It’s been widely publicized that demand for electric vehicles has tanked as of recently. This is largely due to the lack of charging infrastructure and the higher cost of EVs compared to their gas-powered counterparts. Now it looks like many automakers are dialing back their plans for EVs and are putting more effort into hybrids and plug-in hybrids. This is great news for buyers that want to transition to an electrified vehicle, but aren’t quite ready for a full EV.
It will likely be a few years until we see the new crop of hybrids and plug-in hybrid vehicles, but in the meantime there are some good options out there now. Volvo has taken a broader approach to electrifying its lineup, by offering hybrid, plug-in hybrid and fully electric vehicles. In fact its entire lineup is electrified.
It’s not hard to find a plug-in hybrid SUV, but what if you want a plug-in hybrid sedan? The options are fewer. This is largely because sedans have fallen out of favor in the US, but the good news is that Volvo offers a plug-in hybrid version of the flagship S90 sedan and the smaller S60. Both versions get “Recharge” branding to set them apart from the regular hybrid versions.
The 2024 Volvo S60 Recharge is the perfect option for buyers that want options. With up to 41 miles of electric range, that’s more than enough to get you to work and back home for your daily commute. Then once the battery is depleted the four-cylinder engine kicks on to keep you moving down the road. That means no range anxiety like you get with a full EV and you aren’t constantly mapping out every charger along your route, since you have the freedom to use gas if you choose to. With a full tank of gas, the S60 Recharge can travel up to 530 miles, making it the better road trip vehicle than an EV. It takes about five hours to recharge it using a Level 2 charger.
Under the hood, the S60 Recharge gets the same t8 eAWD powertrain as other Recharge models, which pairs a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder to an electric motor and an 8-speed automatic transmission. The S60 Recharge is no slouch with a combined 455 horsepower and 453 pound-feet of torque. The S60 Recharge can sprint to 60 mph time in only 4.3 seconds.
There are several drive modes to choose from: Pure (EV only), Hybrid, Power and Constant AWD. Those names are all pretty self explanatory. In Pure mode the S60 is only using the power from the battery and electric motor, while hybrid uses both the engine and electric motor depending on the driving situation. Power is the most fun drive mode, while Constant AWD provides the most traction. There are also two levels of brake region, but neither mode will bring the S60 to a full stop.
Around town the S60 Recharge is agile and fun to drive, especially in Power mode. The smoothness of the powertrain, especially when it switches between using the electric motor or the engine.
Inside the minimalistic cabin looks and feels luxurious, but at the same time a bit dated. Volvo’s current cabin design has been around since the introduction of the current generation XC90 that debuted way back in 2015. So it’s no surprise that its gauge cluster looks old and its 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system doesn’t feel as modern as you’d expect. The lack of wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, show how old the system is.
The pricing for the 2024 Volvo S60 Recharge starts at $53,145. It’s offered in three trim levels: Core, Plus and Ultimate. The top Ultimate trim level starts at $58,595.
At the end of the day, the Volvo S60 Recharge is a near perfect plug-in hybrid sedan for buyers that either aren’t ready to jump into a full EV or want the freedom to use either electricity or gas to get down the road.
