First Drive: Volvo XC90 T8 Twin Engine plug-in hybrid

Flashy seven-seat SUVs appear to be the latest industry trend. This is no surprise when you remember that it remains the fastest growing segment in the market. Manufacturers continue to raise the bar for what should be regarded as the most luxurious and dynamic people-moving road warriors on sale. With the likes of BMW, Audi and Infiniti joining the segment, can Volvo keep its popular XC90 ahead of the game? We headed to the Cotswolds to find out.

What is it?

This is the range-topping variant of Volvo's highly-rated XC90 – the T8 'Twin Engine' plug-in hybrid. Essentially, this is still the same big friendly giant that stole our hearts in 2015 – based on the same trusty platform as the sturdy D5 diesel and pokey T6 petrol – only the T8 is crammed with a wealth of extra gadgets as standard and has an even smaller carbon footprint – but only when it's running solely on electric charge.