The 2028 Volvo XC60 PHEV shows how Volvo is answering slower full-EV demand. The brand is not dropping plug-in hybrids. Instead, it more than doubled electric range. Volvo says the new T8 can travel 126 kilometres on electricity alone. That is about 2.5 times farther than the outgoing XC60 PHEV.
What’s new in the 2028 Volvo XC60 PHEV
The 2028 Volvo XC60 PHEV still uses a turbo 2.0-litre four-cylinder. Volvo rebuilt the hybrid system around it. Battery capacity jumps from about 17 kWh to 41.2 kWh. Engineers now place the pack under the floor, like an EV battery. They also shrank the transmission tunnel, so the cabin gains a little space.
The rear electric motor now makes 174 horsepower on its own. Combined output is 455 hp and 560 lb-ft of torque. The current XC60 PHEV makes 401 hp. The T8 keeps all-wheel drive. Volvo will also offer a B5 mild-hybrid gas model.
Volvo says total driving range with gas and electric power tops 1,200 kilometres. The same new PHEV system will go into the 2028 XC90, with 117 km of electric range.
One miss for Canadian road trips remains. Volvo is keeping a J1772 charge port for now and is not fitting NACS at launch. That may change for 2029.
Design, tech, and safety
This third-generation XC60 is not a clean-sheet car. It is a major refresh after a decade of the second-gen model. The front gets a new grille, a more sculpted hood, and simpler Thor’s Hammer LED lights. Volvo also cleaned up the tailgate, bumper, and rear lights. New 20- and 21-inch wheels are available.
Inside, an 11.2-inch vertical centre screen replaces the old 9-inch display. Google Gemini is the new voice assistant. It should make navigation and messages easier. Buyers can add a Bowers & Wilkins stereo.
Volvo also updated the safety hardware. New cameras, radar, and ultrasonic sensors improve parking and add a door-open alert for cyclists. A 360-degree camera with 3D view is available. Lane-change assist joins Pilot Assist. The suite also includes emergency steering, automatic emergency braking, and collision avoidance.
Canada timing and price
Volvo has not released Canadian pricing. Dealers should get the 2028 Volvo XC60 PHEV in the first half of 2027.
For many Canadian drivers, 126 km of electric range can cover a weekday commute without using gas. Highway trips still have the 2.0-litre engine as backup. That mix is why PHEVs still fit this market well.