Experienced by Adrian McQueen
Photography by Adrenaline Lifestyles
Receiving the news that Volvo would be sending me the XC40 Recharge for review was great news. The Volvo XC40 is a subcompact luxury crossover SUV that was unveiled in September of 2017 as the smallest SUV model from Volvo, below the XC60. The battery electric versions were marketed as the XC40 Recharge, which is the model that we received to review. The XC40 Recharge Pure Electric is Volvo’s first battery electric model, which was revealed in October of 2019.
Let’s start off with the exterior. The crossover body style has a sleek, low-profile design. Upon first look you will notice the prominent grille, front and rear bumpers, HD Matrix LEDs, Volvo Laser Light side sills, chrome trim for the tailgate and the exhaust. I really enjoy the design of the XC40 as it is aggressive but luxurious at the same time as it sits on 20” diamond cut alloy wheels.
The interior of the XC40 matches the style and quality of the exterior. This luxury SUV seats five passengers, with plenty of head and legroom in the first two rows. The second row power-folding head restraints can be laid down to take full advantage of the 57.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the front row. The only place I would have liked more storage space is in the driver’s armrest.
The infotainment system is pretty nice in the Volvo XC40 Recharge. There is a virtual cockpit that has a 12.3-inch display. I loved the look and feel of this setup. Volvo’s latest infotainment software developed in conjunction with Google’s Android Automotive. The infotainment system also has Apple CarPlay, a navigation system, a Sirius XM satellite radio, Four USB-C ports plus two 12-volt outlets. There is also a wireless device charging pad, a13-speaker Harman Kardon premium sound system
The Volvo XC40 Recharge that we tested was the Single Motor version with an electric motor that has 248 horsepower with 310 lb-ft of torque, that powers the SUV’s rear wheels. In 2023, the single motor version was revised by adopting the rear-wheel drive layout instead of front-wheel drive. The Volvo XC40 handles well and feels nimble on the road.
The XC40 Recharge gets 118 MPGe in the city and 95 MPG3 on the highway and 106 MPGe combined. It is the first rear-wheel-drive variant of a Volvo vehicle in a long time. The Single Motor Ultimate version has resulted in extended range and improved efficiency. The extended range powertrain can be driven for up to 293 miles before needing to be recharged. The single motor extended range has a higher combined MPGe and battery capacity, along with a faster DC charge time. Using the standard at home 11-kilowatt Level 2 charger, it will take about eight hours to charge the XC40 Recharge.
Volvo is high on safety and the XC40 hit the mark. The XC40 comes with a Back-up camera, Blind Spot Monitoring, Lane Departure Warning, Tire Pressure Warning, Stability Control, Pre-collision safety system and Post-collision safety system. The XC40 Recharge is also equipped with the Whiplash Protection System (WHIPS). This system consists of energy absorbing backrests and seat cushion, as well as a specially designed head restraint in the front seats. WHIPS is deployed in the event of a rear-end collision.
The Volvo XC40 is in a competitive class going up against the Ford Mustang Mach-E, Audi Q4 e-tron, Polestar 2, Hyundai Ioniq 5, Kia EV6 and the Tesla Model Y. Volvo backs the XC40 Recharge with a 4 year or 50,000 miles basic warranty, Powertrain warranty covers 4 years or 50,000 miles, Battery warranty for 8 years or 100,000 miles and Complimentary scheduled maintenance is covered for 3 years or 36,000 miles.
The Volvo XC40 has a smooth ride, handles well and can get up to speed rather quickly. The interior is luxurious and the infotainment system is top notch. Volvo definitely ranks near the top of its class. The model that we tested is priced at $59,995.00 . Volvo announced that after the XC40 Recharge, it plans to “launch one new electric vehicle every year, and pledges to make half its lineup fully electric by 2025.” I will say that after enjoying the XC40 recharge, Volvo is headed in the right direction. Please enjoy the photo gallery.
