Volvo has revised the powertrain line-up of its popular XC40 SUV, with a second plug-in hybrid option being introduced alongside a pair of mild-hybrid options.
The Swedish manufacturer introduced a T5 plug-in hybrid powertrain to the XC40 back in March as the first electrified option available, which mated a 177bhp 1.5-litre petrol engine together with an 81bhp electric motor and 10.7kWh battery. The new T4 option features much the same setup, but it uses a smaller output 127bhp petrol engine, and when electrified produces 208bhp in total.
Volvo claims the T4 can travel for 27 miles on electricity, which enables it to return 134.5mpg, with CO2 emissions of 47g/km – giving it a benefit-in-kind of 12 per cent.
You can choose the new T4 plug-in hybrid in either R-Design and Inscription trim levels, with prices starting from £39,130, which is around £2,000 less than its T5 sibling. As it costs less than £40,000, it also escapes the £325 road tax surcharge that stings models aged between one and six years old that cost above that figure. First deliveries of these are expected in October.
Elsewhere, Volvo has removed diesel engines from the XC40 range entirely, and made its previous T4 and T5 petrol engines mild-hybrid through the introduction of a 48-volt battery to harness lost energy in order to maximise efficiency. The new electrified petrol engines, which are known as the B4 and B5, both feature 2.0-litre petrol engines producing 194bhp and 247bhp respectively.
Kristian Elvefors, Volvo Car UK managing director, said: “The addition of a second plug-in hybrid powertrain and the introduction of our first mild-hybrid petrols to the XC40 range is the latest step in Volvo Cars’ ambitious electrification strategy.
“Combined with the XC40’s existing strengths of striking design, ingenious packaging and advanced safety technology, these new powertrains make an already desirable car even more desirable.”
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