2020 Volvo XC40 Recharge T5 R-Design PHEV review

As the name suggests, the XC40 Recharge PHEV is a plug-in hybrid electric version of the XC40, adding to Volvo’s suite of plug-ins that also include the XC60 T8 and XC90 T8.

The PHEV is the first rechargeable version of the XC40 in line with Volvo’s strategy to offer all models with an electrified option by the end of 2020.

Recharge is the name Volvo is giving its new electrified models, from plug-in hybrids like this to the upcoming all-electric XC40.

See how Volvo is looking to electrification to boost profits.

The XC40 Recharge PHEV also introduces a new three-cylinder turbo engine to the Volvo family.

Value

There’s only a single XC40 Recharge PHEV model available and it comes in the sportier R-Design trim, which includes 20-inch alloy wheels to lift the look. So as well as some black exterior highlights – including a black roof – there’s leather and quality finishes throughout.

Smart key entry, digital radio tuning and wireless phone charging are part of the $64,990 ask (plus on-road costs), as are puddle lights and a 9.0-inch vertical infotainment screen.

Volvo had initially planned to offer a Lifestyle Pack for $3000, bringing a panoramic sunroof, Harman Kardon sound system and heavily tinted rear windows. Those features are included in the XC40 Recharge’s list of standard gear, helping offset the circa-$8000 premium over the regular T5. Metallic paint adds $1150 and a 360-degree camera $990.

All of which starts to add up, especially when the regular XC40 starts at $46,990. To be fair, to match the trim level of the Recharge PHEV it should be compared with the petrol-only T5 R-Design, which is $56,990.

Inside the Volvo XC40 PHEV

The XC40 is classified as a small SUV but it’s impressively accommodating inside. While it doesn’t have the cabin width of a mid-sizer, its sprawling space for four people is akin to that of the next SUV size up.

And the PHEV doesn’t lose anything to non-electrified XC40s. There’s the same 586 litres of luggage space and even a spare tyre tucked under the flat boot floor (it’s a very skinny spare!).

Volvo has also nailed the functionality of things with simple, logical controls. A sizeable volume dial is surrounded by buttons for major functions, including demisters. The simplicity flows through to the steering wheel.

The 9.0-inch touchscreen takes care of other functions and is navigated through sensible menus, along with a central (physical) home button.

The gear selector is one that’s taken the simplicity thing a step too far. There’s no button to release and slide between gears, the selector instead requiring multiple taps to perform some shifts. Drop from Reverse to Drive, for example, and you’ll first have to drop it into Neutral.

Materials and finishes reinforce the thought that’s gone into the cabin. As well as nicely grained plastics there’s leather and fake suede and metal touches to liven the mood. Even the door pockets are lined with a carpet-like finish.

Those in the rear aren’t forgotten, either, with the same attention to details, rear air vents and that terrific adult-friendly space.

Performance and efficiency

Volvo describes the PHEV system as a twin engine, referring to the combination of a traditional petrol-fed internal combustion engine and an electric motor.

The 1.5-litre turbo triple makes 132kW and 265Nm and it’s backed up by an electric motor producing 60kW/160Nm.

Total power output is 195kW, which makes for impressively peppy acceleration.

The electric motor fleshes out the initial response with beautifully accessible torque, for easy pulling power.

Driven more sedately – and relying on that initial urge – it’ll get 35-40km from a charge (the official claim is 44km).

Four drive modes – Hybrid, Power, Pure and Off-road – adjust throttle sensitivity and how early the electric motor comes into play. Pure focuses things on electric power and will delay the use of the petrol engine, for example. But Hybrid is the best all-rounder mode for utilising electricity but having easy access to the additional petrol punch.

There’s a clever power gauge in the digital instrument cluster, too; it adjusts where the switchover point between electricity and petrol is depending on the driving mode you’ve selected and how much charge is left in the batteries.

For maximum thrust – and to hit 100km/h in the claimed 7.3 seconds – you’ll obviously need both powerplants, at which point the eagerness of the three-cylinder turbo is on clear display.

There’s just the right touch of enthusiasm and refinement, albeit with the occasional grumble as the petrol engine fires to life.

Some of that willingness also drops off as the battery runs low, the job of propulsion switching solely to the petrol engine.

The official fuel figure is 2.2 litres per 100km, but it’s arbitrary in everyday driving. Short trips with regular recharges can be done using little or no fuel, whereas longer journeys relying predominantly on the petrol three-cylinder will use triple that claim.

Those who want to tow can lug up to 1.8 tonnes of trailer (regular XC40s range from 1800kg to 2100kg tow capacity).

Charging

It’s AC charging only for the XC40 Recharge. That’s no biggy considering the battery capacity is only 10.7kWh; even from a 2.4kW home powerpoint it should complete a full charge in around four hours.

Plug it into a wallbox charger and you can eke up to 3.7kW for a circa-three-hour charge. There’s almost no point installing a wallbox with such a minimal gain.

Our car was an early build and featured a Type 1 plug, but customer cars are all fitted with the Type 2 plug that has become the default for Australia.

Ride and handling

Whereas the petrol-only T5 XC40 drives all four wheels, the Recharge PHEV powers only the front wheels. That means it’ll occasionally scrabble from a standstill, fighting for traction if you’re over-eager on the throttle.

That front-drive layout also makes the “Off-Road” mode seem redundant. We can’t imagine too many venturing far beyond the bitumen in a car that does its best work around town.

But otherwise the XC40 Recharge gets most of the goodness of the regular XC40: fluid and responsive steering and sound body control top that list. No doubt having some batteries sitting low in the vehicle help quell the tendency to lean, as the Recharge is impressively stable mid-corner.

There’s a firmness to the suspension that endows it with some friendly athleticism while ensuring respectable compliance over bumps. It’s quiet, too.

Our main gripe is with the brakes; in trying to balance between reversing the flow of the electric motor (for regeneration to recapture energy) and using the traditional brakes they lack progression. They’re a tad computer game in their on-off nature, something that calls for careful modulation.

Talking point

The XC40 has a 9.0-inch infotainment screen but it’s arranged vertically rather than horizontally.

That means the reversing camera doesn’t take up the whole screen, nor does Apple CarPlay, the connectivity system for Apple smartphones.

But it does allow more to be packed onto the screen while still using that smartphone connectivity.

You can have main menu items above the main smartphone functionality, rather than having to dive back to the main menu before first accessing various vehicle functions. It also allows some space for the ventilation controls, which expand once you press one of the virtual buttons.

Safety

Unsurprisingly safety is a strong suit for the XC40 Recharge.

It gets an airbag-protected passenger compartment that performed very well in independent ANCAP crash testing, helping earn it a five-star rating.

And crash avoidance tech is abundant. There’s full speed autonomous emergency braking (AEB) as well as auto braking in reverse. Fatigue detection and lane departure warning are also included, as are blind spot warning, tyre pressure sensors and speed sign recognition.

A 360-degree camera costs another $990.

Verdict

The XC40 Recharge PHEV builds on the impressive XC40 credentials with a system that provides short electric-only range. But it also adds zest to the XC40, a sizeable city SUV that was already enjoyable (the three-cylinder turbo helps there, too).

It’s the price premium and lack of all-wheel drive that takes the gloss off the XC40 Recharge.

And as with all PHEVs the XC40 does its best work around town and is best suited to sub-50km daily drives, at which point you get the full benefit of that electric system.

2020 Volvo XC40 Recharge T5 R-Design PHEV specifications

Price: $64,990, plus on-road costs

Basics: PHEV, 5 seats, 5 doors, small SUV, front-wheel drive

Range: 44km electric only

Battery capacity: 10.7kWh

Battery warranty: 8 years

Energy consumption: 16.2kWh/100km

Motors: 1 front, 60kW/160Nm

AC charging: 3.7kW, Type 2 plug

DC charging: NA

0-100km/h: 7.3 seconds