Volvo XC40 review | Recharge PHEV version is super cheap to run!

[@meme4one]

I've just had one as a hire car. T5 too, stunning car, spacious , powerful and great to drive. Dreadful MPG, 30mpg on mix of urban and motorway. Pointless getting the hybrid unless you're only doing slow city drives or just doing it to save on tax.

[@karensinclair3511]

Great review. Just ordered mine. I can’t wait. X

[@willito6969]

Me too 😀

[@gib321]

The beautiful chrome grill is a marker for the quality behind it. I'll take two please if you wouldn't be mindin'.

[@NobbyOnCars]

A classy car !

[@gerryheery1388]

good review nobby im going to change in 2022 the theee cars I'm looking at are the vw id4 volvo xc40 plug in and the audi q3 plug in i do about 300km per week mostly on rural roads what's your thoughts

[@NobbyOnCars]

Audi and Volvo will have nicer places to sit. ID.4 will be a full on EV experience and well up to the 300kms.

[@paulpalmtree9295]

@@NobbyOnCars I have to ask, if you do high mileage per week, and have to put the Volvo XC40 Hybrid on charge every night, and let’s assume that the battery is low. How much could it possibly cost to recharge each week........I am just curious about this.

[@NobbyOnCars]

@@paulpalmtree9295 couple of quid per charge

[@stvutelvc]

XC40, the real story! We owned an XC40 D4 First Edition AWD, it came with a vibration/resonance issue from new (50-80MPH, see the XC40 Forums). 15 months later, after 30 plus visits back to the dealer, 7 loaner cars (all exhibiting variations of the same issue) new front drive shafts, rear diff/drive unit, engine mounts, prop shaft, hatch adjustments, several (professional RFB) wheel balances, engine maps, new tyres and wheels, Volvo UK concluded the car was not compatible with the 19" wheels, and tried to give us 18" wheels instead. Upon refusal, they disowned us and said it was up to the dealer to resolve. This was after the Volvo UK national technician (with all the fancy test gear), recommended in his report, that Volvo UK should buy the car back off us so they could research the issue. For about a month, we were told that Volvo had agreed to honour the buy back, and they were just sorting out the details, but out of the blue they changed their mind. Eventually, (as advised by the dealership manager) we went to We Buy Any Car for a £3000 better price than the dealer could offer. We now have a new Kia Soul EV (since June 2020, in part due to your great reviews Nobby!)... not a single problem... loving the car... as opposed to feeling totally ripped off by Volvo UK. For info, when looking at the XC40, open the opposite rear door to the driver’s seat and enjoy the view of all the exposed wiring under it. The same goes for under the boot floor carpet, and the OBD2 port area. Oh, forgot to mention the full software crash (inc. loss of all safety features), sunroof motor failure and the several rattles (most of the loaners had them too). Yes, there are always ‘bad examples’ out there, but the way that the top team at Volvo UK (directors office), dealt with the problem, was appalling. If you've just ordered an XC40... sorry for the bad news!

[@NobbyOnCars]

This ain’t good! Sounds like a proper Monday morning car. I’ve been driving the XC40 in this since Christmas week due to lockdown and there hasn’t been a single issue, software all good etc ... experience sounds like a nightmare though 😞

[@stvutelvc]

@@NobbyOnCars I guess we were spoilt by owning two Skoda Yeti's before the XC40. We often call the Kia Soul our 'Electric Yeti'... that's how good it is!

[@johnmartin7158]

What a horror story !!! They should have replaced the vehicle for you. NZ

[@mamba101]

I feel like charging a phev pretty much every time I drive will quickly become a real pain. I find charging my phone annoying enough as is. Did you find it annoying having to charge? Compared to say a fully electric

[@NobbyOnCars]

Because I've the charger at home, you just plug it in whenever you're on the drive but if you were relying on public chargers to constantly have that 40km range, it would get annoying. I've driven another week since filming this and the petrol gauge has barely moved.

[@mamba101]

@@NobbyOnCars Thanks! Have you done much motorway driving? I mostly do motorway/national road (also with local town driving) driving so a bit unsure if a phev would make sense.

[@NobbyOnCars]

@@mamba101 A bit but the EV range doesn't last as long at constant motorway speeds. That lock in range feature is useful for motorway driving though if you didn't have a full motorway journey to work. Stop start traffic coming onto or off the motorway will be EV all the way.

[@keithronson2624]

Stunning motor. Volvo. Yet in terms of hybrid BMW appears to be better? Oh the carpets, could be wrong but made from recycled plastic bottles? Eco Volvo. Merch on birthday list! Stay Safe. Thank you for excellent review.

[@NobbyOnCars]

Thanks for checking it out as always.

[@fargogemini694]

That car has a lot of extras that are bot free

[@athloneduke]

Getting to see this late but a great review as ever. Reason I'm late.....collecting my Peugeot 3008 ;).... For those who have PHEV, make sure your on night energy rates, help keep costs down

[@NobbyOnCars]

must be a special order ;)

[@obskure_ie]

Great channel Nobby. Enjoy the reviews. Just wondering if you have plans to review the Kuga PHEV any time soon?

[@NobbyOnCars]

hi John I've been chasing one, the lockdowns keep messing with bookings / schedules so once L5 changes, Ford should be back doing cars again for review.

[@obskure_ie]

@@NobbyOnCars Great stuff. Looking forward it. And the rest. Be safe

[@jackyong815]

Volvo has never been as good before the Chinese taking ownership #MadeInChina2025 🇨🇳

[@dailyblogger1533]

@@jackyong815 it's actually made in Belgium but never mind hey.

[@robtt997]

You concentrate on range with only the merest time on how it drives on the road . Like round a bend ! I know it’s a Volvo so enthusiasts stay clear of the brand but it would be nice to see if you could string a few bends together in it.

[@NobbyOnCars]

that's not really what the target market are interested in though. Is it cheap to run after spending 50k is more relevant I feel.

[@johnheckles8239]

I wonder if the boot space is big enough for a scooter hoist? 🤔 I’m looking for a new motor on motability.. I prefer this Volvo and know it’s far superior but I Know the Audi Q3 is bigger for boot space.. My heart is set on one of these in onyx black though 😍 lol

[@lyndon2634]

Great honest review. Quick question though. If you drive in hybrid mode instead of pure EV, how often would the battery need charging? Say your doing about 20 miles a day. I am wondering if I could get away with plugging it in, say once a week and still get decent economy.

[@NobbyOnCars]

I think you’d need to commit to charging more often than that. It’s only a small battery.

[@syedshah9836]

Which colour is this, does anyone know? Plus why are the batteries so so heavy? If they could double the range to 50 miles, this car would be perfect.

[@NobbyOnCars]

Crystal White

[@stevencampbell1150]

Great review as ever Nobby, the car looks very well trimmed tho' being a phev I don't think it'd be for me as I'm schlepping up and down the motorway presently 4 out of 5 days a week at a distance of around 70ish miles return. That plus the obvious price tho'I do understand that it's near the top of the range. I can only hope that when I'm left with no choice but to swap my trusty diesel for a hybrid that things will have progressed much further both in terms of price and what they can do.

[@NobbyOnCars]

I think you need to go straight to EV 🤗

[@stevencampbell1150]

@@NobbyOnCars Ha Ha Ha that was funny! 😂 If they weren't so expensive even in the north here I'd think about it.

[@cormacconaghan2715]

On point review as always Nobby. Is this car worth the difference in price to the 2022 Tuscon?

[@NobbyOnCars]

It’s no bigger it’s just a case of one badge costs more and this isn’t just a hybrid etc

[@MrChadder007]

I wished they would offer this hybrid version in the US.

[@OooohReally]

Due to the average greater travel distances in the US I think Volvo might just offer the pure electric instead of PHEV.

[@Druss_Prime]

I thought this would be tiny compared to the XC60...

[@NobbyOnCars]

Bit roomier than you'd expect!

[@Druss_Prime]

@@NobbyOnCars would you recommend this over the mild hybrid XC60? Unfortunately the XC90 seems a little out of the reach of anyone who doesn't have an apartment in Grand Canal docks

[@danishviking6254]

I saw one overtake an X3 on the motorway and from behind next to each other the XC40 definitely looked bigger. Only I assume the X3 is longer. Almost same height and width as my XC90.

[@NobbyOnCars]

@@danishviking6254 The XC40 deffo has a bigger arse anyway!

[@danishviking6254]

@@NobbyOnCars 😂😂

[@Victor_games111]

I love Volvos so good car and you can have home charger

[@garethtalbot8950]

Lovely car, great review again. Price of cars getting silly now. Electric/PHEV not great options for those in apartments, town house developments. Self charging hybrid better option. My biggest concern is the engine transfer from electric to ice. Toyota have mastered it but Mercedes haven't. Sister hybrid merc, stop start motor gone when car 3yrs old, 1k euro for part. Analysis showed the car stopping and starting 50+ times in just a few miles. Time will tell how these cars fair in terms of cost of ownership. Great review!!!

[@NobbyOnCars]

You don’t expect to hear that about a Merc eh!