2018 Volvo XC40

Volvo XC40 Recharge review

WHAT'S THE VERDICT?

“Like the Tesla Model 3 (and related Polestar 2), the XC40 Recharge makes an almost irresistible case for electrification”

We’ve loved the XC40 from the start but had a few reservations about the powertrains. Not any more. In electric Recharge guise the XC40’s worthier attributes – the thoughtful packaging, sense of wellbeing and design – are augmented by a remarkable (and let’s face it, completely unnecessary) turn of speed. Like the Tesla Model 3 (and related Polestar 2), the XC40 Recharge makes an almost irresistible case for electrification.

Sure it's not cheap, but it’s loaded with kit and the twin motor version has enough pace and balance on a good road to keep much more overtly sporting cars honest. The semi-skimmed single motor car is simply a great day-to-day family car.

www.topgear.com

Volvo XC40 Recharge Review 2023 | Top Gear

What we have here is a sensible family car that - in twin motor guise - happens to go like the clappers
www.topgear.com www.topgear.com
 
DRIVEN: Volvo XC40 Ultimate is a well-rounded premium SUV

VERDICT

With a starting price of R677,700 for the entry-level XC40 Essential, I believe that it makes for a compelling case against its rivals. Our Ultimate test unit fitted with the range-topping engine and optional alloy wheels comes in at a smidgen over R850,000, which if you ask me is quite reasonable considering all the standard specification.

 
2024 Volvo C40 Recharge and XC40 Recharge EPA range numbers are out

Back in May, Volvo officially announced the 2024 C40 Recharge and XC40 Recharge for the US market. These had previously been unveiled for European markets in January.

Now, the duo has received its official EPA range ratings. Here's how things stand. The C40 Recharge RWD gets 478 km, the C40 Recharge AWD manages 414 km.

The XC40 Recharge RWD goes up to 472 km, while the XC40 Recharge AWD only manages 409 km.

Interestingly enough, Volvo's estimates, announced back in May, were 100% accurate. That's quite a rare occurrence, usually there are minor differences between a brand's EPA range estimates compared to the final results. Not in this case, however, so Volvo's number-crunching people surely are very pleased with themselves.

www.arenaev.com

2024 Volvo C40 Recharge and XC40 Recharge EPA range numbers are out

One model manages as much as {{297 miles}} on one charge.
www.arenaev.com www.arenaev.com

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Volvo XC40 Recharge (2023) Review

FAST FACTS

Model: Volvo XC40 Recharge Single Motor Plus
Price: From R1 108 000 (September 2023)
Engine: Single electric motor, RWD
Power/Torque: 170 kW/330 Nm
Transmission: Automatic
0-100 kph: 7.3 seconds (claimed)
Energy consumption: 20 kWh/100 km
Range: 423 km (claimed)
Load capacity: 460-893-1 328 litres

How much does the Volvo XC40 Recharge cost in South Africa?

The Volvo XC40 Recharge Single Motor Plus is priced from R1 108 000 (September 2023), which includes a pair of warranties – 5-year/100 000 km for the vehicle and 8-year/160 000 km for the battery – as well as a 5-year/100 000 km maintenance plan. Services are scheduled every 30 000 km.

Verdict

The Volvo XC40 Recharge Single Motor Plus offers excellent performance that’s unlikely to disappoint. It’s fast enough and certainly offers the necessary refinement and style to justify its price tag. Also, as a compact luxury crossover that will mostly be used in an urban environment, the Volvo’s claimed range of 423 km is reasonable (provided that you habitually recharge your vehicle at home overnight, we guess).

Considering that this svelte Swedish BEV goes up against the BMW iX1 and Mercedes-Benz EQA and is more affordable than its German rivals, we can’t think of any good reason not to put the Volvo XC40 Single Motor Recharge on your shortlist if you’re shopping for a premium-badged small family car.

If you just want to buy a BEV with which to commute, however, the new-vehicle market will soon see the arrival of the GWM Ora all-electric compact hatchback and, in April 2024, the new J01-generation Mini Cooper will make its local debut in BEV guise, when it will replace the current-gen Cooper SE.

The range-topping 126 kW/250 Nm Ora 400 GT Ultra Luxury is said to offer approximately 400 km of range from its 63 kWh battery, plus a host of impressive tech and is expected to cost about R915 900.

Having said that, the Ora has a smaller footprint than the Volvo and, while we have yet to drive the BMW iX1, my colleague has sampled the Mercedes-Benz EQA‘s sibling, the EQB, and, based on our limited experience, the XC40 Recharge is the leading all-electric premium compact crossover at the moment.

www.cars.co.za

Volvo XC40 Recharge (2023) Review

Does the 170 kW Volvo XC40 Recharge Single Motor Plus represent a strong buying proposition for EV buyers in South Africa? Read our review!
www.cars.co.za www.cars.co.za

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2024 Volvo C40 and XC40 Recharge get enhanced features and updated pricing in the US

In the evolving landscape of electric vehicles, Volvo has positioned itself as a beacon of reliability and innovation. The 2024 lineup of Volvo’s electric fleet in the United States is setting a new standard for the industry, offering substantial upgrades with minimal financial impact.

Starting with the 2024 Volvo C40 Recharge, drivers can look forward to an impressive EPA-estimated range of up to 478 km – a significant jump from its predecessor's 364 km. Underneath its Scandinavian design lies an 82-kilowatt-hour battery propelling the new rear-wheel-drive (RWD) variant, which starts at a competitive MSRP of $53,600. For those requiring more traction, the all-wheel-drive (AWD) version comes in at just $55,350 – remarkably close to the AWD pricing of the 2023 model, while providing a greater EPA range of 414 km, up from the previous 226 miles.

www.arenaev.com

2024 Volvo C40 and XC40 Recharge get enhanced features and updated pricing in the US

The 2024 Volvo C40 and XC40 Recharge models herald a significant leap in electric vehicle evolution, offering substantial enhancements in range and technology at compelling price points.
www.arenaev.com www.arenaev.com
 
The XC40 Recharge is dead, long live the Volvo EX40

And there’s a *checks notes* Black Edition coming too. Huh?

This is going to happen a lot, isn’t it? Just a fortnight after Mercedes told TopGear.com that its ‘EQ’ badging will soon be binned, Volvo has announced that its Recharge moniker has been axed.

As such, the XC40 Recharge and C40 Recharge will henceforth be known as the EX40 and EC40, bringing it into line with Volvo’s other electric cars: the EX30, EX90 and EM90.

There is still a petrol XC40 though, and it will continue to be called that. Comprende?

The Recharge badging has also been chiselled off Volvo’s plug-in hybrid cars, which will now be denoted by the company’s T6 and T8 suffixes depending on power output.

“By aligning our trailblazing first electric models with the rest of our electric car portfolio, we simplify choice for consumers as we continue to electrify our line-up and refresh our hybrids,” says Björn Annwall, Volvo’s COO and deputy CEO. Or should that be ECOO and deputy ECEO? Niche gag, sorry.


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Volvo is streamlining the naming scheme of its EVs, 'Recharge' is no more

In case some of you found Volvo's naming scheme of some of its vehicles confusing, the company agrees with you. From now on, Volvo's fully electric and plug-in hybrids will no longer have "Recharge" in their names.

The "Recharge" word is swapped out for an "E" prefix, so the XC40 Recharge and C40 Recharge, for example, are now EX40 and EC40. This new nomenclature is in line with the company's existing EV models like the EX30, EX90 and the China-exclusive EM90 multi-purpose minivan.

The PHEVs, on the other hand, adopt the "T6" or "T8" suffix, depending on the total output of the two systems in place.

www.arenaev.com

Volvo is streamlining the naming scheme of its EVs, 'Recharge' is no more

It's also giving a bit of extra power to its newly named EX40 and EC40.
www.arenaev.com www.arenaev.com

www.media.volvocars.com

Volvo Cars introduces upgrades to fully electric and hybrid cars and streamlines model names to aid customer transparency

Volvo Cars is streamlining and standardising its model names for fully electric cars, in line with our ongoing transformation towards becoming a fully electric car maker by 2030.
www.media.volvocars.com www.media.volvocars.com
 
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