There are three trims available on the 2022 Volvo XC60 Recharge Plug-in hybrid: Inscription, R-design, and Polestar Engineered. The Inscription trim itself has two levels namely Inscription Expression and Inscription. The base Inscription Expression trim cost $55,345 and with $7,500 more you can get the Inscription sub trim. The Inscription trim comes with standard features such as 18″ 5-Double Spoke Black Diamond Cut Alloy Wheels, premium cloth/textile upholstery, cruise control, power-adjustable steering wheel, rain-sensing wipers, cross-traffic alerts, and tinted rear windows. 

Upgrade the base XC60 Recharge PHEV to Inscription and you will enjoy a leather-wrapped steering wheel, Crystal gear selector knob by Orrefors, 19-inch 5-Multi Spoke Black Diamond Cut Alloy Wheels, rear-center armrest, rear door child safety locks, ventilated front seats, and a Harman Kardon premium sound system with an amplifier along with a sub-wooder. The R-design trim distinguishes itself from other trim because of its sporty appearance. You get metal mesh aluminum decor, contour front seats, and much more. The topmost Polestar Engineered trim specific chassis which is different from the Dynamic chassis given on all lower trim. 

*expected price

With Protection Package Premier ($670) you get stainless steel bumper covers, wheel locks, rubber floor mats, plastic luggage mats, and license plate frames. Get a climate package for $750 which will include a heated steering wheel, high-pressure headlamps cleaning, and heated seats which can be swapped with Integrated Booster Cushions but it will increase the package cost to $1,250. For $2,500, the advanced package will offer ambient interior lighting, 360-degree surround-view camera, rear door power child locks, heads-up display, adaptive cruise control, pilot assist, power-folding rear-head restraints, Homelink garage door opener, and advanced air cleaner.

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If you want an athletic version of the XC60 PHEV then the R-design trim is best for you but if you don’t mind the standard appearance then the Inscription Expression trim will suit you better. This way you can save money which has been spent on higher trims and by availing different packages you can customize your car as per your needs.

2022 Volvo XC60 Recharge plug-in hybrid Release Date

No official date has been announced yet. 

The 2022 Volvo XC60 Recharge plug-in hybrid has a 2.0-liter turbo/supercharged inline-4 engine connected with an electric motor. This hybrid power plant is coupled with an eight-speed automatic transmission and produces a net 400 hp and 472 lb-ft of torque. This setup allows XC60 to Recharge a towing capacity of 3,500 lb. That said, the 2022 Volvo XC60 Recharge sprints from zero to 60 mph in only 5.0 seconds and covers a quarter-mile distance in 13.6 seconds. However, the same T8 eAWD hybrid arrangement is given in the Polestar Engineered trim but the net output is 415 hp and 494 lb-ft of torque which helps the Polestar Engineered go from 0-60 mph 0.1 seconds faster than the base trim. 

Based on the 2021 XC60 Recharge, the 2022 but since there are no changes in the powertrain or chassis, driving experience from the 2021 model is precious for evaluation. The XC90 Recharge PHEV gives confidence to the driver and handles well on the turns. But on the rough terrains ride quality is harsh but if you wanna run it on highways then you will experience a smooth and refined ride. The steering wheel is easy to maneuver but on uneven roads, you will experience a kickback. Overall, the driving capabilities are not as exceptional as you would imagine. Still, you won’t be facing major issues for your normal commute. That said, the Polestar Engineered comes with Special Öhlins suspension dampers and Brembo front brakes which offer a better driving experience compared to the lower trims. 

With its 2.0-liter turbo/supercharged inline-4 hybrid power plant, the Volvo XC90 Recharge tops the power figure charts. As for the rivals from the Audi and Mercedes-Benz GLE Class, both have the nearly same engine output. But the Audi Q5 is half a second faster than the Mercedes-Benz GLE Class 450 4MATIC. Meanwhile, the BMW X3 tries to reach 60 mph from a standstill in 5.9 seconds which makes it the slowest among the bunch. 

The Volvo XC60 takes the least amount of time to cover the quarter-mile distance but Audi Q5 is not far behind as it requires just 0.1 seconds more to tie with the Volvo counterpart. The Mercedes-Benz GLE Class does the quarter-mile in 14.3 seconds while the BMW X3 crosses the same distance limit 0.8 seconds later compared to the GLE class.

The combined fuel economy offered on the 2022 Volvo XC60 Recharge Plug-in Hybrid base trim is 27 MPG when only gas is used. However, the combined MPGe offered by the same is 57. The fuel tank capacity of the XC60 Recharge is 18.5 gallons. The electric range offered is 19 miles. That said, the gasoline engine helps the XC60 PHEV get recharged to some extent. However, you can use either 220V or 110V supply for charging. 

The combined MPGe offered by the Audi is 61 while the BMW X3 is behind by just one MPGe. The fuel economy with just gasoline on the Mercedes-Benz GLE Class 450 4MATIC is 21 MPG in the city, 26 MPG on the highway, and 23 combined. This opponent from Mercedes-Benz also has the biggest fuel tank in the segment. The total range given by the Audi Q5 is 390 miles while the electric-only range is limited up to 23 miles. 

Optional City Weave textile upholstery has been added to the interior. Other than this, there are just a few tweaks to the driver display. Seats have standard premium cloth/textile upholstery which can be upgraded to ventilated Nappa leather upholstery. Along with Iron Ore aluminum decor, stitching has been done on the gear selector and a 3-spoke steering wheel is given inside the cabin. Select the Inscription trim and you will also get stitching on the dashboard. In terms of space, the 2022 XC60 Recharge is not very stingy and five adults can comfortably. That said, entering and exiting also have no problem. 

8-way power front seats are standard and 2-way power lumbar support has been given to the driver seat which can be upgraded to 4-way on higher trims. Memory function on the driver seats is standard on the base trim and the front passenger also gets memory function on Inscription trim and beyond. Default heated front does not have ventilation on the base XC60 Recharge. But standard heated rear seats and steering wheel are reserved for top-tier trim. Manual tilt and telescopic steering wheel, auto-dimming rearview mirror, keyless entry and ignition, front center armrest, 12Volt power outlet, dual-zone automatic climate control, humidity sensor, illuminated vanity mirrors, power door lock with auto-lock feature, and stainless steel tailgate scuff plate are some notable standard features. 

The Mercedes-Benz GLE Class has the airiest cabin and also the largest cargo/trunk capacity. At the same time, the smallest cabin is offered on the Audi Q5 where it does have decent space in the front row but in the rear row, it has the smallest headroom in the competition. Meanwhile, the BMW X3 has the least amount of legroom in the rear row. That said, the interior space of the XC60 Recharge is not disappointing and it has the second biggest trunk with the 29.7 cu-ft capacity whereas the smallest one belongs to the Audi Q5 which has a cargo capacity of 25.6 cu-ft. Meanwhile, the BMW X3 has a cargo capacity of 27.2 cu-ft. Highlights of the interior features are:

• Dual-zone automatic climate control
• Heated front seats
• Premium cloth upholstery
• Auto-dimming rearview mirror
• Keyless entry and ignition
• Manual tilt and telescopic steering wheel 
• Heated steering wheel (optional)
• Heated rear seats (optional)

How intuitive is the 2022 Volvo XC60 Recharge Plug-in Hybrid’s infotainment unit?

In the 2022 XC60 Recharge, the Sensus infotainment system has been replaced with a more modern Google Android-based interface which is also present in the XC40 Recharge. You get the same 9.0-inch touchscreen but with the new infotainment system, a new navigation system with Google maps support has been added.

SiriusXM, wifi, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, and a 10-speaker sound system are standard on the base trim. As you move up on the trim ladder, features like 14-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, head-up display, 15-speaker Bowers & Wilkins Premium Sound system are standard. Highlights of the infotainment unit:

• 9-inch touchscreen
• Google services and navigation system
• Wireless charging 
• 10-speaker sound system
• Head-up display (optional)
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• 12-inch driver display 

Few upgrades on the exterior are a new grille, front bumper, and exterior colors. The wheel design has also been updated. That said, the overall exterior design is sleek and sharp. On the hood, two body lines originate from the ends, run over the hood, and then meet the A-pillars. A chrome grille has been given at the front and aluminum trim is around the side windows. A lip spoiler has been given on the backside with LED Brake Lamps. One of the key features highlighted by the Volo is the ‘Thor’s Hammer/Mjollnir’ LED headlamps design. 

When you look at the side profile, a big dent has been given on the lower side of the doors to make it look more compact. Bright aluminum roof rails and laminated panoramic moonroof with power sunshade have been provided on the top. Deep tinted glass, color-keyed power side mirrors, rain-sensing wipers, and tempered side windows are standard exterior features. The base trim runs on the 18-inch 5-double spoke black diamond-cut alloy wheels which can be replaced with optional 19 or 20-inch 5-y spoke black diamond-cut alloy wheels. you can also avail of the optional 22-inch 5-double spoke matte black diamond-cut wheels or 21-inch 10-open spoke black diamond-cut wheels.

Despite its sleek looks, the Mercedes-Benz GLE Class weighs the heaviest in the competition but the lightest one is from the BMW. Mercedes-Benz GLE Class is also the biggest SUV in the segment whereas the smallest one is the Audi Q5. The Volvo XC60 Recharge has highway ground clearance and the Audi Q5 has the shortest wheelbase which does offer agility to it. Highlights of the exterior features:

• 18-inch alloy wheels 
• Adaptive LED headlamps 
• Roof rails 
• Laminated panoramic moonroof
• Running boards (optional)
• Tempered side windows 
• Heated grille emblem

Neither 2022 nor 2021 Volvo XC60 Recharge T8 plug-in hybrid has not been tested by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). But the 2021 Volvo Recharge has been tested by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). It has not only given a ‘Good’ rating to the 2021 model in every crashworthiness test but it has also honored the Volvo Recharge with the ‘top safety pick+’ award. 

The standard safety features available on the base Recharge T8 are cruise control, lane-keeping aid, forward collision mitigation, rear Park assist, Oncoming Lane Mitigation, road-sign recognition, hill descent control, backup camera, hill start assist, anti-theft alarm, start/stop technology, blind-spot monitoring, and rear-cross traffic alert. upgrade to higher trims and you will also get front park assist, rear door power child locks, pilot assist, adaptive cruise control, and more. With the optional Advanced package, the safety level of the base Volvo XC60 Recharge can be raised. HIghlights of the safety features are:

• Cruise control
• Blind-spot monitoring
• Lane-keeping assist 
• Front and rear park assist 
• 360-degree surround-view camera (optional)
• Rear-cross traffic alerts
• Pilot Assist 

Volvo XC60 Recharge vs BMW X3 xDrive30e

The BMW X3 xDrive30e lacks in terms of power and acceleration but its handling and driving capabilities surpass the Volvo counterpart. Meanwhile, the Volvo XC60 Recharge gains the lead over the BMW X3 because of the bigger trunk and fuel storage capacity.

The Combined MPGe of the BMW X3 is higher but the combined MPG of the Volvo XC60 Recharge is higher. Therefore, the fight between both SUVs is tough but BMW X3 has a lower price tag which gives it a default advantage. However, the 2021 BMW X3 has not been given an award from the IIHS but the Volvo XC60 Recharge has.

Volvo XC60 Recharge vs Audi Q5 55 TFSI e

Engine output of the Audi Q555 TFSI e is less but it is equally quick on the feet compared to the Volvo XC60 Recharge. This rival from the Audi is also more fuel-efficient and gives a better full electric range.

But the fuel tank capacity and cargo capacity of the XC60 Recharge is higher in comparison to the Audi Q5. That said, the Volvo XC60 Recharge cost a few thousand bucks more than the Audi Q5 55 TFSI e PHEV. 

Volvo XC60 Recharge vs Mercedes-Benz GLE Class 450 4MATIC 

If we consider acceleration, the Mercedes-Benz GLE Class 450 4MATIC is slightly sluggish in contrast to the Volvo XC60 Recharge. But it is the only rival that beats the Volvo XC60 Recharge in terms of cargo space and fuel storage capacity.

Furthermore, exterior dimension wide, the XC60 Recharge is smaller than the Mercedes-Benz GLE Class. Nonetheless, the Volvo XC60 Recharge is likely to hurt your budget less compared to the opponent from Mercedes-Benz.

The 2022 Volvo XC60 Recharge plug-in hybrid is a good package. Yes! It does lack in some areas like cargo space, trunk capacity, and fuel economy but it tries to balance these shortcomings with a good number of features, a modest price tag, and quick acceleration. Therefore, the 2022 XC60 Recharge PHEV is certainly a good deal but if you don’t have a brand preference then the Audi Q5 is a better choice.