All About Japan Autos

Volvo announced last week that it will be adding a plug-in hybrid to its lineup in 2012. The new electric/turbo-diesel hybrid engine will be an option on Volvo’s V60 sportswagon, sold in Europe, and the package will be unveiled at the 2011 Geneva Auto Show in the March. The V60 is not available in the U.S., but Kelley Blue Book expects versions of this technology to appear in the North American market in the near future.

The new engine will have an electric-only range of 31 miles, and the combination of electricity and diesel power will produce about 124 miles per gallon, reports AutoWeek. The 2.4L five-cylinder engine makes 215 horsepower. No pricing information has been released yet, but similar additions of hybrid powertrains to mid-sized wagons have added approximately $5,000 to the price tag.

If you’re in the market for a hybrid with a little more cargo space than a Toyota Prius or a Nissan Leaf, it may be worth it to wait for more news from Volvo before making a purchase decision. However, the V60 sportswagon is not currently available in the U.S., and there has been no official mention of adding a hybrid powertrain to any of Volvo’s existing cars in the market. If time is a priority in your search as well as interior space, you should consider existing models like the Ford Escape Hybrid SUV or Toyota Camry Hybrid. Both offer more cargo space than the many subcompact hybrids on the market, while remaining on the “Affordable” side of the hybrid market.

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