This is a really fascinating question, and something I've never thought about.

Frankly, I have no idea. But a few educated guesses:

1. I would guess in pure mode, you are right, it will probably be RWD only.

2. In hybrid mode, the engine will probably keep going on a lot of the time anyway as it needs to keep itself warm and ready to act. In this case, I'm sure the delay in switching to AWD mode when necessary will be minimal as hybrid modes tend to be.

3. You're Swedish. You guys aren't even allowed to get your licenses unless and until you've completed a crazy awesome amount of snow/ice/drift training behind the wheel. You'll be fine.

 

Well, the first thing I'll say is that in AWD mode, the T8 is excellent in snow -- easily on par with all-gas Audis and MBs I have owned.

On the pure mode, yes, it is RWD. And yes, in the snow, a couple of times I switched it from pure to AWD because it was slipping. Would you be driving with the engine on all the time? I wouldn't unless I really needed AWD. It makes no difference to stop the vehicle, though of course it helps it not to slip and to better handle things like inclines. So, in a winter climate I knew well (Canada), we easily drove SUVs in rear wheel drive only mode until the road or the snow was bad enough that AWD was necessary. I suspect the T8 would be the same, although it is much easier to switch it electronically than those vehicles were with the transaxles.

The other thing about the T8 is it is in fact three different vehicles. First, it's a capable SUV, just like the T6. Second, it is an electric vehicle with a limited range, which matters to some (we are among those). You would be able to have both. Third -- it is powerful, and quick: 25% mores than the T6 on paper, when both he engines are engaged in AWD. If that matters to you, it is in fact decently quick with both engaged.

Would I have a T8 over a T6 in your climate? Absolutely. But others will, if I know this site, vehemently disagree.

 

Well, the first thing I'll say is that in AWD mode, the T8 is excellent in snow -- easily on par with all-gas Audis and MBs I have owned.

On the pure mode, yes, it is RWD. And yes, in the snow, a couple of times I switched it from pure to AWD because it was slipping. Would you be driving with the engine on all the time? I wouldn't unless I really needed AWD. It makes no difference to stop the vehicle, though of course it helps it not to slip and to better handle things like inclines. So, in a winter climate I knew well (Canada), we easily drove SUVs in rear wheel drive only mode until the road or the snow was bad enough that AWD was necessary. I suspect the T8 would be the same, although it is much easier to switch it electronically than those vehicles were with the transaxles.

The other thing about the T8 is it is in fact three different vehicles. First, it's a capable SUV, just like the T6. Second, it is an electric vehicle with a limited range, which matters to some (we are among those). You would be able to have both. Third -- it is powerful, and quick: 25% mores than the T6 on paper, when both he engines are engaged in AWD. If that matters to you, it is in fact decently quick with both engaged.

Would I have a T8 over a T6 in your climate? Absolutely. But others will, if I know this site, vehemently disagree.

@adrien: I vehemently agree with you. artywave:

 

According to US Fuel Economy tests just released, you should se

https://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/bymodel/2016_Volvo_XC90.shtml

Highway
Elec+Gas kWhrs/100 miles
- 58

Combined
-
MPGe
- 53

Combined
-

 

Your question is best answered by deciding what is most important to you. I can share some of my experiences for what it is worth as I live in northern USA above the 45th parallel where I am inland and typically have 4-5 months of winter, too.

For some context, I came from a 4Runner (V6) that made about 19.5 MPG with combined driving. Regardless, my fuel economy is much better in both winter and summer compared to my 4Runner. In the dead of winter, I have outside air temperatures (OAT) in the average range of -20F to +20F (e.g., this past Feb).

I have had my T8 for 1 1/2 months (so I do not have the full experiences as others - especially those in certain areas of the EU). With OAT lows between -20F and 0F, I averaged a little over 23 MPG mostly in hybrid mode on one charge per day. I love the "B" gear which offers controlled engine braking and electric regeneration up to a minimum of 33% battery capacity when you release the accelerator (or lightly press the brake pedal when not in B). As temperatures have been warming up, I am getting more than 33 MPG on average for combined driving on one charge per day. Recently, I am getting +50 MPG on my 12 mile roundtrip commute.

Whether ICE starts and runs depends on your OAT and whether you are in AWD. ICE will start and run for a few minutes below 25 F at least to warm up the engine - even in hybrid and pure modes. If you are need to be in AWD, ICE will likely run although I have not had the need to run AWD this year. At a minimum, the electric motor has benefits for at least seven months per year. My experience has been that the range on one charge is about 9 miles during the winter where OAT is between -20F to +20F. The range seems to increase about one mile for every 10F above +20F. Of course, the range varies based on other factors like speed. My commute is about 12 miles per day and I love the fact that for +210 days a years I will be able to commute +90% of the time on electricity (e.g., 35-60 MPG) on a single charge.

Some considerations are:
1. What are your average low and high outside air temperatures during the winter months (where below 0F has a more significant impact)?
2. How many KM/miles is your average one day commute (where 9 miles is average range with temps below +20F)?
3. Can you charge more than once per day (where twice a day is optimal for cold weather driving)?
4. Do you normally drive in hilly terrain (... might be a silly question in Sweden) where you can regenerate electricity on extended downhills and regenerate on snow/ice with engine braking and less risk of sliding?
5. Will you be running snow tires to maximize traction, et al during the winter months (as opposed to all season which I used just fine as a mostly flatlander)?
6. Are your roads almost always snow-packed and/or ice-packed (which means that you may be in AWD more often with ICE running)?
7. Do you want the extra power and torque whether for fun, towing/camping or some combination?

Based on my limited experience, I offer the following to your specific questions:
1. My understanding is that engaging AWD mode in the T8 also engages the combustion engine. Yes, that is my understanding.
2. Would I have to be driving with the combustion engine running more or less constantly during those pesky winter months? More often but only if you want to have AWD on all of the time. I understand Hybrid and Pure modes will mitigate slip, but others may want to chime in.
3. In other words, no benefit from the electric motor? No, the electric motor still has benefits; and it just depends if you want to always be in AWD which I hope you will find is not always necessary, but you are the expert for your area.)
4. I assume if I drive in pure mode it'll stay in pure mode, and RWD, even if the wheels start slipping? No, ICE can compensate, but I defer to others who have more experience and/or knowledge.
5. And in hybrid mode, will the combustion engine wake up in order to save the day should the rear wheels start to spin? Mostly yes, as hybrid mode engages ICE as needed.
6. Basically, what I'm getting at is, in my climate, would it make more sense to go with the T6? This might be more of an emotional and personal decision than a scientific one. A T8 with 50%-100% more range would be optimal in cold weather. With that said, I have no regrets with my T8 and actually love it now that I have embarked on the other 210 days of the year.

I hope this helps and my response is not too disjointed. The T8 is absolutely a blast to drive, but I also enjoyed the T6 before I made the final decision. Good luck in your decision - as you cannot go wrong either way.

 

Thanks you so much guys for your detailed responses and valuable insight! And just to clarify, when I wrote "no benefit from the electric motor" in AWD mode, what I really meant was no fuel efficiency effect Would be interesting to confirm if the hybrid mode, and even the pure mode, will allow the combustion engine to fire up in case of slip, and not only if the extra power is needed (or battery power gets low). Surely, the engineers at Volvo must have given it some thought.

I should also mention that I did test drive the T6, and it was a blast! Couldn't believe the power of that little 2-liter engine. The dealer didn't have a T8 in store, but I'm hoping to find one and try at some point before I place an order. In the meantime I'll be following the discussions on this brilliant forum. Exciting times!

 

It seems that AWD and LSC are your best solutions for anti-slip. I don't know about Hybrid and Pure. Others will need to chime in.

Here are some excerpts from the US T8 owners manual:

All Wheel Drive (AWD)
Your Volvo can be equipped with All Wheel Drive, which means that power is distributed automatically between the front and rear wheels.

Under normal driving conditions, most of the engine's power is directed to the front wheels. Homwever, if there is any tendency for the front wheels to spin, an electronically controlled coupling distributes power to the wheels that have the best traction.

AWD reacts differently, depending on the drive mode selected.

Low Speed Control (LSC)
Low Speed Control (LSC) helps make off-road driving easier on slippery surfaces when towing a trailer on grass, etc. This feature is part of the Off Road drive mode.

When driving at low speeds, LSC prioritizes low gears and all wheel drive to help avoid wheel spin and to improve the vehicle's tractive force. The accelerator pedal and engine react differently to make low-speed driving easier.
It is activated along with Hill Descent Control (HDC), which increases engine braking to help keep vehicle speed low and smooth, even driving down steep hills.
Activating LSC

Select the Off Road drive mode to activate the function. Select any other drive mode to turn it off.

NOTE. When LSC with HDC is activated by the Off Road drive mode, the feel of the accelerator pedal and engine response will change.

The function is deactivated when driving at higher speeds and must be reactivated at lower speeds if so desired.

HYBRID
This is the default mode.

The vehicle normally starts in Hybrid mode . The engine management system uses both the electric motor and gasoline engine (separately or in tandem) and calculates the optimal levels of performance, fuel consumption and comfort. At higher speeds, ground clearance is reduced automatically to help reduce wind resistance.

The amount of driving done using only the electric motor in Hybrid mode is determined by the hybrid battery's charge level and the need for heating/cooling in the passenger compartment.
If sufficient electrical energy is available, only the electric motor will be activated when the driver presses the accelerator pedal up to a certain level. Above this level, the gasoline engine will start.

The instrument panel gauge when both the electric motor and gasoline engine are being used
The long needle in the gauge indicates the amount of energy that the vehicle is currently using. The short white line between the "lightning" and "oil drop" symbols indicates the amount of energy available. See also the article "General information about the XC90 T8 Twin Engine Plug-in Hybrid" for additional information.
The gasoline engine starts when the response required when the driver presses the accelerator pedal cannot be provided by the electric motor alone.

The gauge also indicates when the battery is being recharged (regenerated) during light braking. See the article "Brakes" for additional information.

When the hybrid battery's charge level is low, the gasoline engine will start more often to help conserve electrical energy. Charge the battery with the charging cable as soon as possible or switch to the Save drive mode.

PURE
This mode activates the electric motor only with as low energy consumption as possible and the lowest possible carbon dioxide emissions.

Ground clearance will be lowered to help reduce wind resistance and certain climate system functions will be reduced.

Pure mode is available when the hybrid battery is sufficiently charged. If the level gets too low, the gasoline engine will start.

The gasoline engine will also start:

• If the vehicle's speed goes above approx. 75 mph (125 km/h)
• If the driver wants more response than the electric motor alone can provide
• If factors such as cold weather, etc., affect the system or components

To restart the climate system functions that have been reduced in the mode, press the, AUTO or defroster buttons.

SAVE
This mode makes it possible to save electrical energy (hybrid battery charge) for times when using the electric motor is more suitable (e.g., city driving).

Using the electric motor only saves more fuel at low speeds than at high ones. Therefore, use the SAVE mode primarily when the hybrid battery's charge level is high and driving will initially be at highway speeds but will end with city driving when electric driving is preferable.

If the hybrid battery's charge level is low when this mode is selected, the gasoline engine will start and charge the hybrid battery up to approx. 33%. If the battery's charge level is already above 33%, this level will be maintained by the engine management system, which will start/stop the gasoline engine in the same way as in Hybrid drive mode.

This mode increases fuel consumption because the gasoline engine is used to conserve battery charge for later use.

 

The best of Swedespeed on display in this thread...

 

More excerpts from US Owners manual

Hill Descent Control (HDC)
HDC is a type of low-speed automatic engine brake and makes it possible to increase or decrease the vehicle's speed on steep downhill gradients using only the accelerator pedal, without applying the brakes.

HDC is integrated into the Off Road drive mode.
HDC is particularly useful when driving down steep hills with rough surfaces, and where the road may have slippery patches.

WARNING
HDC does not function in all situations, and is a supplementary braking aid. The driver has full responsibility for driving in a safe manner.

Function
HDC allows the vehicle to roll forward or in reverse at very low speed with enhanced engine braking. However, speed can be adjusted with the accelerator pedal. When the accelerator pedal is released, the vehicle will return to very low speed.
The driver can use the brakes to slow or stop the vehicle at any time.

HDC is activated along with Low Speed Control (LSC), which together make driving on slippery surfaces at low speeds easier.
When HDC and LSC are activated, this changes the response from the accelerator pedal and engine.

Activating HDC
Select the Off Road drive mode to activate the function.
Select any other drive mode to turn it off.

NOTE
When LSC with HDC is activated by the Off Road drive mode, the feel of the accelerator pedal and engine response will change.
The function is deactivated when driving at higher speeds and must be reactivated at lower speeds if so desired

Know Your Volvo App
Driving Your T8

The rear wheels are driven by an electric motor. Your car is equipped with a powerful engine driven generator called an ISG (Integrated Starter Generator). The ISG produces electrical power as needed on demand. This means that AWD is always available, regardless of the battery's state of charge.

 

Without direct knowledge from the engineering department no one can probably give you an accurate response. If the terrain that you travels requires 100% AWD mode, then in theory the combustion engine would be running to keep up charge levels for the electric only rear wheels. However in reality, unless your daily commute is through the artic everyday, the rear wheels wont need as much power and would probably be fine. Again guesses not facts

 

Thanks a million guys! Very helpful. Even though it sometimes seems like my daily commute is "through the arctic" during the winter, it really isn't. From the information you guys have provided, it seems a T8 should be more than capable for my needs. Now let's see what the wallet (and the missus) have to say about the appx. 12000 USD price difference up from the T6

 

Sell her the smoothness and effortlessness from standstill. That's where hybrids shine. Different level of luxury. Plus you will get the fuel heater which is again different level of luxury. Then you don't have to spec heated screen and can have HUD. And sunroof is included on T8. It's taking care of 4-5k of difference. The rest you will recover from resale value. Same price really.

 

Good points! I'm already working on the "safest car in the world" and "environmentally friendly" story. We'll see how it goes

 

T8 is a different beast altogether. It doesn't drive the same, whether it's the silent operation on electric (which is cool), the right-now massive torque, or the rush of 400hp shoving you forward on AWD. It's not just an electric assisted T6, it's notably quicker when you hammer it, and silent for wafting about town.

It would be worth looking into the tax breaks you can receive. Even in the oil-obsessed USA there is a decent tax break on it which makes up for some of the difference.

Then there is the fuel efficiency, which, if you plug it in every evening, can be quite high depending on your commute and usage. For us, if we drive on the highway for any distance we get about 27 MPG, which is a couple higher than the T6 (no biggie). But driving around town without a trip beyond the routine, we're now averaging 40mpg (and it is still going up), simply by plugging it in overnight and spending an extra dollar or so on electricity.

If the drive and the character and the idea of the T8 speak to you and it feels worthwhile, get it. If you'd like a really nice Volvo SUV that, aside from being a Volvo, is like its competitors in the marketplace, then get a T6. But shopping a T8 on economy, alas, is an exercise in creative math at this point, unless your government has chosen to intervene.

 

I'm also wondering if the T8 is worth it here in Northern Canada because of the many months around 0F... thanks a lot Gary and adrien for your answers

I asked my wife to move to SoCal, so we could buy a T8 and never look back

I was wondering, though, if a battery-depleted T8 wasn't just as bad as a FWD-until-patch-of-ice-then-AWD car (like an old Toyota RAV4) ? Because when the battery is empty, in hybrid mode, the T8 is FWD, and only send electricity to the rear if it's slippery (or if you put the car in AWD mode...) Not like the T6 which is full time AWD... As I drive on ice nearly as often as a Swede, I was wondering too if the T6 wasn't the better choice. What's your opinion ?

 

FYI: the battery will never be empty and you will always have enough charge for AWD traction.

 

The only concern in cold area is the temperature and battery efficiency, D5 probably is better than T8, in Europe.

 

I don't have too much to add - great thread.

I live in the northeast US - not too much of a winter here this year, warmest on record and maybe the least amount of snow (though sounds like we may get hammerd with a storm on Sunday).

I've been keeping accurate records studying my T8 economy - and for sure when it was extremely cold (like -20C to -5C) the electric range was quite a bit less than it is say when it is +10C to +15C (almost 20% less).

I owned two XC90's previous to the 2016 XC90 T8 that I have now. Subjectively the T8 has much better 4WD / AWD handling than the previous vehicles. But I'll also note that on a couple of occasion I forgot about how to drive a rear wheel drive car - put the vehicle in Pure mode and then exited my driveway, parking lot, etc. and accelerated too quickly getting a surprise and a bit of spin out of the vehicle. (Yes - there is a lot of torque with the electric drive as well.) Note: I have the 20-inch OEM Pirelli's that came with the vehicle - all season - I wouldn't consider those snow tires.

Even without dedicated snow tires - the T8 in AWD mode handled flawlessly in everything I've experienced this winter (what little we've had of it).

 

The T8 also handled flawlessly in Hybrid, Pure and Save modes on snow-packed roads. To re-iterate, AWD will always have power available via the ICE generator even if the battery is otherwise depleted.

I still love to use the "B" gear selection for braking (and to generate electricity as a side benefit) when driving on snow-packed and icy roads when I need to slow down and want to avoid touching the brake. Like rpmccormick, I am continuing to learn how and when to use "B" in local driving. I am not using it as much as I use to but then central MN no longer has snow (except for flurries today).

 

Well, in case anyone is wondering how this all ended, I placed an order for a MY17 XC90 T8 this weekend! Onyx black, amber leather, walnut trim. I was shocked (and happy!) to hear Volvo now claims only 3 months for delivery, although the sales rep told me I should prepare for a wait of 6 months, worst case. Still, a lot better than I had feared! Sounds like Volvo has kicked their factory into overdrive to meet demand.

Thanks for your help in deciding, guys! I promise to be more active on the forum as soon as the car arrives!

 

Have you received a delivery date on Min Volvo yet? I had one that was about 3 months away, but last week it changed to 5 months. My dealer told me that all MY17 T8 orders have been delayed.

 

I agree with much of what has been says in the thread. I own a T8 way up in Canada and have driven it in deep snow and cold weather. It performs very very well. I agree a bit more electric miles would be great. The Off road mode is perfect for steep hills and deep snow and AWD on icy roads, but I can return to Hybrid/Pure the moment it is well salted/sanded or dry roads. Downhill regeneration is impressive, drive down a steep 8 km incline (with zero battery left) and get 8 free electric kilometres in the valley. The one issue I have had is that in deep wet slushy snow the wheel wells get jambed with frozen icy/snow and this causes big vibrations at higher speeds (+70km/h). At first it felt like the whole drive train system was failing but by simply hacking out the ice (not great around tires...) the problem was resolved but returned quickly. The space between the tire and the top of the well is small, normally on other cars these formations build up in the bottom and fall off but somehow in the XC90 they build up inside the well. Have other experienced this issue ?