New Volvo XC40 Recharge PHEV T4 24 | 08 | 2020
VOLVO HAS INTRODUCED its new XC40 Recharge Plug-in Hybrid T4. Available to order now, the second PHEV to join Volvo’s entry-level SUV range starts at £39,130; that gets you the Recharge T4 in R-Design trim. It also has an all-electric range of 27-miles. The new PHEV T4 also coincides with Volvo confirming it has ditched diesel for its XC40 range. (Related: Roadtest — Volvo XC40)
The Recharge PHEV T4 is also an Inscription trim, which uses the same petrol/electric powertrain and costs from £39,475. Both should appeal to company car users as the XC40 PHEVs have a Benefit-in-Kind rating from 12%.
One rung below the XC40 T5 PHEV, the T4 is powered by a combination of 1.5-litre, three cylinder petrol engine, a seven-speed automatic gearbox and an electric motor; drive is sent to the front wheels. (Related: Volvo begins 112mph top speed rollout)
In both the T4 and the T5, the electric motor delivers 81bhp. However, the less powerful petrol engine in the T4 means the offers a total output of 208bhp, compared to the T5’s 258bhp. It also means the T4’s performance figures are 0-62mph in 8.5secs. Like all new Volvo, top speed is restricted to 112mph.
The T4’s 10.7kWh battery gives the PHEV SUV an all-electric range of 27-miles, while WLTP certified consumption figures are 134.5mpg and 47g/km CO2 emissions. Emissions from the PHEV’s combustion engine are also reduced thanks to mild-hybrid tech being added.
The new Volvo XC40 B4 and B5 mild-hybrid models feature 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engines backed up a 48-volt integrated starter/generator system. Available with either front or four-wheel-drive, the B4 produces 194bhp, while the B5 ups the output to 246bhp and is four-wheel drive only.
The B4 produces similar levels of CO2 as the slower T3 option, thanks to mild hybrid tech which recycles otherwise wasted braking energy to reduce load on the engine under acceleration.
Prices for the B4 Momentum start at £32,760, with the B5 R-Design trim costing from £37,865.
Related: Roadtest — Volvo S60 T5 R-Design
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Jim McGill