Practical and stylish

Volvo XC40 Recharge Plug-In Hybrid (2018-2023) Models Covered

5dr SUV (PHEV)

Introduction

At the end of this century’s second decade, Volvo introduced a range of ‘Recharge’ Plug-in versions of its little XC40 SUV. Buyers had the choice of a Plug-in Hybrid or a full-EV. It’s the Plug-in Hybrid, sold between 2019 and 2023, that we look at here as a used buy.

The History

The XC40 compact SUV was the last of Volvo’s models to get electrification, but it was also the first of the company’s cars to get a full-EV electric version, the XC40 P8 Recharge, which arrived in 2019. At the same time, for those who couldn’t quite face the thought of going for an all-out EV (or shouldering that top variant’s plump price), then Volvo introduced the Recharge Plug-in hybrid derivative look at here, hoping that it might be more palatable.

This PHEV was originally offered in T5 form, but a more affordable only slightly lowered-powered T4 version arrived a year late and carried on selling when the T5 Plug-in was deleted in 2021. The T4 Plug-in sold until the end of 2023. On the used market, an XC40 Plug-in Hybrid will hardly be inexpensive, but it can offer up to 27 miles of allelectric driving before needing to revert to its three cylinder 1.5-litre petrol engine. Compromises over the ordinary XC40 model are as few as the visual changes made and there are plenty of driving mode options to ensure that you can maximise the innovative powertrain’s impressive efficiency.

What You Get

Visually, unless you happened to pick up the addition of a charging port near the front wheel arch, you probably wouldn’t spot any differences between this Plug-in hybrid variant and a more conventional XC40 – and that’s exactly the way Volvo wanted it. Inside, the cabin initially seems identical to that of an ordinary combustion-engined variant, which means there’s a real premium feel.

As usual with an XC40, there’s a digital instrument cluster – you can vary it via ‘Glass’, ‘Minimalist’, ‘Performance’ and ‘Chrome Rings’ layout options. And the right-hand virtual dial switches between being a rev counter (as it is in the ‘Power’ and ‘Off Road’ driving modes) to being a hybrid driving gauge (in the ‘Hybrid’ and ‘Pure’ mode settings).

You have to look quite closely for this cabin’s other EV-orientated touches; things like the extra ‘B’ option on the gearshift and the selectable ‘Driver Performance’ screen on the centre-dash monitor, that option showing a powertrain energy graphic. That centre-dash monitor, a 9-inch central touchscreen, is powered by Android, which means you get a raft of overthe-air Google features, including Maps and YouTube Music built in.

Rear seat room has always been an XC40 strongpoint – it beats most class rivals in this regard: two adults will be very comfortable, even on longer trips. So the ordinary XC40 model’s 452-litre luggage capacity figure is unaffected and will be quite sufficient for the needs of most owners.

What To Look For

There aren’t many major issues here, other than a few electrical and software issues; go thoroughly over all the powered and infotainment functions of the car you’re looking at. We’ve come across various powertrain and fuel system issues. And we’ve heard of failures with the starter motor, which can lead to noise or the engine not starting.

Make sure you do a charge-up before signing for the car you’re looking at. When you do this, make sure that when you plug in to start the charge cycle you hear the charge port and the cable locking and engaging as they should; that’s all part of the charger basically confirming with the car’s onboard computer that everything’s good to go before releasing power. But if the charging cable fails to lock as it should, then that won’t happen. If there is a failure to lock, the issue could be actuator failure, caused by a blown fuse. Otherwise, it’s just the usual things; look out for stone chips and alloy wheel scratches. And insist on a fully stamped-up service history.

On The Road

With this Recharge T5 Plug-in hybrid FWD model, the hybrid system’s electric motor drives only the front wheels and works via 7-speed dual-clutch auto gearbox. That motor draws its power from a 10.7kWh lithium-ion battery situated in the car’s central drivetrain tunnel and will take over from the associated 1.5-litre three cylinder petrol engine to power this Volvo exclusively when you run it in this PHEV variant’s provided full-electric ‘Pure’ driving mode.

Most of the time though, you’re going to be using this XC40 in its normal ‘Hybrid’ drive setting, in which the electric motor and the three cylinder engine cut seamlessly in and out, as required. The electrified modes have a specific right hand driving gauge in the instrument binnacle that replaces the rev counter. And a selectable ‘Driver Performance’ screen on the centredash screen can tell you at any given time what’s being powered by what.

Should you need to press on, there’s a sporty ‘Power’ mode, use of which reminds you that there are plenty of brake horsepower on offer here, in the case of the T5 PHEV variant 180hp from the 1.5-litre engine and a further 82hp from the electric motor. There’s also an alternative T4 Plug-in hybrid derivative which uses the same powertrain but with a slightly de-tuned 129hp version of the 1.5-litre petrol engine. Pushing down past the throttle’s kickdown point always brings the petrol engine into play.

With this Plug-in model, as with ordinary XC40 variants, ride quality is segment-leading and refinement is difficult to beat in the class too.

The brake recuperation system can make it difficult to smoothly bring the car to a standstill though. And you certainly feel this plug-in variant’s extra weight (it tips the scales at over 1,800kg) when pushing on through the bends. Unlike the full-electric P8 variant of this model, this version doesn’t have an AWD drivetrain, but Volvo nevertheless, rather ambitiously, provides an ‘Offroad’ option amongst your various driving mode choices.

Overall

For a PHEV of its period, you can’t fault the engineering here – or the way that it’s been incorporated into such a pleasing, practical and stylish overall design. If you want a compact, premium-badged SUV with plug-in tech from the 2019-2023 period, this one’s well worth a look.