As – eventually – London returns to work and roads become busier, one of the downsides will be that air quality worsens. Official figures have shown that in recent weeks nitrogen dioxide levels (NO2) in some of the city’s busiest roads are almost half what they were before lockdown.
There are, however, measures that motorists can take to help – the motor industry too is constantly finding new ways of improving vehicle emissions standards. One of the latest innovations is from Volvo.
The firm’s great-looking XC40 - the smallest SUV in its range - has already won major awards worldwide and rightly so; it’s stylish, safe, practical and good to drive. Now - with the launch of the Recharge T5 plug-in hybrid model - it will probably win a few more. Especially in London.
Volvo has taken its impressive three-cylinder 178bhp 1.5-litre petrol engine and combined it with an 80bhp electric motor, 10.7kWh of batteries unobtrusively stashed along the ‘spine’ of the car, and a smooth seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox.
It makes for lower emissions and even permits the car to be driven on electric power alone, for periods of time – ideal for commuting through cities and towns.
As with any hybrid, this five-seater XC40 recharges its own battery via the petrol engine - but to get best use of the battery-electric-motor combo it should also be plugged into a charger. When fully charged, claims Volvo (about three hours with the £50 optional 3.5kW Type 2 charger or six hours on a standard three-pin plug), the Recharge will cover up to 28 miles on pure electric propulsion.
Most of the time an on-board ‘brain’ decides when propulsion should go to the front wheels either from the petrol engine alone or purely from the battery - or both working together.
With both integrated systems working in tandem and with the battery fully charged, says Volvo, it is possible to achieve 119 mpg. In practice, however, if you fail to plug the car in regularly, and therefore rely more heavily on the petrol engine, you will achieve a considerably lower MPG figure.
Volvo’s latest plug-in hybrid has been very cleverly designed indeed. Thanks to the way the batteries are built into the Recharge, the standard car’s 460 litres of boot space hasn’t been affected - meaning this version of the XC40 still functions well as a practical family car.
The suspension has been slightly firmed up to compensate for the extra weight of the battery, making the ride slightly harsher than in other variants, especially over potholes and road humps. There is also some body lean in bends; it’s not meant to be a sportster, after all. The brakes - linked to recuperative electricity regeneration - take some getting used to as they feel ‘grabby’ at first acquaintance.
Volvo nevertheless worked long and hard developing this car and the quality shines through. It is very quiet, very refined, very easy to drive. It’s no slouch either, with Volvo claiming that 0-60mph comes up in just 7.3 seconds. It certainly feels fast.
The hybrid system is entirely seamless - to the point that the driver soon tires of trying to tell whether the ca is being propelled by battery alone, or whether the petrol engine is doing its bit too.
Via the impressive nine-inch central display, it’s possible to recharge and save the battery, using the petrol engine alone while driving - handy if you want to do the ‘right’ thing later in your journey, and perhaps creep silently through London on battery power alone.
Comfort is a big point on this new XC40. The cabin is light, airy and upmarket - firmly in line with the high build quality apparent throughout. It’s a relaxing place to be. The seating too is superbly comfortable, vision out good.
For those with a handy recharging point - and for company car drivers wanting to take advantage of a Benefit In Kind tax rate of 16 per cent - this refined Volvo makes a lot of sense. If the idea of having to refuel at a petrol station and plug it in on a regular basis seems unattractive, a standard, less costly pure-petrol or diesel XC40 might make more sense.
The biggest sticking point for many may be pricing. This is undoubtedly a highly attractive, good-to-drive, practical, ‘green’ car, but it’s not cheap, at £40,905.
Volvo XC40 T5 Recharge Plug-In Hybrid
Price: £40,905
Top speed: 127 mph
0-62 mph: 7.3 seconds
Official MPG: 119.1 MPG
CO2 emissions: 47 - 55 g/km
David Williams can be found Tweeting at @djrwilliams