What is the best Plug-in Hybrid SUV?

[kempez]

My wife decided on a 2024 Volvo xc60 recharge... ~41 miles on electric range- She just put in gas after two months of ownership- she really only uses electric unless driving long distances. The car will still have full AWD even with battery depletion. She loves it... she was moving from a lexus hybrid... she also liked the Lexus NX PHEV .. she liked both but ultimately decided on a Volvo (I think she just wanted to drive a different car after 10 years in a lexus)... xc60 so far has been fine - note that its max charge rate is 3.6kW so it will take about 3.5-4 hours to charge. The google software works pretty well though if you read the volvo forums early versions were buggy.. recent updates added the apple maps (when on a guided route) to the dashboard replacing the google map... also youtube (when parked).... all in all a good choice for her.

Good to hear the range update is better in the newer models and the Google software an improvement too ?

The XC XX's are really good cars and built like Volvo's!

 

[Avantgarde]

not necessarily - I believe the X5's strenghts will be used more day to day than the superior driving manners of the Cayenne - for around town the two SUv's are equivalent - Cayenne is superior in spirited driving and there is no way the X5 Hybrid would be as good a camera platform on track as my 2021 Cayenne was a year or so ago…

but day to day to day - the X5's parking 3D view is AWESOME, phone as a key, better infotainment, and slightly better ride and slightly less sporty might appeal to the kids/spouse grocery getter and soccer practice jobs/tasks - space/cargo is about identical, range about identical

I give the nod to the X5 over the Cayenne for day to day to day duties and the better software and parking surround view will be used every day - the Cayenne's strengths are mostly lost on most spouses and kids - but you pay dearly for them in terms of retail price - X5 hybrids are also easier to get and less constrained and not quite the unobtainium that Cayenne Hybrids …

I give the nod to the X5 hybrid based on:

• similar build quality
• nearly identical dimensions (cargo & exterior)
  • 1, 2, 4 adult comfort is about the same front and rear
• styling of both is more than acceptable in my opinion
• Cayenne superior driving for high performance driving (not done a lot in an SUV) - but around town and off track is there really a difference?
• X5 has dramatically better software systems and feature set
• identical range in pure EV mode
• similar/identical quality interior materials if you option them
• X5 hybrids can be had for 30-40% less than similar Cayenne and can actually be "had" in less time than a Porsche dealer will take to return your call

it's a hard call for my personally - but my good buddy has an X5 hybrid and I'm very very very very hard pressed to find where my extra money went when I compare my 2021 Cayenne TurboS eHybrid to his 2022 X5 hybrid…and his parking surround view looks like you're carrying a extra person around with you to fly a drone around your car while you're parking it.

there is no way the X5 hybrid would chase down my Cayenne on track and that application will separate the two vehicle's - no question. But I'm hard pressed to give the nod to the Cayenne over the X5 based on superior track manners and stamina - it's just not a thing you buy SUV's to do…especially hybrid-SUV's…there is no question the Cayenne has some superior mechanicals and high end capabilities - I just don't see the use case for a hybrid SUV "needing" that and paying the price for it…for which Porsche charges aggressively. The X5 is close enought (cause it's pretty good) that unless you're tracking the 2 vehicles I defy anyone to show me the difference.

I suggest test driving both and pricing them head to head and make your own call - but it's a strong contender IMHO and you will save actual meaningful monies.

Completely agree with this. X5 45e is our second car sitting next to taycan, and even though it is a different proposition i am amazed by the value it represents. Software, refibement powertrain and regen brake tuning, all amazingly well done. And they are priced very well in the US. When i build the exact same spec taycan and x5 45e we have in the german website the price difference is MUCH smaller to the US. X5 is a bargain in the us for sure.

 

[ejcintr]

re PHEV DCFC, the new Mercedes GLE 450e has that. Otherwise, not a PHEV feature except for a few relatively obscure models.

I don't think its needed on a PHEV personally... the batteries are usually pretty small so charging at home does not take that much time and if my wife is any indication - she'll drive on the gas engine until she can charge at home... I think 'out of spec' just did a review on the GLE 450e - he was pretty enthusiastic about the electric range and the fact it could do DCFC)..

 

[Jonathan S.]

That was my impression too -- DCFC would be a nice little extra for PHEV, but hardly a necessity.
By contrast, the AC L2 kw rate on some PHEV is way slower than on any BEV. Still fine for overnight charging, but definitely a drawback for topping off at a public AC L2.
(Now where's that M5 Touring! Will be interesting to see if the PHEV drivetrain is solely for enhancing drivetrain performance or also offers some decent EV-only range.)

 

[DGW]

IMO, nothing beats the PHEV selection from Volvo. They have some of the longest ranges available in all electric. They also give you a true plug-in hybrid, so that you can truly maximize the battery rather than a mild hybrid. Also, once the battery is depleted, the net MPG you will get on gasoline in the Volvo is class best in most cases.

What others have said is also true, that the Cayenne is amazing. But, if you're going that route, you probably care more about performance. Porsche chassis dynamics would best most any car out there, definitely Volvo, and probably BMW/Audi too. So it may really depend on what you value most.

We have had a LOT of newer BEV products from Volvo and the Google based infotainment system is divine. While the ride quality of Volvo isn't on the same level as BMW/Porsche, the infotainment, software (mobile app etc), and infotainment, are easier to use. My wife is replacing her Volvo XC40 BEV with a new EX30 BEV when they arrive next year; but she is anxious to see if the Macan BEV is worth going to a Porsche. That said, she is not a fan of the PCM UX compared to Volvo.

Good luck/happy shopping!

we were one of the first owners of the Volvo xc90 r-design phev back in 2016, had that car for 4 years - amazing build quality and didn't have any major issues, the safety features are top-notch, however, the range of the first gen xc90 (+/- 7khw battery)was disappointing with 32km at full charge in the summer, 20km in the winter, the facelift version had an updated battery capacity upto 50km at a full charge.
if you are after the real range of the PHEV, Mercedes gle delivers nearly 100km range at full charge, and Land Range Rogue phev 410e has a similar range, and defender 110e with lower range, however the quality and maintenance will be disappointing. if I were you, I'd go for a Cayanne my24 e-hybrid with some essential options it ends up at 140-150k, and no onboarding as it: 's just a bigger Taycan in terms of infotainment.

 

[snstevens]

So we have a late 2021 XC90 T8. Would I recommend it? A tough question but overall yes I would. Further info and reasons.

Pro's:

• Interior - The interior is excellent. Thoughtful and stylish and (if not in the black leather my wife insists on choosing with every car), very attractive. The screen and system is a bit out of date now but the newer models have an updated version. Screen is still a bit outdated even then, though IMO.
• Ride - The ride quality is absolutely superb. We specifically didn't opt for the 'Ultimate' spec and so ours doesn't have air, and as I wanted large tyres and smaller wheels to stop curbing (and boy was I correct in that), as my wife has a tendency to drive very close to kerbs and we often go down roads that need a bit more rubber for protection from scraped wheels. The air suspension is even better but again imo the larger tyres offset some of that and it rides brilliantly.
• Space. It's huge. Vast. It's designed for maximum interior space and it shows. There are also clever storage touches everywhere in the car.
• Rear Seats (6-7) - The rear seats are able to seat a full sized adult in comfort for long journeys. Not many can but the XC90 can and they're really comfortable imo, unless you're 6'8" or something and even then it would work for a short journey.
• Power - especially with the battery charged, it's a very quick car, considering how absolutely huge it is. Surprised a lot of people! Power mode in particular is very swift.
• Design - I think it looks great. Not in a show-off-y way but in an elegant and subtle styling way. It suits us.
• Noise - it's very quite for a car with such a large cabin.
• Extra's/Packs - The winter pack with heated front screen/steering wheel etc is great and good value.
• Relaxing - it's just incredibly relaxing to drive any distance at all in it.
• Grip on-road - for a massive car it has a large amount of grip on the Conti eco-contact tyres it has on it.
• Mild off-road - it takes it all in it's stride and it incredibly sure-footed.

Con's

• EV-only range - Ours is a 2021 model and doesn't have much EV-only range. 25-30 miles on a very good and warm day in 'Pure' (EV-only). 20ish in hybrid. Newer models list 40 miles or so which is better but nowhere near class-leading. It will stretch the power out if you set a destination and manage itself, but I've found it never automatically charges it's own battery. Which brings me onto...
• Software and EV management - compared to our Porsche's and especially Tesla, it really is nowhere near up to what it should be. The app is slow, clunky and takes an age to get up to date information (like SOC). The battery doesn't charge itself or hold unless you ask it to, which I feel is something it should definitely do. I also feel PHEV's should have options to set a destination and tell the car it will also need to go back home so that it can keep battery for the times when you are around town/local and charge when you are flowing on a motorway/A-road or whatever. Not good. I don't know if the newer models are any better, but I don't think they're better enough.
• Engine noise - the engine sound is very unrefined. I think a more refined petrol V6 would have been a better engine to put in this. Mind, the VW EA888 is a much more refined sounding engine and that is a 2.0, 4-pot!
• In-car Entertainment - it's OK but could be better. Ours is wired Carplay that only fills half the portrait screen, so this definitely could be better
• No fast charging - OK this is true for all PHEV's I think, but a bit of an faster charge capability would be much appreciated as it would make top-ups much more convenient!
• Numb steering - yes it's a Volvo, yes it's an SUV, yes it feels like it's floating on a small cloud and yes I miss my Taycan immensely if I drive the Volvo for any extended drive!
• Modes - are a pain to set and it requires 3 actions to change.

Overall it's an absolutely excellent car. We get 50.4 MPG over 15,000 miles as a total average and on weeks when we're only local, we've gone for over a month on electricity alone. We absolutely love the car and the space in it is used 3-4 times a week and the extra seats at least 3-4 times a month. The ride quality alone is so relaxing. It also gives you this cocooning type of feeling of absolute safety and that's great when you've the whole family and a boot stuffed full of luggage.

It does reserve energy to use in the event you want to use it in all-wheel mode, or the car feels it needs all 4 wheels to avoid slip. I think most of the time it is only 2 wheel drive though. You can force it into all-wheel mode via the screen with a few taps. The higher range cars have a mode button (but huge wheels!).

It's a great car overall and we will consider a new one when we need to replace it. But we're also considering a Tesla Model Y as well as other BEV options as these are just starting to make a lot more sense for us and our use-case. We really do love it (especially my wife), and it's got a personality and is a bit of a part of the family, unlike our previous cars which were a bit dull and lifeless (Passat estates).

Hope this helped!

Great review - Thanks!

 

[snstevens]

I don't think its needed on a PHEV personally... the batteries are usually pretty small so charging at home does not take that much time and if my wife is any indication - she'll drive on the gas engine until she can charge at home... I think 'out of spec' just did a review on the GLE 450e - he was pretty enthusiastic about the electric range and the fact it could do DCFC)..

Thanks for sharing!

 

[snstevens]

My wife decided on a 2024 Volvo xc60 recharge... ~41 miles on electric range- She just put in gas after two months of ownership- she really only uses electric unless driving long distances. The car will still have full AWD even with battery depletion. She loves it... she was moving from a lexus hybrid... she also liked the Lexus NX PHEV .. she liked both but ultimately decided on a Volvo (I think she just wanted to drive a different car after 10 years in a lexus)... xc60 so far has been fine - note that its max charge rate is 3.6kW so it will take about 3.5-4 hours to charge. The google software works pretty well though if you read the volvo forums early versions were buggy.. recent updates added the apple maps (when on a guided route) to the dashboard replacing the google map... also youtube (when parked).... all in all a good choice for her.

Very helpful feedback. Thanks!