GoKawiilThat extra range comes courtesy of a revised powertrain that relies on the same 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine combined with electric motors as previous models, but it's now paired with an even bigger battery pack in the middle. Specifically, it offers 41.2-kilowatt-hours of capacity, of which 37.9 kWh is usable.
The result is unchanged system power output, specifically 455 horsepower through all four wheels, but you get that boosted 78-mile range figure. That's way up from the 35 miles on a charge before.
The bigger, three-row XC90 gets the same powertrain upgrade, running the same engine-and-motor combination to deliver 73 miles on a charge and 560 miles of total range if you factor in a tank of gasoline, too.
That extra all-electric range should make these machines a lot more practical for daily commuters. It's far enough that most people should be able to make the school and work run multiple times without plugging in. It also makes them quite quick. The XC60 in plug-in T8 form gets to 60 mph from a standstill in 4.5 seconds, with the XC90 just 0.4 seconds behind.
Don't want something with a plug? Volvo will still offer the B5 flavor of the XC60, which has a mild hybrid setup offering 247 horsepower, 266 pound-feet of torque and an EPA rating of 26 MPG combined. The XC90 B5 also lives on, also with 247 horsepower, or there's a quicker B6 mild hybrid, with 295 hp.