The Volvo XC40 Recharge Plug-in Hybrid will soon be no more in Australia, as the marque ditches its compact PHEV in favour of the incoming Pure Electric Single Motor version of the popular crossover.
Volvo Cars Australia confirmed with CarExpert the PHEV won’t be offered as part of the refreshed 2023 XC40 line-up, following the model’s removal from the local website.
“Our future is all-electric whereby 2030 globally we aim to only have all-electric vehicles in our model line-up. Here is Australia we want to lead the charge and have aspirations / plans to reach that milestone even earlier,” said a spokesperson for Volvo Cars Australia.
“To that end our focus is on Pure Electric and the fact that we have a Single Motor variant coming to complement our Twin Motor variant of the XC40 Recharge Pure Electric we continue to evolve our model line-up.”
Pre-facelift XC40 PHEV (EU model) 
Power in the XC40 Recharge Plug-in Hybrid comes from a 132kW/265Nm 1.5-litre turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine sourced from the entry-level T3 (now B3 overseas with mild-hybrid tech) paired with a 60kW/160Nm electric motor and 10.7kWh lithium-ion battery pack.
System output for the PHEV is 195kW, with drive sent to the front wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. Electric driving range is quoted at around 45 kilometres depending on specification.
In Australia, the XC40 Recharge Plug-in Hybrid was priced from $66,990 plus on-road costs for the 2022 model year, some $10,000 less than the equivalent Recharge Pure Electric.
While the PHEV is being discontinued in Australia, it will soldier on in other markets as part of the facelifted XC40 range.
XC40 Recharge Pure Electric (EU model) 
From mid-2022, Volvo will expand the XC40 Recharge Pure Electric offering to include both Single Motor and Twin Motor variants of the all-electric SUV, coinciding with a mild facelift.
The XC40 Recharge Pure Electric Single Motor will be priced from $72,990 before on-roads, and features a 170kW/330Nm electric motor on the front axle hooked up to a 69kWh battery. Estimated range for the Single Motor variant is quoted at 380km for the Australian model, though global specifications state this drivetrain offers up to 416km of zero-emissions driving range.
Meanwhile, the existing Twin Motor variant has moved a little upmarket, now priced from $79,990 plus on-roads, packing the full gamut of available features as part of its Ultimate specification – the Single Motor is offered in a slightly less contented Plus trim level.
The dual-motor all-wheel drive system produces a beefy 300kW and 660Nm, good for a 0-100 claim of 4.9 seconds and a driving range of 418km from its larger 78kWh battery.
Overseas model shown
Other changes as part of the upgrade include a revised frontal design nabbed from the related Volvo C40 Recharge, new alloy wheel designs, and new non-leather trims. The brand’s new Android Automotive-based infotainment system should filter out beyond the Recharge Pure Electric models, too.
Matrix-style Pixel LED headlights are also offered overseas, but according to the local configurator it appears this feature isn’t available for the time being – Polestar removed Pixel LED headlights from the related 2 for new orders citing component shortages, so it’s likely due to the same issue for Volvo.
With the removal of the Recharge Plug-in Hybrid, the Volvo XC40 range will be exclusively sourced from China for 2023. The PHEV was the last model to still be sourced from the brand’s Belgium factory.
Pricing and specs for the wider XC40 range will be detailed in the coming months. Stay tuned to CarExpert for all the latest, and let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
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