Volvo’s plug-in hybrid XC60 and XC90 can really go the distance | The VergeSkip to main contentThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.The VergeThe Verge logo.TechReviewsScienceEntertainmentAIPolicyNotificationsNotificationsHamburger Navigation ButtonThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.NotificationsNotificationsHamburger Navigation ButtonNavigation DrawerThe VergeThe Verge logo.Login / Sign UpcloseCloseSearchLightSystemDarkTechExpandAmazonAppleFacebookGoogleMicrosoftSamsungBusinessSee all techReviewsExpandSmart Home ReviewsPhone ReviewsTablet ReviewsHeadphone ReviewsSee all reviewsScienceExpandSpaceEnergyEnvironmentHealthSee all scienceEntertainmentExpandTV ShowsMoviesAudioSee all entertainmentAIExpandOpenAIAnthropicSee all AIPolicyExpandAntitrustPoliticsLawSecuritySee all policyGadgetsExpandLaptopsPhonesTVsHeadphonesSpeakersWearablesSee all gadgetsVerge ShoppingExpandBuying GuidesDealsGift GuidesSee all shoppingGamingExpandXboxPlayStationNintendoSee all gamingStreamingExpandDisneyHBONetflixYouTubeCreatorsSee all streamingTransportationExpandElectric CarsAutonomous CarsRide-sharingScootersSee all transportationFeaturesVerge VideoExpandTikTokYouTubeInstagramPodcastsExpandDecoderThe VergecastVersion HistoryNewslettersArchivesStoreVerge Product UpdatesSubscribeFacebookThreadsInstagramYoutubeRSSThe VergeThe Verge logo.Volvo’s plug-in hybrid XC60 and XC90 can really go the distanceNotificationsNotificationsComments DrawerNotificationsCommentsLoading commentsGetting the conversation ready...TransportationCloseTransportationPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All TransportationNewsCloseNewsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All NewsCarsCloseCarsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All CarsVolvo’s plug-in hybrid XC60 and XC90 can really go the distanceThe automaker’s updated PHEVs have bigger batteries, giving them the longest electric range of any plug-in hybrid on the market, Volvo says.The automaker’s updated PHEVs have bigger batteries, giving them the longest electric range of any plug-in hybrid on the market, Volvo says.by Andrew J. HawkinsCloseAndrew J. HawkinsTransportation editorPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Andrew J. HawkinsSep 15, 2026, 7:00 AM UTCLinkShareGiftImage: VolvoAndrew J. HawkinsCloseAndrew J. HawkinsPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Andrew J. Hawkins is transportation editor with 10+ years of experience who covers EVs, public transportation, and aviation. His work has appeared in The New York Daily News and City & State.Most plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) today get an average of around 30-50 miles of battery-only range: decent, but not mind-blowing. With hybrid sales dominating the market today, Volvo is out to prove that its PHEVs can push the limits of what’s possible.Today, the Swedish automaker revealed the updated PHEV versions of its popular XC60 and XC90 SUVs are its first “long range plug-in hybrids,” delivering class-leading ranges of 78 miles and 73 miles, respectively. That’s more than double the electric range of previous PHEV variant. The numbers are still preliminary and based on EPA testing standards. But if confirmed, they would make Volvo’s PHEVs “the longest electric range of any plug-in hybrids available in the American market,” the automaker claims.Volvo took a page from its all-electric vehicle design by integrating the battery directly in the floor of both vehicles for improved efficiency. The batteries are also higher capacity — 41.2 kWh (37.9 kWh usable) for both — and able to send more energy to the motors, which are also more powerful.PreviousNext1/3Of course, those batteries are just dead weight if owners forget to charge them — which tends to happen with a lot of plug-in hybrids. Hybrid owners often neglect to charge, thanks to the gas tank that continues to power their vehicle even with a dead battery. Still, the higher capacity batteries in the XC60 and XC90 are sure to appeal to a lot of car shoppers who may still like the sound of increased range even if they don’t exactly plan on taking full advantage of it.The XC60 is getting new styling to bring it inline with Volvo’s new design language. That includes an upgraded grille, redesigned front bumper, hood, front wings, rear bumper, tailgate, new wheel designs, and a refined “Thor’s Hammer” LED headlight light signature. Like the redesigned XC40, the XC60 also has a more expansive driver assist that includes Automatic Emergency Steering and Braking, collision prevention, and a door-opening cyclist alert.The addition of Google’s Gemini chatbot as the new voice assistant rounds everything out. Volvo was one of the first automakers to adopt Google’s software for its infotainment systems, so naturally that now includes Gemini.Production on the the XC60 and XC90 begins late Fall 2026, with customer deliveries scheduled to begin in early 2027. Volvo is hoping that a boost in hybrid sales can help fund its future pure EV models, like the EX50, EX60, and new affordable model that will replace the EX30.Follow topics and authors from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.Andrew J. HawkinsCloseAndrew J. HawkinsTransportation editorPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Andrew J. 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Volvo has updated its plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) offerings, specifically the XC60 and XC90, by integrating larger batteries that significantly extend their electric driving range, positioning them as some of the longest-range plug-in hybrids currently available in the American market, according to Volvo. These updated models achieve electric ranges of 78 miles for the XC60 and 73 miles for the XC90, which represents more than double the electric range of previous plug-in hybrid variants. These figures are preliminary and derived from EPA testing standards. The technological foundation for this enhancement involves integrating the batteries directly into the floor of both vehicles to achieve improved efficiency. Furthermore, the batteries in both models feature a higher capacity, totaling 41.2 kilowatt-hours, with 37.9 kilowatt-hours usable, allowing for greater energy delivery to the motors, which are also more powerful.

Beyond powertrain advancements, the updated XC60 incorporates new exterior styling elements, including an upgraded grille, redesigned front bumper, hood, front wings, rear bumper, and tailgate, alongside new wheel designs and the refined “Thor’s Hammer” LED headlight signature, aligning the vehicle with Volvo’s current design language. The vehicle also features an expanded suite of driver assistance systems, incorporating Automatic Emergency Steering and Braking, collision prevention, and a door-opening cyclist alert. In terms of in-vehicle technology, Volvo has integrated Google’s Gemini chatbot as the new voice assistant, reflecting the automaker’s early adoption of Google’s software for its infotainment systems.

The production timeline for these updated models is set for late Fall 2026, with customer deliveries anticipated to commence in early 2027. Volvo is leveraging the sales of these hybrid models as a means to finance the development of future all-electric models, including the EX50, EX60, and a forthcoming more affordable model intended to replace the EX30. This strategy indicates a focus on using hybrid sales to support the transition toward full electric vehicle offerings.