New Volvo XC40 T5 Twin Engine plug-in hybrid launched

The Volvo XC40 T5 Twin Engine plug-in hybrid model is now available to buy. Promised since the XC40’s launch, the hybrid model slots in at the top of the engine range. Cars with this powertrain start at £40,905 in R-Design trim or £42,305 if you choose the Inscription Pro model. First customer deliveries start in February 2020.

The T5 Twin Engine uses a 178bhp three-cylinder 1.5-litre petrol engine and an electric motor to produce a total of 258bhp, making it the most powerful model in the XC40 range. The T5 Twin Engine gets from 0-62mph in 7.3 seconds as a result - although the petrol-only T5 with four-wheel drive is still the quickest model at 6.5 seconds. A new seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox is standard in the T5 hybrid.

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The T5 Twin Engine is far more economical than the four-wheel-drive petrol T5. Thanks to a 10.7kWh battery, it can travel for up to 28.6 miles on electric power alone and, combined with the petrol engine, it returns a claimed 141.1mpg. As with most plug-in hybrids, it’ll prove more economical for lower-mileage drivers; the diesels will be better for regular motorway trips. As company-car tax is based on recorded CO2 emissions - just 38g/km for the XC40 hybrid - the car falls into a low tax band.

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Volvo only includes a standard three-pin charging cable as standard but a fast-charging cable is available and costs £50. It tops up the battery in 2.5 hours, compared to up to six hours if you use a regular household socket.

You can choose the plug-in hybrid model in sporty R-Design and R-Design Pro, and luxurious Inscription and Inscription Pro trim levels. The specs are mostly carried over from the rest of the updated XC40 range, so the hybrid in £40,905 R-Design guise includes leather upholstery, tinted windows, a sporty appearance and a nine-inch portrait touchscreen.

Inscription, from £41,255, includes a powered driver’s seat and tailgate, front parking assistance and a crystal gear lever. On both trim levels, the hybrid gets exclusive 19-inch alloy wheels as standard. The R-Design Pro version adds £1,400 and the Inscription Pro adds £1,050 to the cost of their respective base trims, and both offer extra features including heated front seats, washer nozzles and front windscreen, plus active bending headlights and fog lights.

The introduction of the Volvo XC40 T5 Twin Engine plug-in hybrid means that every car in the Volvo range is now offered as a hybrid. Volvo is the first company to achieve this. The company has confirmed that the Volvo V40 hatchback is no longer in production.

Read more about all the updates to the 2019 Volvo XC40 range, or see why the XC40 is one of the slowest-depreciating cars on sale.