The Volvo XC70 Returns As A Long-Range Plug-In Hybrid

• Volvo brings back the XC70 nameplate, which previously designated a high-riding wagon.
• The new XC70 is a plug-in hybrid crossover with impressive electric range.
• We don’t know if it will be sold outside China yet, but it could make it to Europe.

When we were in China a few weeks ago, we noticed a strong trend of manufacturers putting big batteries in plug-in hybrids, giving them more than enough range for daily use. Volvo, which is owned by Chinese car conglomerate Geely, is following that trend with the all-new XC70, which the brand describes as an “extended-range plug-in hybrid” with 124 miles (200 km) of CLTC electric range.

That doesn’t mean it’s an extended range electric vehicle (EREV), whose combustion engine only charges the battery. The new XC70, which unfortunately isn’t a cool wagon but yet another crossover/SUV, likely shares its PHEV powertrain with the Lynk & Co 08, which has an identical quoted CLTC electric range.

Photo by: Volvo

Photo by: Volvo

Volvo says the new XC70 is built on a platform called SMA (Scalable Modular Architecture), but this is the first time we’re hearing about it. It could just be Volvo’s version of CMA (Compact Modular Architecture) Evo, a platform used to underpin smaller models, including the Volvo XC40 and C40, as well as the Polestar 2.

Therefore, the XC70 may be just Volvo’s version of the Lynk & Co 08, sharing its size, profile, powertrain, battery, and tech. It’s powered by a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine and an electric motor duo that together produce 585 hp and 667 lb-ft (905 Nm) of torque, sending the 08 to 62 mph (100 km/h) in 4.6 seconds.

The 08 is also rated at 124 miles CLTC thanks to a big 39.5-kilowatt-hour battery. It supports DC fast charging and can replenish its battery from 10 to 80% in 33 minutes. Its total range, including a full tank of fuel, is a claimed 683 miles (1,100 km). Geely announced that it intends to launch the Lynk&Co 08 in Europe to do the same with the Volvo XC70.

There is also a chance the XC70 isn’t related to the 08, and it could have an actual range extender powertrain, which Geely and Renault’s Horse powertrain subsidiary is known to be working on.

Photo by: Volvo

Volvo didn’t share much about the new XC70. Volvo’s back-at-the-helm boss Håkan Samuelsson said, “The XC70 marks our strategic entry into the extended-range plug-in hybrid segment, a perfect bridge to full electrification. It enables us to maintain and develop a balanced product portfolio while offering a highly attractive alternative to customers who are not yet ready for fully electric cars. This is also an example of regionalisation, where we adapt to the local market needs.”

In terms of its design, it looks a lot like the larger EX90 but with slightly different proportions. Volvo seems to be stepping into Audi’s shoes from a few years ago, when all models looked the same but were different sizes. If you saw the XC70 de-badged and in isolation, you would likely confuse it with another Volvo. It seems slightly lower, hinting at the XC70 nameplate’s raised wagon roots. Volvo says it’s “slightly larger and more spacious than the Volvo XC60” and promises to reveal more details in the next few months.