Volvo has removed all diesel versions of its Volvo XC40 from sale in the UK as it moves away from the fuel in favour of electrified variants.
The small SUV was available until August with two diesel engines: the 148bhp D3 and the 188bhp D4. Combined, these accounted for 36.5% of the model’s UK sales mix in 2019, with 5634 examples shifted during the year. Volvo claims that figure has dropped to 19% so far in 2020.
Both models are now no longer available to order on the company’s online configurator. A Volvo UK spokesman claimed the decision “is part of Volvo Cars’ ambitious global electrification strategy, which includes our well-established commitment to the phasing out of diesel in the long term. It also reflects the strong shift in customer demand towards petrol and electrified models.”
The XC40’s powertrain choice is now almost entirely electrified, with only the entry-level T3 not benefitting from the mild-hybrid technology of the more powerful petrols. Also available are two Recharge models: a plug-in hybrid (from £39,130) and the electric P8. The latter is available in First Edition form from £59,985, with cheaper variants due later.
Other Volvo diesel models remain on sale but recently had their D badge replaced by a B to denote their new mild-hybrid functionality. It’s not yet clear when the brand intends to phase them out.
Models such as the next-generation XC90 seven-seat SUV will ditch diesel in favour of hybrid and electric variants, Volvo has confirmed.
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Pulling diesel is daft
As Sundym says, once your hybrid badge earning battery pack is depleted, you've got 2 options. Burn petrol lugging the useless dead weight around, or burn a bit more petrol and charge the dead weight up as you lug it around. Physics wise, it defeats the whole object.
Apprentice
Its good to read so many fellow brits are waking up towards this disgusting companies tactics. Volvo should be removed from the UK like huawei.
Grr! When I post on a quote
The Apprentice wrote:
On my phone I have to remember to click on the "disable rich text" bit under the text box, then the quote and my reply works, well most of the time. But I also often forget. It is so frustrating