In Malaysia, Volvo's reputation is not as loud as double B, but this luxury brand from Sweden still has its own fans in our country; today we are testing the 2021 Volvo XC40 Recharge T5 that has just landed in our country. The BMW X1 and Mercedes-Benz GLA in the same class, what are they worth considering?

XC40 Recharge T5 is Volvo's first work in my country after changing the naming method. All models with the name Recharge are plug-in hybrid models. However, unlike the familiar Recharge T8, this Recharge version of the XC40 does not use the Drive-E engine of the Volvo SPA platform, but a 1.5L three-cylinder turbocharged engine with a 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox, and Its electric motor is not placed on the rear axle, but between the engine and the gearbox, so it is not all-wheel drive like the T8 model, but a front-wheel drive model.

If you think this power combination is a bit familiar, yes-it is the power combination on the Proton X50; but because the XC40 Recharge T5 has more electric motors, it has a combined horsepower of 262 PS and a combined torque of 425 Nm. , And different from the general Hybrid models, its output is to directly combine the engine (180 PS/265 Nm) and the motor (82 PS/160 Nm), which means that this Hybrid has no power loss at all!

However, due to the addition of electric motors and battery packs, the weight of the XC40 Recharge T5 has reached 1,875 kg, which is heavier (1,704 kg) than the gasoline version of the XC40 T5, which is also an all-wheel drive model. It has a 0-100 acceleration. It is also slower by nearly 1 second (XC40 Recharge is 7.3 seconds, XC40 T5 is 6.4 seconds). Next, let Xiaobian share with you the advantages and disadvantages that I have discovered during a few days with this luxury entry SUV.

advantage:

1. Comfort

Volvo cars always feel like a touring car when it comes to chassis tuning, which is the kind of feeling that will be very comfortable and free to drive when cruising, and the most entry-level XC40 is no exception; although the overall chassis feel It is not solid enough, but it is really comfortable to my heart in dealing with road shattering, and even though the suspension is soft but when running at high speed, this car is still stable. When it comes to comfort, it is definitely better than its peers!

2. Sound insulation + NVH performance

Human beings not only rely on the ass to define comfort, but the overall senses also contribute. In this regard, the XC40 Recharge T5 is also full of strength-whether it is wind suppression, isolation of external noise, or even shock resistance (don't forget that it is equipped with a three-cylinder engine!), it does a good job. If you don't say it, you might think this is a good NVH four-cylinder car! In addition, it is actually driven by a motor when it is normally opened. The entire driving can be said to be very quiet. You can enjoy the 250W sound system composed of 8 speakers and good sound quality.

3. Performance

Although compared to other Volvo models, the power of this 1.5L three-cylinder Hybrid model is already relatively inferior, but the editor tried to drive it with a full load of 5 adults, and the power can still be used abundantly. Described, even if the battery is exhausted, the performance will not be too bad. For daily use, it's definitely enough!

4. Safety equipment

The last one is also its trump card; when its rivals at the same level are still hesitant to introduce Lane Keeping Assist (lane keeping assist), XC40 Recharge T5 will not only give you the end, including the L2 level Pilot Assist semi-automatic driving assistance function! And it also has the oncoming vehicle dodge assist, and the road-out prevention and protection system that Volvo only has. In contrast, rivals at the same price seem to have no blind spot detection function. . .

shortcoming:

1. Braking

Volvo's hybrid models have always had a shortcoming in terms of braking, that is, its braking stroke feels very abrupt, which is mainly related to the energy recovery of Hybrid models to charge the battery when braking. The same is true for this XC40, that is, when the energy is recovered, although the car continues to brake, the pedal will have a feedback similar to the brake release, which can definitely scare the driver. Other hybrid models don’t feel like this anymore. Volvo, don’t you want to improve?

2. Control

As I mentioned earlier, the chassis of this car does not feel solid (although it feels the most "tight" in the Volvo car series), and the car body is not firm enough. The impact is this one. The handling of the car can only be described as ordinary, in contrast, it does not have the solid sense of integration of the German car. It’s not hard to drive. In fact, its steering wheel feel and pointing are quite accurate, but I can’t describe it as “precision”. With the soft suspension, this car will drive a little bit more intensely. At one point, it will push the head.

3. Rear seat

Finally, there are the rear seats. The back of this luxury Crossover is quite straight and cannot be adjusted. In my impression, the back of the BMW X1 sDrive20i that I tried to drive will be slightly inclined. Oh, by the way, if you plan to sit 3 adults in the back seat, the extra space on both sides of the rear seat cushion may cause the thighs of the passengers on both sides to hang in the air. It may be a problem if you sit for a long distance!

Summarize:

The 2021 Volvo XC40 Recharge T5 launched in the form of CKD in China is priced at RM 241,997 (on-road price, excluding insurance), and this price is also the price after 100% SST exemption (as of June 2021).

Frankly speaking, I have always been not very particular about the performance and control of SUV/Crossover. For me, this type of model should take care of comfort. Therefore, I personally think that XC40 Recharge T5 looks better than its two in terms of positioning. The main opponent is more "appropriate"-compared to the more sporty GLA and X1, it is really more comfortable to drive, and the space is more practical.

However, if you have certain requirements for driving performance and handling, then XC40 should not be suitable for you. Want to know its overall performance? You can click on the test drive video below:

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