V60 PHEV

Assured Quality.

Having had the car for nearly two years, it was quite a learning curve. To get the best out of it one is encouraged, as with ALL electric vehicles to travel slowly. It is not for Boy Racers, even if it will out perform some Porsche cars, apparantly. It is quiet and comfy, with bags of space for our dog. But it is nice to know that there is the power there, if it is wanted. Overtaking a bus and a car started to come out of a side road ahead. A bit more power had us shoot-past the lumbering bus, safely. Rather than just cruising past it. Detailing a journey before hand can reap benefits, as in petrol out, battery back. Utilising the powerful petrol engine to get up-and-out of the valleys and cruising downhill back on battery power. After a year it said I must, use some petrol. And two weeks later it switched off the battery functions to make me use some petrol, as it was going stale just sloshing about in the tank. The windscreen washer tank self emptied until I tied the wretched drain tube up out of the way. Self adhesive arch guards and corner guards are a must as cars don't have bumper-bars anymore. Mudflaps too, all help preserve the car. One must press firmly on the brake pedal when starting as everything will start, but the engine. Scary when it happened again and again. A learning curve. The sun-roof is a must as when parked it can get quite hot inside. The LED lights are better than our lovely old car, with 340w of Xenon Plus lighting. Which was quite a surprise. The deadly rubber-band hidden deep with most modern cars these days has been addressed with a belt that is twice the width of a normal one. Volvos' are safe cars. Running on battery for 99% of the time will elongate the safety margin even more for the rubber band. By holding some battery power back, the car will select petrol or battery use. So crawling along in heavy traffic will use the battery, but as soon as the obstruction has been passed and speed is required again, the petrol engine will cut back in and take over. Music compilations, from LP, to cassette to USB MP3 can be plugged in out of sight. Selected as and when. The radio is crystal clear, despite such a tiny arial. Disc brakes all round are VERY good. Try to anticipate traffic lights and engage re-gen braking which puts power back into the battery! The slow battery re-charge helps maintain the battery life, which fast charging destroys. All in all, a jolly good buy and well worth it. H. Rogers.

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