- Volvo brings back the XC70 nameplate, which was previously used for a high-riding wagon.
- The new XC70 is a plug-in hybrid crossover with an impressive electric-only range.
- Few other details are known, aside from it being sold in China and possibly at some point in 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 electric-only use. Volvo, which is owned by Chinese car conglomerate Geely, is following that trend with the all-new XC70. It's billed 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) solely driven by electric motors. The new XC70, which unfortunately loses its cool wagon persona to become yet another crossover/SUV, likely shares its PHEV powertrain with the Lynk & Co 08, which has an identical quoted CLTC electric range. We say likely because, aside from the announcement that the XC70 exists, Volvo shared virtually no details about it.
The company says the new XC70 is built on a platform called SMA (Scalable Modular Architecture), but this is the first time we’ve heard anything about that. This could just be Volvo’s latest version of the CMA (Compact Modular Architecture) Evo, a platform used to underpin smaller models, including the Volvo XC40 and C40, as well as the Polestar 2.
As such, the crossover might just be a reskinned 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).
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.
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 regionalization, 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.
