Volvo XC90 T8 ‘Best Hybrid’

The Volvo XC90 T8 has won the first ‘Best Hybrid’ award at the Tow Car Awards.

The seven-seat vehicle was praised for its excellent performance, its stability, handling and braking when towing, and for its practical boot.

Testers were also impressed with the amount of room the XC90 T8 offers. It’s high capacity hybrid batteries are mounted centrally along the transmission tunnel, so they don’t compromise the available cabin space.

Volvo NZ general manager Coby Duggan says the award is particularly relevant for the local market.

“Kiwi’s love of boating and DIY means that towing capability is often a key consideration in their vehicle purchase decisions.

“Ever since its launch here last year the XC90 T8 has established itself as a true ‘no compromises’ offering – promising impressive environmental credentials without sacrificing performance or practicality,” Duggan says.

Practical Caravan magazine editor David Motton says: “Over the years, we’ve towed with quite a few hybrids, but not all have been able tow cars. “However, the XC90 T8 is up with the best we’ve tested. It is quick and roomy, with tremendous performance and is very practical – it deservedly wins our first ‘Best Hybrid’ award.”

The XC90 T8 combines a powerful and efficient petrol engine with an electric motor. The electric motor’s instant torque is particularly useful when manoeuvring at low speeds. Unlike some hybrid vehicles that have a comparatively low towing limit, the T8 also has an impressive maximum braked towing limit of 2400 kg, enough to tow even large loads safely.

The Volvo XC90 T8 Twin Engine couples a 235 kW, 2.0-litre, super-charged and turbo-charged four-cylinder petrol engine with a 65 kW electric motor to produce a combined 300 kW, while delivering CO2 emissions of just 49 g/km. The XC90 T8 can travel for up to 43 kilometres in electric-only mode when not towing, and its batteries can be fully recharged in as little as two and a half hours.

The XC90 T8 also won ‘Green car of the year’ at the inaugural UK Auto Trader New Car Awards.

Land Rover’s Discovery 3.0 Td6 HSE was named overall winner at the 2017 Tow Car Awards from among about 41 cars.