Volvo XC40 Recharge Review: Taking Charge

Volvo doesn't usually stir the pot in India. Certainly not as frequently as other premium carmakers. But when it does, it makes sure it's basking in the limelight. This time around the Swedish carmaker is on an electric revolution that involves converting half its portfolio into electric cars by 2025. And the first one to get electrified is the Volvo XC40. Yes! The quirky-looking compact SUV from the Scandinavian company has taken the electric route and comes to India at a time when the EV trend has just started to catch on. Volvo is offering the XC40 Recharge in its P8 form, a single variant offering, that will be loaded with everything Volvo is known for. Now, the XC40 Recharge may be an EV, but it shares almost all of its aesthetics with the gasoline and diesel-powered versions. And so, we spend a day with the Volvo XC40 Recharge, to see, how it fares.

Apart from the non-existent grille upfront, the styling is exactly like the XC40.
Photo Credit: Apoorv Choudhary

Volvo XC40 Recharge Exterior Design

The Volvo XC40 was always a sexy car and the numerous design awards are a testimony to it. But, with the XC40 Recharge, Volvo has taken a huge step forward, and we love it! Customary and traditional vertical stack taillight and pretty much everything else in terms of styling that screams Volvo you know that from the XC40 is just the Recharge badge that's been etched on the side of the two-tone roofline and the badge of the back that really gives it away. Of course, upfront you also have the non-existent grille, but otherwise, the styling is exactly like the XC40. That's a good thing in the Indian context because you want this car to be attractive, good looking. The XC40 always had that covered. Now the fact that this is one of those first electric products in a compact footprint also makes me hopeful about the pricing equation.

Also Read: Kia EV6 India Review

The silhouette of the Volvo XC40 Recharge is similar to the standard XC40 compact SUV.

Photo Credit: Apoorv Choudhary

Volvo XC40 Recharge Cabin

The Volvo XC40 Recharge has one of the best interiors and one of the most spacious in the segment. It comes with top-quality materials for the upholstery and is sustainable too because the materials are partially recycled! That's like the ICE counterpart, the XC40 Recharge gets a very appealing very modern, very urban, and young cabin design. The layout is great. There are lots to talk about here, but that's separate, and we'll come to it. What's nice though, is that the India spec will also follow that whole sustainability principle. So you've got that typical XC40 door fabric liner that's made out of recycled ocean plastic. Nice touch.

The Volvo XC40 Recharge gets a very appealing very modern, very urban, and young cabin design.
Photo Credit: Apoorv Choudhary

The India spec will also not get leather anywhere, anywhere in the cabin, and that's nice in the premium brigade, to take that sort of a stance I think is smart. Few other quirks very typical of Volvo that you can expect something like this, the glove box, open it, it's got this little fold-out hook. And then you can hang up to two Kgs there. So just a little grocery bag or a handbag. That's a nice touch and I like it. So good quality of materials good finish. And another Quirk. No start-stop button. The car just senses that you're in you have the key and all you must do is put it into Drive. And that's when everything comes to life.

Also Read: Volvo Cars Initiates First-Ever Over-The-Air Software Update On XC40 Recharge

The instrument panel is bright and clear.
Photo Credit: Apoorv Choudhary

Volvo XC40 Recharge Performance

The heart of the Volvo XC40 Recharge is electric and comes with a single motor drivetrain relying on a 79-kWh battery to develop a combined output, from both the axles, of 405 bhp and 660 Nm of peak torque, transferring power to all wheels via a single-speed transmission. Now, this is good enough to accelerate to 100 kmph from a standstill in 4.9 seconds which is not bad in the EV realm, since its electric sibling, the Polestar 2 electric sedan is only 2 milliseconds quicker, but is also at par with its closest rival, the Jaguar I-Pace. The XC40 Recharge is also plenty sporty, but you don't get different drive modes, instead only has an off-road mode that you can go to if you want to. But otherwise, you know you get a great response because it's electric instant torque all of that part you already know. And so, it makes the drive really satisfying because it gives you a tremendous amount of sporty capability. In short, the Volvo XC40 Recharge is quick off the mark, with no lag at all, and you get all that torque instantly. Perks of being an EV, right?

The Volvo XC40 Recharge accelerates to 100 kmph from a standstill in 4.9 seconds, and that's quick!
Photo Credit: Apoorv Choudhary

And what's more, you can go into the settings driving settings and you can also make the steering feel a little stiffer if you like that. I certainly do. The other thing I've gone and done is switch to the one-pedal driving mode which is basically more brake and energy recuperation. So more regen, and you don't have three different modes that you have on some cars. There's no paddle shift to adjust that you just go in, like on the I-pace, you just turn on the single pedal and drive the single pedal which is so much fun and which is great because you keep getting a lot of juice back into the battery.

The vehicle uses braking energy and regenerates current to the battery when you release the accelerator pedal or when the brake pedal is used.
Photo Credit: Apoorv Choudhary

Volvo XC40 Recharge Range

And the range is a decent 400 odd km, only if you keep a soft touch over the pedal. The one thing I found a little bit annoying is that in the digital driving display here on the cluster you quickly read out the percentage of battery remaining, but you don't get driving range. And you know when you're driving. That's the thing you want to keep an eye on.

The Volvo XC40 Recharge is fitted with a standard 11 kW onboard charger for Type 2 AC charging.
Photo Credit: Apoorv Choudhary

So that's a little annoying, but the good part is you can go into the screen here range assistant, and straightaway you get to see the remaining range and so that's reassuring. It's a nice big number. It's easy to read, even when you're driving.

Volvo XC40 Recharge Safety Features

It's almost impossible not to mention safety when we speak of a Volvo and in typically Volvo style the car is loaded to the gills with features that are worth every penny. Being a Volvo tons of safety equipment are all standard they will only be one India spec one India variant and so which means all of this will be loaded onto the car.

The Volvo XC40 Recharge comes equipped with a new 9-inch Android-based touchscreen infotainment system.
Photo Credit: Apoorv Choudhary

You got lots of stuff to talk about the Lane Keep Assist, you've got steering assist, you've got even the road sign recognition which is nice. Because you get to see the little speed limit pop up on the digital instrument cluster. And you've also got collision warning and active collision avoidance on board. So, all of that it's a Volvo should not be surprising, right?

The fact that this is one of those first electric products in a compact footprint also makes us hopeful about the pricing equation.
Photo Credit: Apoorv Choudhary

Volvo XC40 Recharge Verdict

On to the price then. Well, that's still to be announced but a ballpark figure of Rs. 75 lakh (ex-showroom, India) is something we're expecting. Yes, it's a bit expensive but you know what, it would be the most affordable premium EV money can buy, and Volvo has sure played its cards right!