{"id":34757,"date":"2025-07-18T09:58:39","date_gmt":"2025-07-18T13:58:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/?p=34757"},"modified":"2025-07-18T10:01:34","modified_gmt":"2025-07-18T14:01:34","slug":"payne-range-rover-sport-vs-volvo-xc90-in-plug-in-face-off","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/2025\/07\/payne-range-rover-sport-vs-volvo-xc90-in-plug-in-face-off","title":{"rendered":"Payne: Range Rover Sport vs. Volvo XC90 in plug-in face-off"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Plug<\/em><\/p>\n

Plug in the 2025 Volvo XC90 PHEV overnight and it will gain 33 miles of battery range. Total range with the gas tank is 530 miles.<\/em><\/div>\n

Henry Payne<\/em><\/p>\n

If you FOMO on BEVs but still must emit CO2 for trips, PHEV may be your GOAT.<\/p>\n

Translation: Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) are the new fashion statements as luxury customers face the drawbacks of BEVs (battery electric vehicles) yet still require electric for moral or convenience reasons. Two of the latest PHEVs are the handsome 2025 Range Rover Sport and Volvo XC90 T8 sitting in my driveway.<\/p>\n

Both bring the latest digital tech, peppy drivetrains and roomy three-row cabins \u2014 wrapped in their respective, distinctive European wardrobes. Here\u2019s how I rate \u2018em after a weeklong test in Metro Detroit:<\/p>\n

Charging<\/h2>\n

Like BEVS, PHEVs are best fueled on home 240-volt charging systems. I plugged both models into my garage charger overnight for 100% battery range the next a.m. That is, 53 miles of battery-only driving for the Range Rover, 33 miles for the Volvo. That was plenty for daily errands \u2018round Oakland County but not enough for my 64-mile round trip to Detroit Metro Airport. Your range will vary depending on temperature, rain and speed.<\/p>\n

Driving to the airport on a lovely 50-degree May morning, my XC90 T8 Ultra tester got its advertised battery range at 75 mph on the Lodge and I-94. At 33 miles, just shy of the airport, the Volvo seamlessly switched to gas-electric power without missing a stride. Inside the quiet cabin, I didn\u2019t notice the turbo-4 engine kick in while traveling on I-94 on adaptive cruise control.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/figure>\n
\n
The $106k, 2025 Range Rover Sport PHEV (left) and $88k, 2025 Volvo XC90 PHEV are state-of-the-art, midsize, three-row plug-in models – gapped in price by the Rover’s more capable off-road hardware.<\/em><\/div>\n

Henry Payne, The Detroit News<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Had I been driving the Englishman (its given name, the Sport P460e Dynamic SE a typically European bowl of alphabet soup), the internal combustion mill wouldn\u2019t have kicked in until I was halfway back home. But either way, if I wanted to drive on electrons alone, I would need to plug the two utes in at my airport parking lot, Qwikpark, and its bank of 110-volt outlets.<\/p>\n

When I arrived at 6:40 a.m. on a Monday, there were only two spots left at the 12-space charging stable. I dragged the charging cord out of the hatchback\u2019s sub-storage bin and … wrong plug for the Qwikpark outlet. Back to the trunk, I found the proper, three-prong plug, and … it didn\u2019t work.<\/p>\n

Every charging station is different, and Qwikpark secrets their plugs inside covered boxes to keep them out of Michigan\u2019s elements. This box was too shallow for Volvo\u2019s plug. Grrr. A Qwikpark airport shuttle sidled rolled up. I waved her on.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/figure>\n
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The 2025 Range Rover Sport PHEV can go 53 miles on battery power alone – and 460 miles on combined gas\/electric.<\/em><\/div>\n

Henry Payne, The Detroit News<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\u201cI\u2019m still plugging in,\u201d I smiled, thankful I left home three hours ahead of my flight. \u201cI\u2019ll get the next van.\u201d<\/p>\n

I found another 110-volt box that had been \u2014 um, expanded by force \u2014 to accommodate larger connections like mine. The three-prong connector snapped into place. Phew. Of course, the beauty of PHEVs is that, even if charging failed, I would still have 497 miles of gas range in the Volvo, 407 in the Rover.<\/p>\n

The XC90 indicated it would take 24 hours to fill 32 miles on the 110-volt. That\u2019s a loooooong time. No worries, though. I wouldn\u2019t be back from my trip for 40 hours.<\/p>\n

Driving<\/h2>\n

Assisted by battery torque and turbochargers, the internal combustion powertrains in Rover \u2018n\u2019 XC90 can really hustle. On battery power alone? Not so much.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/figure>\n
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The 2025 Volvo XC90 PHEV puts most controls in the screen to avoid button clutter.<\/em><\/div>\n

Henry Payne, The Detroit News<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

In EV (Range Rover) and PURE (Volvo) modes, the SUVs sail along on smooth, all-wheel-drive power. But these are small batteries \u2014 31 kWh in the Sport, 15 kWh in the XC90 \u2014 compared to the massive 100-kWh pack in a comparable Tesla Model X or Cadillac Vistiq. So acceleration is more of a nudge than the face-flattening ZOT! of a luxury BEV peers.<\/p>\n

The Brit\u2019s a bit perkier, thanks to its 2X battery capacity over the Volvo, but that added beef comes at a price \u2014 the 6,199-pound Rover is 1,000 pounds heavier than the XC90. That\u2019s a lotta meat pies. The XC90 feels downright spry compared to the Rover.<\/p>\n

When the battery runs out \u2014 or if you switch Rover to HYBRID mode \u2014 the big Brit wakes up. RAAAAWRGH! I stomped the gas pedal and the beast let out a roar from its twin-turbocharged, 3.0-liter inline-six \u2014 its formidable 454 horses vaulting past 60 mph in less than five seconds.<\/p>\n

With 455 ponies, the Volvo is just as quick, according to our friends at Car and Driver, but gets there with a less invigorating turbo-4 banger. Hammer down, Thor!<\/p>\n

\"The<\/figure>\n
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The 2025 Range Rover Sport PHEV cockpit features twin, digital screens and a steering wheel packed with features.<\/em><\/div>\n

Henry Payne, The Detroit News<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Design<\/h2>\n

Speaking of the Scandinavian superhero, the Volvo delivers the brand\u2019s signature Thor\u2019s Hammer headlights combined with the expected grille bisected by Volvo\u2019s diagonal bar logo. What\u2019s unexpected is the new, interlaced grille logo interpretation. It\u2019s both refreshing and more distinctive \u2014 always a welcome combination when you are paying north of $80K.<\/p>\n

Speaking of looks, Land Rover is an industry icon. Its chiseled proportions and simple aesthetic are mimicked by brands from Ford to Jeep. The Sport ups its game inside with the usual lush materials decorated with crisp, thin digital tablets in the console and instrument display. The latter \u2014 which seems to float beneath its hood \u2014 is particularly eye-catching.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/figure>\n
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The 2025 Range Rover Sport PHEV comes standard with AWD and a powerful, 454-horse, inline-6 engine.<\/em><\/div>\n

Henry Payne, The Detroit News<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

As expected at this price point, both utes are lathered with luxury features like heated\/cooled seats, massaging chairs and comfortable head\/legroom. The tight third rows? For small adults and children.<\/p>\n

Rover and XC90 adopt monoshifters to save console space and accommodate wireless phone chargers and cupholders. The Volvo shows off its Scandinavian heritage with its shifter made from Orrefors glass. De-lish.<\/p>\n

Operation<\/h2>\n

The brands’ austere design themes mean few buttons. Both mitigate this slight with clever visual, in-screen shortcuts to adjust, for example, temperature and drive modes. But ultimately, I learned to adjust my environment with voice commands:<\/p>\n

Hey, Land Rover: Set driver temperature to 70 degrees<\/em><\/p>\n

Hey, Land Rover: Navigate to CVS Pharmacy<\/em><\/p>\n

Hey, Land Rover: Turn the radio on.<\/em><\/p>\n

\"The<\/figure>\n
\n
The 2025 Volvo XC90 PHEV options a panoramic roof.<\/em><\/div>\n

Henry Payne, The Detroit News<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Volvo was one of the first automakers to adopt the Google Built-in operating system, which accomplished the same mission. Voice commands also avoid sometimes laggy screens.<\/p>\n

Tech<\/h2>\n

Where Range Rover separates itself from Volvo in content and price is its ridiculously capable off-road toolkit. If I owned a Sport, I would take it to Holly Oaks ORV Park, select OFF-ROAD mode, finger MUD\/RUTS and exercise it over the auto playground\u2019s hills and valleys. The Brit even has a two-speed transfer case for the really sticky stuff.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/figure>\n
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The second-row seat in the 2025 Range Rover Sport PHEV is comfortable for six-footers<\/em><\/div>\n

Henry Payne, The Detroit News<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

If it\u2019s bandwidth you\u2019re looking for \u2014 six cylinders, off-road capability \u2014 Rover\u2019s your dog. If not, both these critters will hunt just fine. Often on nothing but electric motors.<\/p>\n

Next week: Picking up my second-generation Tesla Model 3 Performance<\/em><\/p>\n

2025 Range Rover Sport PHEV<\/h2>\n

Vehicle type: All-wheel-drive, five-door, seven-passenger luxury SUV<\/p>\n