New Volvo XC60 Goes 78 Miles on Electricity — 24 More Than Any PHEV in the US
A floor-mounted battery more than twice the size of today's pack pushes Volvo's two best-selling SUVs past the Mercedes GLC 350e's US record — by a wide margin.
Volvo has revealed long-range plug-in hybrid versions of its two best-selling SUVs, and the headline numbers reset the American PHEV market. The updated XC60 is good for up to 78 miles of electric-only driving, while the three-row XC90 manages 73. Both figures are preliminary EPA estimates, but if they hold, no plug-in hybrid sold in the US will come close.
That is more than double what today's T8 models offer: the current XC60 T8 is rated at 35 miles, the XC90 T8 at 32. The jump comes from a much larger battery integrated into the floor and a more powerful electric motor, with the 2.0-liter turbocharged gas engine still on standby for longer trips.
According to first-look reports published as the embargo lifted, the pack grows from 18.8 to 41.2 kWh. Despite roughly 200 pounds of extra weight, the XC60 T8 keeps its 455-hp combined output and 4.5-second run to 60 mph, and total gas-plus-electric range now stands at 590 miles.
Beating Mercedes by 24 miles
The current US record holder is the Mercedes-Benz GLC 350e, which the EPA rates at 54 miles from its 24.8-kWh battery. Volvo's claim of the longest electric range of any plug-in hybrid in America checks out against today's market — the XC60 would clear the Mercedes by 24 miles, the XC90 by 19.
Pricing is the open question. Volvo hasn't released numbers for either car, and the bigger battery won't be free: the current XC60 T8 starts at around $63,000, while the GLC 350e undercuts it at $61,050 including destination.
More than a battery swap
The XC60 also gets its most extensive redesign since this generation arrived in 2017. Everything ahead of the A-pillar is new — hood, bumper, grille, front fenders — along with fresh wheel designs and a slimmer take on the signature Thor's Hammer LED headlights.
At the back, a reworked tailgate, LED lamps, and bumper lean harder on horizontal lines to visually widen the car.
Inside, there's a new dashboard and door-panel design, an 11.2-inch display running the latest Volvo Car UX, and Google Gemini as the built-in voice assistant, handling navigation, stops, and messages in natural language.
The safety hardware has been upgraded too. An additional front radar and improved 360-degree cameras feed systems that can steer or brake automatically to avoid a collision, and warn passengers about approaching cyclists before a door opens.
The XC90 skips the styling changes — it was refreshed recently — but gains the same long-range powertrain and Gemini assistant. Both SUVs remain available as B5 mild hybrids for buyers who don't want a plug.
Production starts this fall, with US deliveries expected in early 2027; American media are already filing the cars as 2028 model year. Like all new Volvos, both will receive over-the-air updates, and pricing should land closer to the on-sale date.
