The Volvo XC40 T5 was 1st launch back in 2018, and in 2021, Volvo updated it with a hybrid version called the Volvo XC40 Recharge T5. The XC40 Recharge T5 is in line with Volvo’s commitment to reduce carbon footprint as a company itself.
On the outside, the XC40 Recharge T5 looks pretty similar to the regular XC40. In order to spot the difference, the XC40 Recharge T5 will come with a charging port on the front left fender, the recharge lettering on the c-pillar, and the Recharge T5 badging at the rear. 
Overall, the XC40 is a handsome and muscular looking SUV with a hint of sportiness in it. I like that Volvo uses black plastic claddings at the bottom part of the XC40 to give it a more rugged look. When I was driving the XC40 around, I noticed there are stares coming from some Volvo owners who seems very interested with the car. 
Moving inside, the XC40 has one of the sportier interior among the different Volvo models. And yet, it still carries the same minimalistic luxury feel of a Volvo. On the other hand, the minimalistic aspect of the interior can be intimidating to those who gets into a modern Volvo for the 1st time, as this is due to some of the buttons can be a little confusing to them. As for the differences, the interior is literally the same as the regular XC40, the only noticeable changes are the “Recharge” wording on the front door sills.
Seating in the driver seat, I do get comfortable rather easily while all the buttons and controls are within reach. As the XC40 is a SUV, I do sit quite tall and I get a commanding view out of the vehicle. Speaking about that, I do noticed that the long hood do give an impression that the XC40 is a much bigger SUV than it is. But in actual fact, the overall footprint of the xc40 is just slightly bigger than a C-segment sedan, apart from its height. 
Heading to the back seats, the rear headroom and legroom are sufficient. But I find that the rear seat back is quite upright to be seated in for long journeys. I also noticed that the centre tunnel is a little taller compare to the regular XC40, the centre tunnel is usually where Volvo’s hybrid battery pack is located. As for the NVH, the XC40 recharge t5 is a quiet and serene place to be, I can barely hear the engine running even under hard acceleration. 
For the powertrain, the XC40 Recharge T5 utilises a 1.5L 3 cylinder engine instead of the 2.0L 4 cylinder engine found on the XC40 T5. This new engine is paired with an electric motor to produce a total of 262bhp and 425Nm of torque. This powertrain setup is also paired with a 7-speed dual clutch transmission to send the power to the ground. 
On the move, this powertrain has plenty of power on tap even in EV mode. Even though the switch between engine and electric motor are smooth, I do still notice when the switch when it occurs. One thing that I really like about the engine is that you can hear the turbo spooling up, it gives you a little excitement from the rather drama-free driving experience. 
As per all Volvo cars, there are 5 different drive modes to suit different driving style. During my time with the car, I tend to switch it into power mode. This is because I find that the power mode allows me to utilise the electric motor and engine equally, as the hybrid mode tends to prioritize on the electric motor. I find that the hybrid mode is more suitable for owners who works in an office, where charging is possible, then drive home after work. If let’s say, my work requires me to do a lot of travelling, I will probably use up the battery charge in the 1st hour of driving. After a few days of driving, I’m getting around 7.9L/100km of fuel consumption rate.
In terms of ride and handling, the xc40 feels just like any typical SUV. The xc40 has the ability to take corners without much drama. As for the steering feel, the steering felt light and effortless be it in the city or on twisty bits. The steering feel do get a tad heavier when I switch the drive mode into power mode. All in all, I still have high level of confidence in driving the XC40 on twisty roads. This is partly due to the decent mechanical grip provided by the 235/50 r19 tyres that was specifically tune for Volvo by Pirelli.
Being a tall SUV, I won’t be able to push the XC40 through the corners like a regular sedan. Body roll and vehicle weight can be easily felt when there is a sudden change in direction. In order to accommodate the heavier hybrid system, I felt that the suspension on the XC40 Recharge T5 is slightly stiffer compared to the regular XC40 in order to handle the extra weight. Having a stiffer suspension also means that it can be a little nauseating for the rear passenger, I can feel myself rocking around when seating at the rear.
As for braking, the XC40 Recharge T5 utilises a combination of electric motor and physical brake to slow the SUV down. There are 2 settings for the braking system, dynamic and normal braking mode. In dynamic mode, the electric motor will create retardation by increasing resistance from the electric motor to recharge the battery before the physical brakes kick in. In normal mode, the physical brakes will react with the electric motor in tandem to bring the XC40 to a standstill.
Safety wise, the XC40 is loaded with a whole host of safety and driver assistant system to keep the driver safe and relaxed over long distance driving. Being a Plugin Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV), charging the XC40 Recharge T5 is now even easier with a much longer charging cable to help those who have limited space to park their vehicle near a power socket.
In conclusion, I find the XC40 Recharge T5 is a very refine SUV for those who wanted a vehicle to travel from point to point, And it can bring you there in absolute luxury. Priced at RM241,997, it may not be the SUV for me, but I will still recommend it to those who are on the market for a decent size luxury SUV, to go and test the Volvo XC40 Recharge T5.
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