Volvo isn’t resting on its laurels.

The XC40 Recharge Pure Electrical is barely three years outdated, but it surely’s already been overhauled; together with the same old mid-life inside tweaks and styling adjustments, front-wheel drive fashions have made the leap to rear-wheel drive.

The range-topping dual-motor mannequin on check right here remains to be all-wheel drive… but it surely’s picked up extra vary, and in world dominated by electrical automotive value cuts has really turn into dearer.

Our range-topping Recharge Twin Pure Electrical is now near $90,000 once you account for on-road prices, making it pricier than a plethora of larger rivals.

How does the up to date XC40 form up after its nip-and-tuck?

How does the Volvo XC40 examine?

View an in depth breakdown of the Volvo XC40 towards equally sized automobiles.

Volvo

XC40

How a lot does the Volvo XC40 value?

Worth hikes have been utilized to the electrical XC40 Recharge for 2024; within the case of the range-topping tester right here you’ll pay near $5000 greater than for the pre-update mannequin.

To see how the Volvo XC40 Recharge stacks up towards its electrical rivals, use our comparability device.

What’s the Volvo XC40 like on the within?

For all of the adjustments underneath the pores and skin, the brand new XC40 Recharge is acquainted behind the wheel.

It’s nonetheless a bit of SUV that punches above its weight for practicality, and feels grown up behind the wheel. Due to a current replace, its expertise has additionally taken a step ahead since its debut.

The entrance seats provide a commanding view over the sq. bonnet, and strike a neat steadiness between padding and the kind of help you want on lengthy drives. Volvo does among the finest pews within the enterprise, and the XC40 continues the custom.

With an upright dashboard and minimalist, crisp strains, you gained’t be mistaking the XC40 for something however a Volvo at first look. The dashboard options an fascinating backlit trim designed to imitate a topographical map that appears nice at evening, however a bit bland in daylight.

The vegan materials on the seats is sort to cows, but it surely’s not almost as good to the touch as leather-based. Given the value of this automotive, we’d slightly one thing fascinating like wool – or correct leather-based.

Dominating the sprint is a vertically-oriented 9.0-inch touchscreen, which sits in the identical housing because the show within the petrol mannequin however options some EV-specific options like a spread assistant.

The bones of the software program have been developed by Google, which implies you get Hey Google voice and Google Maps commonplace, however the system is about as much as look acquainted to anybody who’s used the Sensus tech in older fashions.

It’s snappy to make use of, and the flexibility to obtain apps like Spotify from the Google Play retailer opens the door for a stage of customisation not at the moment doable in most infotainment techniques.

Having the identical individuals who do the software program for cellphones design your Bluetooth interface, for instance, means this is likely one of the best automobiles during which to discover a contact and make a name on the transfer.

It’s additionally improved considerably. At launch, you didn’t get CarPlay – and the community connection was a bit ropey. Now, you get wired CarPlay and we didn’t endure any dropouts or main points with the community. The perks of software program updates, proper?

The driving force is confronted with a clear, easy digital instrument binnacle with inbuilt Google Maps. It’s wonderful, though you’re mild on for configuration choices in comparison with what’s on provide in some rival luxurious marques.

This stays a very smart, sensible cabin. The deep door pockets, spacious transmission tunnel (that is primarily based on a petroleum automotive in any case), and under-dash house are all cleverly designed, though you don’t get the identical sense of open-plan lightness on provide in some devoted EV rivals.

Rear seat passengers are higher catered for than you would possibly anticipate of a automotive that’s comparatively compact on paper. For one, they get their very own vents, together with a fold-down central armrest and spacious door pockets.

The tall roofline means headroom is sweet sufficient for adults to get comfy again there, even with the panoramic sunroof, and the quantity of legroom will accomodate tall youngsters.

Some compact-ish crossovers are a kid-only proposition within the rear, however the XC40 punches above its weight. It’s an excellent place to spend time, and calls for few compromises in comparison with a similarly-priced petrol automotive.

There are two ISOFIX factors and three top-tether anchors again there for youngster seats. The large rear door opening makes this a neater automotive to load youngster seats into as nicely… but it surely’s nonetheless not on fairly the identical stage as a Hyundai Ioniq 5 or Tesla Mannequin Y.

There’s a small cupboard space beneath the bonnet, but it surely’s not what you’d name capacious. It’s finest reserved for the cost cables, however not far more.

To see how the Volvo XC40 Recharge stacks up towards its electrical rivals, use our comparability device.

What’s underneath the bonnet?

Though the bottom XC40 Recharge has switched from front- to rear-wheel drive, the Twin stays all-wheel drive.

To see how the Volvo XC40 Recharge stacks up towards its electrical rivals, use our comparability device.

How does the Volvo XC40 drive?

This can be a quick automotive.

Put your foot down and, regardless of its chunky Scandinavian exterior and hefty kerb weight, it lunges off the mark with the kind of vigour you’d anticipate of a Volkswagen Golf R.

You’re additionally in a position to get out of parking spots or your storage in a rush; there’s no begin button to mess about with right here, you simply stand on the brake and slot the automotive into drive. That’s not normally the case in automobiles primarily based on legacy inner combustion platforms.

There’s an actual sense of solidity to all of the controls. The accelerator requires a agency push, and the steering is direct. It’s not a tough automotive to drive, although.

As soon as dialled into the heavy-handed regenerative braking you seldom must take your foot off the accelerator within the metropolis, and it’s completely {smooth} and quiet at metropolis speeds.

The XC40 Recharge is a cheerful camper within the metropolis, the place its upright physique and compact proportions make it a pure match.

It squeezes simply into tight parking bays, and is straightforward to string by way of my tight underground storage. The grainy surround-view digital camera isn’t precisely perfect for small areas although, and undermines the high-tech feeling you’d anticipate of an electrical automotive.

It’s lengthy been a problem with Volvo automobiles, and one which lastly seems to have been addressed within the even newer EX30.

With a comparatively springy, taut suspension tune, the XC40 by no means feels outright plush.

You’re conscious of its weight, and the very fact preserving all 2100kg of it in test is hard once you’re caught with a passive metal suspension setup as an alternative of dearer air or adaptive dampers.

With that mentioned, the Recharge nonetheless does an excellent job preserving metropolis bumps and potholes out of the cabin, and it feels tied-down over huge crests and dips on the freeway. It seems like a shrunken XC60 or XC90 at velocity.

Street noise is sort of noticeable right here – as has at all times been the case throughout the XC40 – on nation roads. That isn’t unusual in luxurious European automobiles, designed to work on billiard-table-smooth tarmac slightly than coarse-chip roads.

The tyre roar and wind rustle from the mirrors may have you turning up the stereo a few clicks, though it’s nonetheless quieter than, say, a Mercedes-Benz EQA on comparable roads.

The place the Volvo actually shines on the open highway is in relation to its driver assists. It’ll hold its distance to a automotive in entrance, and actively steer to remain in its lane.

Not like some automobiles, the place you are feeling such as you’re combating the pc mind, the Pilot Help within the XC40 feels nearly proper.

What do you get?

On check right here is the flagship XC40 Recharge Twin Pure Electrical.

XC40 Recharge Pure Electrical highlights:

• 19-inch wheels
• 9.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system
  • Google built-in working system
  • Google Automotive Companies
  • Volvo Vehicles app
• DAB+ digital radio
• 8-speaker sound system
• 12-inch digital instrument show
• Wi-fi cellphone charger
• LED headlights and tail lights
• Keyless entry and begin
• Twin-zone local weather management
• Heated entrance and rear seats
• Energy-folding rear headrests
• Palms-free energy tailgate
• Auto-dimming inside, exterior mirrors

Recharge Twin Pure Electrical provides:

• 20-inch alloy wheels
• Harman Kardon premium sound system
• Vegan textile inside trim
• Encompass-view digital camera

Is the Volvo XC40 protected?

The Volvo XC40 has a five-star ANCAP security ranking primarily based on testing carried out by Euro NCAP in 2018.

This 2018 Euro NCAP testing was initially carried out on the petrol-powered XC40, however the ranking was prolonged to incorporate the pure-electric and plug-in hybrid Recharge fashions.

Commonplace security options embody:

• Entrance, facet, curtain and driver’s knee airbags
• Autonomous emergency braking (AEB)
  • Susceptible highway consumer detection
• Lane departure warning
• Lane hold help
• Blind-spot monitoring
• Rear cross-traffic alert
• Adaptive cruise management
• Encompass-view digital camera
• Entrance, rear parking sensors

How a lot does the Volvo XC40 value to run?

The XC40 Recharge is backed by the identical guarantee because the broader Volvo vary, however comes with the added perk of free servicing.

CarExpert’s Tackle the Volvo XC40

The Recharge Twin is a sensible, comfy SUV, but it surely’s not the electrical XC40 we’d suggest.

It’s near $10,000 dearer than the equally beautiful Single Motor – and though it packs a critical punch in a straight line, that comes at the price of vary.

Volvo has made some adjustments to attempt to enhance its effectivity, but it surely’s nonetheless miles wanting the Tesla Mannequin Y.

In the event you’re into highway tripping, it limits the automotive’s usefulness. Even in the event you’re a metropolis slicker, it prices extra money to go the identical distance as in its rivals.

Sure, the Recharge Twin is quick. However the base XC40 Recharge is a extra proficient all-rounder, and a extra smart decide for anybody trying to make the leap to electrical energy.

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