Volvo’s Recharge plug-in hybrids pull in the honours in the 2021 Caravan and Motorhome Club Towcar of the Year Awards
• Volvo’s plug-in hybrid technology judged perfect for towing duties by Caravan and Motorhome Club experts
• XC40 Recharge Plug-in Hybrid T5 FWD wins Alternatively Fuelled Towcar award
• V60 Recharge Plug-in Hybrid T6 AWD named Family Towcar of the Year
• Both models take caravan towing class honours – the XC40 in the 1,500-1,700kg category and the V60 in the over 1,700kg class
Volvo’s new Recharge plug-in hybrid models have enjoyed great success in their
first appearance in the annual Caravan and Motorhome Club Towcar of the Year
Awards, netting a haul of four honours between them. The results are a further
boost to the reputation of Volvo’s plug-in hybrid technology for delivering
excellent efficiency without diminishing performance.
The XC40 Recharge Plug-in Hybrid T5 FWD has been crowned the Alternatively
Fuelled Towcar of the Year. The achievement sustains the impressive performance
of Volvo’s premium compact SUV which, in diesel-powered form, was the reigning
2020 Caravan and Motorhome Club Towcar of the Year.
The V60 Recharge Plug-in Hybrid T6 AWD mid-size estate has taken the Family
Towcar of the Year title, while both models also drove off with the
best-in-category honours for towing caravans, with the XC40 winning the
1,500-1,700kg caravan class and the V60 reigning supreme in the over 1,700kg
sector.
The panel of expert judges scrutinised the capabilities of 40 different
vehicles, taking into account all the factors that contribute to a car’s
‘caravanability’, including towing capacity, roof load and nose weight limits,
and boot space.
Commenting on the XC40 Recharge Plug-in Hybrid’s performance, the judges
reported: “Delicious kerb weight, delicious economy and pulls like a train.
It’s capable of towing a large caravan, but with hybrid tech to enhance
economy, especially when not towing.”
The XC40 Recharge Plug-in Hybrid T5 FWD tips the scales at a minimum of 1,812kg
(running order weight) and produces 180hp and 265Nm of torque from its
1.5-litre petrol engine, along with 82hp and 160Nm from its electric motor. Its
maximum braked trailer towing capacity is 1,800kg. The efficiency of its
petrol-electric powertrain results in official WLTP Combined fuel economy of
117.7-134.5mpg, while CO
2 emissions are 47-55g/km, together with an
all-electric driving range of up to 27.3 miles (according to battery charge,
vehicle load and driving conditions).
The V60 Recharge Plug-in Hybrid T6 AWD was praised for “one of the best
combinations of astonishing power delivery, practicality and a fair price tag”.
It has all-wheel drive and a minimum running order weight of 2,075kg, and its
2.0-litre petrol engine musters 253hp and 350Nm of torque, while its electric
motor produces 87hp and 240Nm. This helps give it a maximum braked towing
weight of 2,000kg. Its benchmark WLTP efficiency figures are 134.5-156.9mpg and
41-46g/km of CO
2, along with an electric-only range of up to 34.2
miles.
Steve Beattie, Volvo Car UK’s Head of Sales, said: “Volvo has taken a market
lead in rolling out Recharge plug-in hybrid versions across our entire UK model
range. The Caravan and Motorhome Club Towcar Awards are a welcome independent
seal of approval of how our advanced technology offers customers excellent
real-world performance, practicality and flexibility that goes beyond simple
fuel and emissions efficiency.”
For more information on the Volvo XC40 and V60, and to use the online
configurator, please go to
www.volvocars.co.uk
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