meant. I get that my post sounded like a more serious issue but that was just very poorly chosen wording.

In general, I'd say that B is somewhat less smooth than D and I'm also not 100% convinced it's saving me fuel around town. It is probably is saving on my brake pads, but that's another issue. There are also situations under which I suspect it is saving me a lot of fuel (like going downhill into traffic). It's a worthwhile feature that I enjoy, but I think I'd rather have wheel paddles (like on my sister's bolt) that would let me vary strength of regen braking under different circumstances. I didn't see that feature on a lot of PHEVs so I don't blame Volvo for not having it.

There have been a lot of complaints about "B" in this forum and on Facebook, mainly because it imparts a "draggy" feel to the car that a lot of drivers don't like. I've seen dozens of posts to that effect and I also heard the same thing from other Volvo owners when I went to pick up my car after the heater issue was fixed. I see those complaints more on Facebook Volvo forums then here because this is an enthusiast forum and posters here tend to see the upside of new features. However, if I had to guess, I would SPECULATE that its not a very popular feature with most owners and I think we probably use it more than most.
 
#34 ·
There were many others who shared my opinion on Hybrid vs. Pure, but we don't have to get back into that here. We're both allowed to have differing opinions! Perhaps, this all comes down to personal driving style. I'm pretty much always in B, whether on the highway or city, I find the regen helps a ton at putting juice back into the battery.

B may not be as "reactive", or "snappy" as D, but it's not jerky on acceleration. If anything, it's hesitant, except in braking where it definitely does snap to life. However, if you don't instant lift, and just calmly lift, it's not jerky whatsoever.
 
#36 ·
Walkabout, you don't have to lecture me about B gear and creep. If you have creep on, you are not doing one-pedal driving. You need both B gear and creep off to do one-pedal driving. If you have creep on, you are not doing one-pedal driving, so please stop giving your uninformed opinion about something you haven't experienced. And, if your passengers are complaining about "jerkiness" when you drive in B gear, you are the problem, not B gear. You need to learn how to modulate the accelerator pedal so there is no jerkiness.
 
#50 ·
Agreed - and it took me a good couple of weeks to get used to it, but after allowing myself to be 'trained' by the system, driving in B with creep off is now my full-time everyday choice. Modulation of the accelerator pedal is key, and it's been kind of fun finding those positions to where I can calculate in my head when and how much to ease off of the pedal when I see that stop sign coming up to come to a perfect, smooth stop. I love it!
 
#38 ·
This is what I like about the B selector. I often start in D and then I'll flick it quick into B for exactly the type of user you are suggesting here.
 
#45 ·
I’ve only had my car a week, but my daily commute is 15 miles one way in a mix of city driving with some stops and hills and highways, my speed (for the bulk of it is around 55 mph). I have been getting right on 44 miles (when I have extra driving in the day or 15 mi left at home with no extra driving)per charge. I haven’t had a low traffic day/time to play with B mode.

I stay pure electric in D and take opportunities to coast.

It’s been in the high 70/low 80s F here, and I have to park outside. My car is a toaster at the end of the workday. I have tried not to blast the A/C on the way home, but when I don’t, I get a “infotainment cooling” notice.
 
#47 ·
Is there any down side to leaving the T8 plugged into the charger after it is done? Sometimes we can go a day or so between driving. Less than 200 miles so far and I don't think we have use any gas . Need to get it out on the road and see how it does. So far no buyer's remorse. This car is replacing our 08 XC90 V8. I do like the jump of this car when you put your foot down but, I do miss that V8 sound.
 
#52 ·
I say, good on ya for the purchase. I just got a used '22 XC60 Polestar ER with 16K miles. It's only been a week with it, no glitches yet. I'm falling deeply in love with this car. Just the wife and I, no kids. We can compare metrics on paper and make arguments for any car over another, but the overall package and execution of this Volvo design is a home run for MY PERSONAL tastes, needs, and preferences. I enjoyed my '00 S80 T6 in almost every way too, but she needed a lot of significant warranty work at a very young, low miles age. I'm HOPING to avoid a repeat of that experience, but this is a much more complicated machine. I give up air suspension with the Polestar package. It has the smaller 21" Polestar wheels and it still rides notably firmer, but it's not in anyway abusive. In Pure, it feels like a magic carpet in corners. It is one of the most planted feeling cars I've ever driven, and that is having the Ohlins set at a moderate 10 dampening rate and newer Scorpion all-season rubber. The combo of terrific efficiency with on demand face-stretching acceleration, outstanding handing, beautiful design inside and out, and fit within my daily practical needs made it worthy of the reliability risks. The clincher was the nearly mint condition, Volvo certified used warranty, and about $18K less than new. Oh, the B&W sound system and the front seats. I have a hard time getting out of the car upon arrival when favorite tunes are playing! If she holds up over time, this is shaping up to be my favorite vehicle ever in my 55+ years.