2021 XC60 completes Volvo's pure hybrid lineup

It's all mild hybrids for Volvo starting 2021

Volvo is one of the most aggressive manufacturers when it comes to electrification. Back in 2017, they said that all their cars would have some form of hybrid assist. Volvo took it one step further in 2019 by saying they will no longer produce internal combustion-powered vehicles by 2040.

Even though 2040 is still a long time away, Volvo is making good on its first promise. By 2021, all their vehicles will be hybrids. With that, the Swedish automaker is one of the first mainstream automakers to offer a hybrid-only line-up. It's an impressive achievement from an automaker that's been around since 1927.

Volvo was able to complete the pure hybrid range with the introduction of the updated XC60. The mid-size crossover gets mild-hybrid powertrains as part of the changes for 2021. Not only that, they even lowered the price of the plug-in hybrid model by making it available in the entry-level variants. With that, Volvo aims to make PHEVs (Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles) more attainable to the masses.

The 2021 XC60 mild-hybrid range starts with the B4 FWD mild-hybrid (MHEV). That variant uses a 2.0-liter, turbocharged gas-fed engine that packs 197 PS and 300 Nm of torque. There are two more high-output versions available, dubbed the B5 AWD and B6 AWD, making 250 PS and 300 PS, respectively.

Even though diesel engines are falling out of fashion in some countries, Volvo still applied mild-hybrid tech to their oil burners. Both the B4 Diesel FWD and AWD MHEV benefit from it, and their 2.0-liter mills make 197 PS and 420 Nm of torque. As for the top-spec B5 Diesel AWD, power is at 235 PS and 480 Nm of torque. All these engines come with an eight-speed automatic transmission.

Now for the plug-in hybrid versions, and the T6 AWD Recharge serves as the entry-level model. The total system output for this model is 350 PS. For those who need more power, there's the T8 AWD Recharge with 390 PS. But if that's still not enough, Volvo also has a Polestar-engineered version of the T8 with 405 PS.

With the XC60 getting mild-hybrid engines, it puts Volvo one step closer towards their drive for electrification. After that, we might see Volvo shifting towards plug-in hybrid systems within the next decade before they eventually move to pure electric vehicles.