Volvo may have solved the problem of thirsty hybrid engines with the XC40 T5 Recharge – a potential game-changer

YOU might say plug-in hybrids are a false economy.

It’s great when you can be fussed to charge up your PHEV and make the most of electric mileage from your heavy battery.

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But most of the time drivers are just chugging along on petrol, and getting worse mpg numbers than old-school cars.

Now Volvo may have solved the problem of thirsty hybrid engines with the XC40 T5 Recharge – a potential game-changer.

It whirrs along without waking the petrol engine at a useful hop of up to 28 miles – on a par with most other plug-ins.

But with a punchy 1.5-litre, turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine, it’s got all the swagger of rivals like the Range Rover

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Evoque and promises to be more economical than most other PHEVs on longer runs.

On top of that, Volvo has rinsed 180hp from that dinky engine and 82hp from the electric motor, so the XC40 is far from tardy.

Seems like a no-brainer, even at the circa £40k starting price?

Well, it will be for a lot of people but it’s not as flawless as the figures suggest.

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This front-wheel-drive SUV is prone to understeer if you drive it with even moderate gusto, although the silky steering is a pleasure and the high seats gives it a proper SUV-feel.

We’d like a smoother ride especially around town, where the finer brake feel is hard to judge for smooth stopping.

Still, the petrol engine is quiet at a steady cruise, and in pure electric mode the XC40 is a joy.

It’ll do motorway speeds on battery power with no problem, and we managed 18 miles without waking up the petrol engine despite cold weather and faster roads, so you should see close to 25 miles in warm weather and slower driving (where electric motors are more efficient).

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Disappointingly we struggled to get better than 33mpg from the XC40 T5.

I was hoping for 40mpg, but this is still a hefty car with significant power and it shows in the middling fuel economy.

Ultimately, thanks to a classy interior, a slick drive and the potential for low company car tax and fuel costs, this deserves to be a big success.

Even as a private buyer, the Volvo’s prices are competitive with traditional petrol and diesel rivals, and newcomers like the BMW X2 plug-in hybrid.

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Just remember to plug it in as often as possible, which will take three hours from an AC Type 2 car charger, or five hours from home.

If you can’t plug in regularly, or if you do very high mileage, a standard diesel XC40 could well be a cheaper option. Or there’s a forthcoming pure-electric XC40 with a 248-mile range.

We are Swede on the XC40 T5, but your economic forecasts need to ensure you get the benefits of that electric running before you splash the cash.

• Vicky is associate editor, DrivingElectric.com

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