Volvo XC40 T5 hybrid 1.5cc or 2.0 petrol ?
Discussion
I've had my 2021 XC40 T5 plug-in for a month.
I bought it from a main dealer. They were offering a "free" 2 year servicing, warranty, breakdown cover and MOT insurance package in return for taking a finance package.
I traded in 2 cars, and was going to pay the £3.3k balance in cash, but took the finance package to get the benefits. Borrowed £5k, got £1700 as a cashback payment. I'll pay the loan off in a few months.
The high RFL is because the original list price was over £40k.
I went for the T5 plug-in because it was the most powerful option (apart from the fully-electric P8). You'd never know that it only has a 1500cc engine - the electric motor does a very good job of filling in the gaps and boosting performance.
A lot of my trips are less than the 25 mile battery range, so I tend to drive a lit in "Pure electric" mode. Perfectly capable of keeping up with traffic, going up steep hills, and pulling onto A road roundabouts just using the electric motor.
On longer journeys, I'll use Hybrid mode, and engage the "Battery Hold" feature on the faster roads, switching back to battery in town.
Running on the battery, it's costing me 3.8p a mile on Octopus Go, equivalent to 190mpg.
A 50 mile round trip, mix of battery and petrol, works out at the equivalent of 60mpg.
That's much better than the Sportage 2 litre diesel (similar size) that I had 3 years ago, which averaged a shade under 40mpg on the same journeys.
The plug-in hybrid makes a lot of sense if you do short journeys, not so much if you do a lot of motorway driving. It'll cope perfectly well, and do around 40mpg on a run without the battery, but you won't recover the higher purchase cost.
I charge mine using the Volvo granny charger, and the 4 hour Octopus Go cheap rate is just about enough to recharge from zero to full.
I bought it from a main dealer. They were offering a "free" 2 year servicing, warranty, breakdown cover and MOT insurance package in return for taking a finance package.
I traded in 2 cars, and was going to pay the £3.3k balance in cash, but took the finance package to get the benefits. Borrowed £5k, got £1700 as a cashback payment. I'll pay the loan off in a few months.
The high RFL is because the original list price was over £40k.
I went for the T5 plug-in because it was the most powerful option (apart from the fully-electric P8). You'd never know that it only has a 1500cc engine - the electric motor does a very good job of filling in the gaps and boosting performance.
A lot of my trips are less than the 25 mile battery range, so I tend to drive a lit in "Pure electric" mode. Perfectly capable of keeping up with traffic, going up steep hills, and pulling onto A road roundabouts just using the electric motor.
On longer journeys, I'll use Hybrid mode, and engage the "Battery Hold" feature on the faster roads, switching back to battery in town.
Running on the battery, it's costing me 3.8p a mile on Octopus Go, equivalent to 190mpg.
A 50 mile round trip, mix of battery and petrol, works out at the equivalent of 60mpg.
That's much better than the Sportage 2 litre diesel (similar size) that I had 3 years ago, which averaged a shade under 40mpg on the same journeys.
The plug-in hybrid makes a lot of sense if you do short journeys, not so much if you do a lot of motorway driving. It'll cope perfectly well, and do around 40mpg on a run without the battery, but you won't recover the higher purchase cost.
I charge mine using the Volvo granny charger, and the 4 hour Octopus Go cheap rate is just about enough to recharge from zero to full.
I reckon I'll save enough petrol to cover the tax difference in about 2800 miles.
Think I paid £560 road tax, the basic rate is £180, so £380 extra.
Electric driving is costing me less than 4p a mile, running on petrol is about 17.5p.
The T5 recharge is a bit quicker, and it's a good way of getting used to electric motoring without the "risks" of going full BEV.
Think I paid £560 road tax, the basic rate is £180, so £380 extra.
Electric driving is costing me less than 4p a mile, running on petrol is about 17.5p.
The T5 recharge is a bit quicker, and it's a good way of getting used to electric motoring without the "risks" of going full BEV.
Wish said:
Just to finish this topic off.
Ended up buying a XC60 T5 Inscription.
How are you finding the real world economy? Saves me starting a new thread to ask other owners if they can pitch in!Ended up buying a XC60 T5 Inscription.
I've watched a lot of XC60 reviews, they're all very positive when it was new (2017), but all say as much fun as the 250hp T5 is, it likes a drink. Is that what you're finding? Appreciate the price of petrol has fallen, but no guarantee it will stay that way, but I really don't want a diesel!!
My wife has an XC40 T5 2.0, she loves it. I mean really loves it. It’s not that fuel efficient and a T3 or T4 would probably have been enough.
One observation I’ve had about it is how much other people like it. All of our younger friends (20’s & 30’s) thinks it’s ultra cool and trendy (not sure I agree with that but still) - they know I have quite a car collection but for some reason if we are picking up to go out then that’s the one they seem happier for us to arrive in!
Our ‘local’ Volvo dealer is terrific too - better than anything I’ve had from Porsche or BMW or Land Rover or Bentley etc.
I’d like to replace hers with a FFRR or Defender 90 but due to the current insurance issues I’m guessing she’ll just get nearly new XC40 or XC90 at some point I no the next month or so.
Personally whilst I wouldn’t have one for myself because there’s other cars that float my boat more, but, I always enjoy driving it when I use it and I am a very happy passenger too!
One observation I’ve had about it is how much other people like it. All of our younger friends (20’s & 30’s) thinks it’s ultra cool and trendy (not sure I agree with that but still) - they know I have quite a car collection but for some reason if we are picking up to go out then that’s the one they seem happier for us to arrive in!
Our ‘local’ Volvo dealer is terrific too - better than anything I’ve had from Porsche or BMW or Land Rover or Bentley etc.
I’d like to replace hers with a FFRR or Defender 90 but due to the current insurance issues I’m guessing she’ll just get nearly new XC40 or XC90 at some point I no the next month or so.
Personally whilst I wouldn’t have one for myself because there’s other cars that float my boat more, but, I always enjoy driving it when I use it and I am a very happy passenger too!
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