Volvo XC60 T8 Recharge – long-term review

Welcome to the latest newcomer to the TG Garage. A Volvo XC60 T8 (that doesn’t mean a V8 is under the bonnet), in red, on what can only be described as the largest wheels possible. But like me, I hope you agree that it looks, umm, rad, as the kids would say. I’m big fan of the design and look of Volvos and this is no exception.

But it's what's under the sharper-than-the-Germans' skin that's of deeper interest. Time was when you'd default to diesel power for a car like this. Not any more.

We opted for the plug-in hybrid T8 with the R-Design package. Gadgets galore, and the typical safety features you expect. A 320bhp 2.0-litre engine and 87bhp from the electric motor give an impressive 407bhp total. A 400bhp Volvo school bus? That's got to be worth closer investigation. Especially when it's claimed to phut out the CO2 emissions of a hamster.

I’ve wanted to run a hybrid for a while as my life was, until recently, a solid block of daily commuting to the station, so this car made complete sense. Now of course, life has changed for all of us. I'm looking forward to seeing how this clever family car adapts.