After driving the new Volvo EX30 a few weeks back I was just a little anxious when I picked the Volvo XC60 last week. Finding my way round the display screen on the EX30 had been a bit tricky, but no such worries in the old reliable XC60, which has got a black make-over this year.
Sales of fully electric cars have been dropping each month in Ireland this year and Volvo is the first company to publicly say they have abandoned plans to go fully electric by 2030. The EU had already pushed back the deadline for a complete switch to EV cars to 2035, which is a more realistic target.
Volvo say the will continue to produce plug-in vehicles as well as some hybrid engine cars. Many people seem to be happy to experiment with plug-in hybrid cars as they know that they can simply use petrol if they cannot find a charging station on some remote country road.
The XC60 was introduced in 2008; it was refreshed in 2013 and the second generation model came in 2017. Now for 2024 a special new black edition was launched and that’s the car I drove last week.
This special edition boasts an all-black design with a plethora of extra features. You would need a few pages to list the standard and extra items that are available. It’s powered by a 2.0-litre turbo charged petrol engine with an electric motor and 18l.8kWh lithium-ion battery pack.
The Volo logo, lettering, model and engine emblems all blend into the dark theme, complemented by impressive 21-inch alloys, which naturally are black. With a full charge you should be able to drive in full electric mode for approximately 78km, which is fine for daily trips to local shops and the school/sports runs.
One of my neighbours has a Volvo XC60 PHEV and she tells me that she can get enough energy from charging with a three-pin plug every night to do all those necessary run-arounds.
Over 65% of Volvo’s new car sale are plug-in hybrids, so there is no doubt they are popular with motorists conscious about the environment. Sales of plug-in hybrids are growing in Ireland, while sales of fully electric cars are not as good as in previous years.
Inside, the first item that grabs your attention is the Crystal Gear selector. These beautiful gear selectors that Volvo use have been made in the Swedish town of Kosta for hundreds of years.
Overall, the interior is very dark, but my test car had a sunroof which brightened the interior. The comfortable seats are made of charcoal ventilated Nappa leather. I really liked the high driving position; you do feel like ‘King of the Road’ in the XC60. It’s massive, but so easy to handle.
The boot is huge, but no spare wheel, which is now the norm for most cars whether petrol, diesel or electric. And when people talk about Volvo, one of the first words used is safety, which is paramount for the Swedish car company, now owned by a Chinese conglomerate.
Prices start at €67,995, while the Ultimate Black edition I drove will cost you €84,594. Road tax is €140. The official colour is Onyx Black and I drove the T6 version with 350 horse power. When Ann Sewell wrote her novel ‘Black Beauty’ back in 1877 it was about a horse and that title now perfectly describes this Volvo.
