Volvo India has launched the new XC40 Recharge in our market priced at Rs. 55.90 lakh, Ex-showroom. The launch comes a year after the Swedish brand first opened bookings for the SUV last year and the company will start with the deliveries in October this year. The electric SUV was to arrive as a locally assembled model in 2021 itself but the launch was postponed given the semiconductor chip shortage. The Volvo XC40 Recharge is being offered in a single variant and in terms of pricing and specifications, it positioned just below the Kia EV6 and larger electric SUVs such as the Jaguar I-Pace, Audi e-tron and Mercedes EQC. The Volvo XC40 Recharge is around 270 mm shorter and around 220 mm narrower than the Kia EV6.
Also Read: Volvo XC40 Recharge Review
The Volvo XC40 Recharge isn't a ground-up new electric vehicle, with the SUV sitting on the same CMA platform as its conventional internal combustion engine (ICE) sibling. As far as looks are concerned, the biggest difference between the current XC40 and the new Recharge will be the front end that sports a new Piano black cladding instead of the radiator grille. The standard XC40 sold in India is yet to receive a facelift while the Recharge is based on the facelifted model. The most notable changes are in the new front bumper that makes the car appear sleeker housing the newly-designed LED headlamps. The new headlamps are more angular as compared to the rectangular units of the standard XC40 and the signature Thor's hammer LED DRLs have been retained.
Also Read: Volvo XC40 Recharge India Launch: Highlights
On the inside, you get to see a minimalistic approach in the cabin where a large touchscreen takes centre stage.
On the inside, you get to see a minimalistic approach in the cabin where a large touchscreen takes centre stage. A screen sists in the instrument binnacle as well and going with its environment friendly nature, Volvo doesn't offer leather upholstery. Instead, the cabin is finished with recycled materials, including the seat fabric and carpet upholstery. In terms of creature comforts, we're only getting one P8 variant that comes equipped with LED headlights, dual-zone climate control, air purifier, panoramic sunroof, powered front seats, driver seat memory function, 9.0-inch touchscreen with in-built Google Assistant, Harman Kardon sound system, wireless smartphone integration and wireless charging among others. In terms of safety, you will get seven airbags, antilock braking system (ABS), traction and stability control, a tyre pressure monitor system, 360-degree camera, hill descent control and a suit of Advanced Driver Aids. ADAS functions include adaptive cruise control, front and rear collision mitigation, lane keep assist, blind spot monitoring and rear cross traffic alert among others.
The 2022 Volvo XC40 Recharge will come with an underfloor mounted 79 kWh battery pack as standard.
The Volvo XC40 Recharge will be available with a twin-motor all-wheel drive (AWD) set-up as standard, and the two motors, with one on each axle. Total system output is rated at 402 bhp and 660 Nm of peak torque with Volvo claiming a 0-100 kph run in just 4.9 seconds. Volvo though does not offer drive modes but you get the options to control the steering feedback as per your liking. Moreover, there's a one pedal mode too that sets regen braking to maximum. The 2022 Volvo XC40 Recharge will come with an underfloor mounted 79 kWh battery pack as standard. Volvo claims a range of around 418 km on a full charge and says that the battery pack supports fast charging and can be recharged from 10 per cent to 80 per cent in just about 28 minutes.
