The Volvo XC60 is one of the most efficient premium SUVs on the market because of a number of technologies that help it achieve impressive consumption figures.
The B5 and B6 powertrains
The Volvo XC60 is available with two mild hybrid powertrains, of which the B5 is standard. In fact, every version of the XC60 is electrified some ways. The B5 and B6 are both classified as mild hybrid vehicles, since they combine the power of a gasoline engine with the efficiency of an electric motor and a 48-volt electric system. This means the XC60 benefits from the advantages of both types of propulsion, since it doesn’t need to be charged, but it also doesn’t need to run its gasoline engine all of the time. This is especially true in situations where the vehicle needs to move frequently at slow speeds and on short distances, which is why it is great to have when stuck in a traffic jam. The difference between the B5 and the B6 is that the latter one adds a supercharger to the turbocharged engine in order to make a combined output of 295 horsepower.
The Eco mode
The Volvo XC60 is equipped with a drive mode selection system that allows the driver to choose between many pre-determined vehicle settings in order to allow for a more personal level of customisation. One of the modes is called Eco. As its name suggests, this setting prioritises fuel economy by making the accelerator pedal less responsive and by tweaking parameters within the engine and the transmission. The throttle response of the engine is toned down while the transmission always tries to keep the lowest gear possible in order to keep the engine from spinning faster than it needs to. The hybrid system is also affected and becomes more assertive in its operation, which leads to more time spent with the gasoline engine off than in the other drive modes.