Test Drive: The Electrified Volvo XC60 B6 R-Design | VOLVO
VOLVO XC60 B6 AWD R-Design
Test Drive: The Electrified Volvo XC60 B6 R-Design
The XC60 is a mid-size SUV positioned between the flagship Volvo SUV XC90 and the compact XC40. We test drove the new XC60 B6 AWD R-Design, equipped with a new powertrain: a 2-liter inline-4 gasoline turbo engine combined with an electric supercharger and a 48V mild hybrid system.
Text & Photographs by HARA Akira
Electric Supercharger Improves Response and Real-World Fuel Economy
When the XC60 debuted in Japan in 2017, built on the new SPA (Scalable Product Architecture) platform, its stylish Scandinavian interior and exterior design, along with its safety features, earned it the "Japan Car of the Year 2017-18" award, surpassing popular SUVs in the same class from German and Japanese manufacturers. It also won the 2018 World Car of the Year.
Initially, the XC60 lineup included the T5 (254ps/350Nm) with a 2-liter inline-4 gasoline turbo, the T6 (320ps/400Nm) with a T5 + supercharger, the T8 Twin Engine plug-in hybrid (318ps/400Nm) with a T6 + motor, and the D4 (190ps/400Nm) with a 2-liter inline-4 diesel turbo.
These powertrains were designed under the concept of consolidating various engine types, such as inline-4, inline-5, and V8, into inline-4 configurations from the perspective of "shared architecture" for production efficiency. They were lightweight, compact Drive-E power units.
However, in the same year, Volvo declared "full electrification" for new models from 2019 onwards and began sequentially updating its powertrains. For the XC60, the T5, T6, and D4 models with internal combustion engines were discontinued. The latest models now feature the B5 with a 2-liter inline-4 gasoline turbo + 48V mild hybrid system, the B6 with a B5 + electric supercharger, and the T8, renamed as the Recharge plug-in hybrid T8.
The data for the test car, the XC60 B6 AWD R-Design, shows that its D420T 2.0-liter gasoline turbo engine produces a maximum output of 300ps (220kW) at 5,400rpm and a maximum torque of 420Nm between 2,100-4,800rpm. This is combined with a 48V mild hybrid system featuring an ISGM (Integrated Starter Generator) which acts as a motor directly connected to the engine, providing 10kW/3,000rpm and 40Nm/2,250rpm of assistance in the low-rev range during acceleration.
Interior featuring sports seats in black Nubuck/perforated fine Nappa leather and metal-finish aluminum panels
Furthermore, the B6 model replaces the current Roots-type supercharger with an electric supercharger, made possible by the 48V system. This brings numerous benefits, including improved response, drivability, real-world fuel economy, reduced noise, vibration, CO2 emissions, and engine weight. The new engine also incorporates various improvements to the turbocharger, pistons, cylinders, cylinder head and block, and engine mounts.
The XC60 B6 AWD R-Design has body dimensions of 4,690mm in length, 1,915mm in width, and 1,660mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2,865mm. It maintains a ground clearance of 215mm. Its slightly larger body offers a practical size for an SUV. Unlike the standard XC60, where the front grille and roof rails are chrome, this model features blacked-out accents, giving it a distinctly sharp exterior appearance among Volvo's typically elegant models.
Compared to the B5, which uses 18 or 19-inch wheels, the B6 features larger 21-inch wheels with 255/40R21 tires, contributing to its appearance. The interior similarly offers a distinct sporty feel with black Nubuck/perforated fine Nappa leather sports seats and metal-finish aluminum panels.
Enjoy a Quiet, Sporty Drive Distinct from the Competition
After a lengthy introduction, let's take it out on the winding roads of Hakone. The engine start method is the same as the flagship XC90: turn the beautiful dial on the center console. Below it is a sparkling rotary drive mode selector. However, unlike the luxury models that often feature a crystal gear shifter from Orrefors, the R-Design uses a dedicated leather-wrapped shifter.
Features a premium starter that twists to the right
Display showing the five driving modes
We start in the default Comfort mode. Gently pressing the accelerator, the car, weighing a considerable 1,940kg, accelerates smoothly. This is when you realize the benefits of the ISGM and the electric supercharger. Since the supercharger's effect lasts up to 3,000rpm, it's constantly working during normal driving acceleration.
The powertrain consists of a 2-liter inline-4 gasoline turbo engine, an electric supercharger, and a 48V mild hybrid system.
Switching to Dynamic mode at the entrance to the Ashinoko Skyline, the gears shift down one or two steps, and the engine response sharpens. With German or Italian cars, the exhaust note would typically change, producing a powerful sound or even pops and bangs. Volvo, perhaps deeming such sounds socially inappropriate, offers only the subtle vibration of the 4-cylinder engine audible from a distance.
Features exclusive design elements like a blacked-out front grille and a sharp front lip.
The B6 AWD badge on the rear hatch
I tried to downshift using the paddles when entering a corner, but my left hand found only empty air. There are no paddle shifters on the steering wheel. Manual shifting is done by pushing the gear lever one position back and then moving it left or right for downshifts and upshifts.
The suspension is tightened with front coil springs and rear composite leaf springs featuring a 30% higher spring rate than the standard suspension, dedicated monotube shocks, reinforced anti-roll bars, and tuned electric power steering. This allows for high cornering speeds. However, due to the reasons mentioned above, it offers a quiet, sporty driving experience that sets it apart from previous sports models.
Exclusive 21-inch large-diameter wheels and 255/40R21 tires
The distinctive headlight design is prominent.
Additionally, when the transmission is not shifting within the range of 3,000rpm or between 30-160km/h, cylinder deactivation is employed, shutting down cylinders 1 and 4 of the four-cylinder engine. This contributes to a 2.5% to 4% improvement in fuel economy under WLTP conditions during cruising on highways, which is a welcome benefit.
Volvo's Philosophy Behind the 180 km/h Speed Limit
Volvo limits the top speed of even its sportier models to 180 km/h. Furthermore, one of the two included keys is a "Care Key" that allows for setting an even lower speed limit, demonstrating their thorough approach.
Paddle shifters are not equipped on the steering wheel.
The navigation map displayed in the center of the digital instrument cluster. When manual mode is selected, the gear number is shown within the tachometer.
In practice, after entering the car with the Care Key, you simply select "Care Key" on the in-car monitor and choose the speed limit. It's surprisingly easy. For example, if lending the car to a family member who is a novice driver, such as a teenager, or an elderly driver, this feature can reduce the risk of accidents caused by speeding.
While there have been concerns, particularly from a sales perspective, about limiting the car's performance, Volvo's response is: "Even if we lose some customers, we must continue to be pioneers in the discussion about the rights and responsibilities of automobile manufacturers to ultimately save lives."
The R-Design's shifter area
The spokesperson further explained, "We don't need everyone on Earth, all 7.7 billion people, to understand this. If about 5 million people understand it, Volvo, as a small company, can continue to operate successfully."
Features a premium Bowers & Wilkins audio system.
The luggage compartment includes a practical kit bag (optional) for emergency use.
In the fiercely competitive SUV market, this approach is characteristic of Volvo's pursuit of a unique Scandinavian aesthetic. The R-Design, priced at 7.99 million yen, is somewhat expensive, but the strong sales of the XC60 suggest that an increasing number of users resonate with this philosophy.
