It is not just a name that has returned. The new Volvo XC70 comes back with figures that make it the Swedish brand’s longest-range plug-in hybrid (PHEV) yet: up to 200 km in fully electric driving. In Europe, that figure would be lower - we explain why below.
In styling terms, it is unmistakably Volvo: Scandinavian, clean and free of unnecessary embellishment. Size-wise, it sits slightly above the XC60 and below the XC90.
For the moment, it will not be sold in Europe. Sales will begin in China, although the brand says it may consider launching it in other markets. That comes at a time when Volvo is moving part of its production from China to Europe, including the EX30.
One impact has already been felt: pricing has dropped. The Swedish marque’s smallest SUV now costs under €30,000 before VAT - a meaningful detail, given the electric-car market is largely led by company buyers.
Volvo XC70 technology
The XC70 debuts the new SMA (Scalable Modular Architecture) platform which, by all indications, could be an evolution of the CMA platform - the same one used by today’s Volvo XC40.
On the XC70, this architecture has been tailored specifically to accommodate higher-capacity plug-in hybrid powertrains, with larger batteries and fast-charging modules. It also brings the infotainment systems and driver-assistance technology we recognise from Volvo’s latest models.
Volvo positions this car as the "perfect bridge" for drivers who are not ready for, or simply do not want, a 100% electric vehicle. And the headline figure is compelling: 200 km of electric range.
That combination means the petrol engine can be left unused for virtually all everyday journeys. When you need to travel further, the combustion engine is there to avoid unpleasant surprises - and the usual range anxiety.
200 km will be shorter in Europe
The 200 km electric-range claim published by Volvo would not be the same in Europe if the XC70 were to be sold here.
That is because the figure is calculated using the CLTC (China Light-Duty Vehicle Test Cycle), which is less demanding than the European equivalent, WLTP (Worldwide Harmonized Light Vehicles Test Procedure).
As a result, those 200 km under the Chinese test cycle should translate to roughly 150 km of range in Europe. Even so, it would still place the Volvo XC70 well above the segment average.
A future different from the past
The XC70 name also carries history. The original XC70 was essentially a raised version of the V70 - an adventurous estate that went on to achieve cult status.
The new XC70 keeps that versatile character, but swaps the estate silhouette for the SUV shape: taller, wider and roomier. Is that what buyers want? The numbers suggest so, as SUVs continue to dominate consumer preferences.
As mentioned earlier, the XC70 will initially launch only in China. Volvo says it will assess a wider rollout, which would be logical: it is the longest-range plug-in hybrid in the Swedish brand’s history.
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