[Auto] Volvo XC40 T5 Recharge, in-depth test of the top-of-the-range plug-in hybrid

[G h o s t l y.]

 

Volvo is a Swedish brand that has always been known for going its own way. Even so, although it does not follow fads, there is a trend towards electrification that is totally unstoppable and in the end it is necessary that all manufacturers get on the bandwagon. So for some time now they have been selling plug-in hybrid versions in some of their models. They started with their flagship, the Volvo XC90, and have quickly applied it to the rest of the range.
 

Probably one of the most interesting is precisely this Volvo XC40 T5 Recharge that we put to the test this week. It is the top-of-the-range compact SUV, the more powerful of the two plug-in hybrid variants available. A fully electric version will also arrive shortly under the Recharge fan, something that is possible thanks to the CMA platform on which it sits.

The Volvo XC40 has been on the market for a couple of years and has been exemplary success since it came out. Initially they had to increase their production due to the reception it had among the public and it also received a category award such as the Car of the Year in Europe in 2018. Now they also want to succeed among plug-in hybrid SUVs and the Swedish brand sets the goal of that 20% of the sales of this model are from the Recharge family.
 

Aesthetics is one of the highlights of the Volvo XC40. The truth is that he has managed to differentiate himself quite a bit from the rest of his rivals and has a very marked personality. It achieves this with minimalist lines that have already attracted attention since we saw them in the Volvo Concept 40.1 prototype in 2016. We begin by talking about the front with a very recognizable feature that is also used by its older brothers: the headlights with Thor's hammer. in the daytime running lights so that it does not go unnoticed anywhere.
 

It also has a trapezoidal grille that stands out for its very wide design, crossed by the brand's logo in chrome and that, in this example, comes with a black frame. The moldings in that tone are repeated in the fog lamps and also in the lower part of the bumper. In other finishes there is a silver trim. All underbody is black plastic to enhance its crossover image.


 

Although when we go into the side what strikes us the most are the huge 21-inch wheels that barely fit in those wheel arches. Needless to say, they are optional and have a two-tone design that matches the rest of the bodywork, as the roof and pillars are also black. It stands out that practically the only difference compared to the rest of the combustion versions is the charging socket on the left front wing.
 

The rear of the Volvo XC40 also leaves no one difference due to its peculiar design. While most manufacturers in recent times have opted for the horizontal, in this compact SUV quite vertical pilots stand out thanks to its L-shape that is integrated into the roof and the spoiler that remains on the rear window. On the gate appears the name of the brand in letters, while at the bottom there are black plastic bumpers in which chrome exhaust outlets stand out that are simulated, although they have the real ones behind