Three good compact SUVs in their plug-in hybrid version: BMW X2, Mercedes GLA and Volvo XC40, which arrive with the always interesting DGT 0 label.
Plug-in hybrid SUVs are viewed with skepticism. And it is that many look askance at them for the mere fact of being an SUV. And to that we must add the misgivings generated by having a plug-in hybrid system, which benefits from the advantages of electric cars, but deep down they continue to release emissions into the atmosphere as if it were a normal hybrid.
And that, not to mention their consumption when the battery runs out of help or some tolls that they have to pay, such as a trunk that, in general, is smaller due to the batteries.
But there are also people who like a model of this type.
There are those who are looking for a compact SUV because they do not need a lot of space. There are also those who can carry out their daily lives using only the electric motor and, in addition, take advantage of the greater range when traveling. Well, and you can’t ignore those who simply fit a model like this because it has the DGT ‘0’ sticker.
And for all of them, the three SUVs that feature in these pages are candidates that should be taken into account, since they offer good ride quality, premium air (for a fee) and meet everything expected of a plug-in hybrid. solvent.
Premium plug-in hybrid SUV comparison: BMW X2 xDrive25e vs Volvo XC40 T4 Recharge and Mercedes GLA 250 e
Let’s start with BMW. We know that the Munich-based brand plans to continue developing PHEV versions of its SUVs. And it is that they are aware that for some travelers a plug-in hybrid is, as you have already seen, a perfect mix.
At Volvo they don’t seem to be so sure: the Volvo XC40 has just received a facelift in which the main innovation is the premiere of the new Google-based infotainment system, although it is not yet available in the PHEV.
Is there a lack of faith in the future of this model and have they not wanted to complicate their lives? In any case, the usual system, while less convincing than Google’s, works well.
Volvo is the only representative of what one imagines as a classic SUV, which gives it its advantages. For example, you can put a bike in the passenger compartment by folding the seats and the driving position is higher than normal.
Of course, the lateral support of the seats is not its strong point, nor is the intrusion of the headrests, which sometimes force you to carry your head in a position that is too inclined.
The XC40 maintains an unusual detail: the rear headrests can be folded down from the central menu with a single touch. This also occurs in the temperature setting. You have to go to the menu and click on the arrow symbols, which is more distracting.
All the mates who tested it praised its sunroof (standard on the Ultimate version): even at highway speeds it is unusually quiet and the air barely bothers you if you have it open.
However, the Swedish model is also the only candidate without the possibility of mounting paddle shifters on the steering wheel or Head-up display.
The car in this test wore 235/50 R19 tyres, which offer a somewhat stiffer ride that makes driving on broken or cobblestone areas somewhat uncomfortable. In return, it allows itself the luxury of placing itself at the level of the BMW X2 in terms of pure and simple driving dynamics.
Although when it comes to driving, the Volvo feels less agile than its rivals. Before we said that it is the typical SUV; also in the swings in curved areas. As for the steering, it requires more corrections than that of BMW and Mercedes. It’s soft and comfortable, but in return you also get little feedback from what happens on the asphalt.
That the XC40 is limited to 180 km/h matters little, for obvious reasons. At 120 it is smooth and silent and at 130 the hybrid system stops working so as not to have to fight against an aerodynamic wall, losing efficiency and effectiveness.
As for the BMW, it is the only all-wheel drive model. The X2 xDrive25e stands out for its old-school solutions (maybe it’s temporary; an update will come and we’ll probably say goodbye to all this).
But now we enjoy analog clocks, real buttons that work great, and rotary knobs. It’s fantastic, because you can drive it without taking your eyes off the road and for some, the absence of screens and so on may be a reason to buy it.
In return, you can feel the passage of time. For example, for a new iPhone the wireless charger is too small. First world problems.
The test car is equipped with the M-Sport finish and is the antithesis of the Volvo in all aspects: more balanced in terms of weight distribution, quieter when using the three-cylinder engine…
It does look the same on the tyres, with 19-inch rims with a 45 cross section reminding you (as on the XC40) that cobblestones don’t play well with this setup.
In gear, the X2 advances linearly, and the start-up of the electric motor when working together with the 1.5-liter is smoother than in the Swedish SUV, which is saying a lot, because the level is very high .
At high speeds it lacks some of the typical BMW punch, but it comes across more lively than its rivals. The steering obeys you precisely, which is nice, because it lets you draw your line and hardly forces you to correct it.
Mercedes, for its part, is presented with the Mercedes GLA 250e, the only four-cylinder in-line and the model with the longest wheelbase of the three, which is evident in the comfort of the rear, notable in space and also in posture, even if you feel a little taller than expected.
The Mercedes shines in dodge tests, in which it is impassive and in which it takes advantage of a very manageable braking. Curiously, despite having the engine with the most cylinders, it is the one with the smallest displacement of the trio.
But this little engine works very well and is reliably insulated from the passenger compartment. If you put your foot down the thing becomes tense and, curiously, when driving at full speed on the German autobahn it stays in seventh although its dual-clutch box has eight relations.
The GLA is curious that the exhaust pipe ends more or less in the middle of the car because the battery occupies the hole that the normal part would use. By the way, the double exhaust outlet is mere aesthetics, since it is blinded.
The German is also one of the few plug-in hybrids along with the Jaguar E-Pace and the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross that has a continuous charging socket, so that the recharging time can go from 3.5 hours to just 25 minutes. It also has the largest battery (15.6 kWh) and we have measured the greatest electrical range: 56 kilometers compared to the 44 kilometers obtained in its rivals.
At the wheel it dazzles with its MBUX system, which features natural language voice recognition and is therefore in a league of its own: it works so well that it’s the only one we’ve used regularly during testing.
As with the BMW, its small tank (35 liters) is worthy of criticism, which makes traveling a bit tedious, since you will have to stop often: in the X2 after 500 km, in the Mercedes you can do it every 465 km . As for the Volvo, with a range of 655 kilometers, it receives a good handful of points.
Our opinion
Three very well made and quality cars, so the main reason for buying will be personal taste.
The Mercedes stands out because it has no weaknesses, apart from the mini tank, and it is not even more expensive than its competitors. When it comes to consumption, they don’t differ much. They are all expensive and heavy.