[Aditya]

Volvo XC40 Recharge Single Motor Review

Volvo XC40 Recharge Single Motor Pros

• A sharply styled SUV. Volvo’s new designs sure are head-turners!
• Solid build & top-notch quality, inside out
• Quick performance will keep most owners happy. Well configurated one-pedal driving feature makes it very easy to drive in the city
• Real-world range should be ~350 km, which is enough for most users
• Excellent high-speed stability coupled with sorted handling. Mature ride quality at speed too
• Zero emissions, cheap running costs & green image will appeal to a lot of people
• Features such as panoramic sunroof, electric front seats with extendable seat bases, one-pedal driving, button-less starting procedure, air purifier etc.
• 5-star NCAP rating. Loaded with safety equipment such as 7 airbags, collision mitigation support (front & rear), lane keeping aid, blind spot information system, cross-traffic alert & more

Volvo XC40 Recharge Single Motor Cons

• Rear seat comfort levels are mediocre. Raised floor & upright seatback. It’s best for just 2 & ingress / egress are tricky too
• The much quicker and better equipped dual motor version costs just ~Rs. 3 lakhs more
• Firm low speed ride. Liveable, but not plush in the city. You will feel the bad roads
• No drive modes and no adjustable regeneration means you cannot customise your drive experience
• Spare tyre is placed above the boot floor and eats into luggage space
• Missing features such as ventilated seats, head-up display, wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto, 360-degree camera, full-size spare tyre (has a space saver tyre), premium sound system, Vehicle to Load etc.
• Small dealership and service network isn't a patch on its German competitors

Introduction

Volvo's first EV in India was the XC40 Recharge, which was launched in July 2022. It came with a dual motor setup that sent power to all four wheels and had a power output of 402 BHP & 660 Nm. It had a 78 kWh lithium-ion battery pack with a claimed range of 418 km on the WLTP cycle. The company's next electric offering was the C40 Recharge with a coupe-like roofline which had the same drivetrain as the XC40 Recharge but was more expensive. Volvo claims that these two EVs accounted for 28% of its total sales in 2023 with the locally assembled XC40 Recharge selling 510 units.

Now, the Swedish manufacturer has launched a more affordable variant of the XC40 Recharge. It has a single motor and rear-wheel drive setup. It produces 235 BHP and 420 Nm. It comes with a 69 kWh battery pack and a claimed ICAT range of 592 km (475 km WLTP). With less power at its disposal than the dual motor version, it is obviously slower and 0-100 km/h comes up in 7.3 seconds, which is 2.4 slower than the dual motor's time. The top speed, like other Volvo cars, is limited to 180 km/h.

Apart from power and AWD, the Single Motor variant loses out on some features as well.

Volvo XC40 Recharge Single Motor Price & Brochure

Volvo brings the XC40 Recharge Single Motor to India via the CKD route and assembles it at its facility in Hosakote, Karnataka. This has enabled the company to keep its price competitive. The XC40 Recharge Single Motor is priced at Rs. 54.95 lakhs (ex-showroom), which is ~3 lakhs cheaper than the dual motor version (Rs. 57.90 lakhs). However, when you consider the fact that the BMW iX1 which produces similar power is priced at Rs. 66.90 lakhs (ex-showroom), the XC40 Recharge Single Motor looks like a bargain! The price includes a 5-year subscription to digital services and 1 wall box charger (11 Kw).

You can download the Volvo XC40 Recharge Single Motor brochure here - Volvo XC40 Pure Electric Plus Brochure.pdf

Running Costs

The XC40 Recharge single motor has a 69 kWh battery pack which translates to ~69 units of electricity for a full charge. The per-unit cost of electricity depends on the slab that you are in & your location, but on average, it’s about Rs. 8 per unit. This translates to ~Rs. 552 to charge to 100%. Volvo claims a range of 592 km (ICAT) / 475 km (WLTP). While we were not able to do a range test, you should be able to get a realistic driving range of ~350 km. Thus, you can expect an approximate running cost of Rs. 1.58 per km.

[Aditya]

Exterior

Design & Styling

The XC40 Recharge Single Motor looks largely similar to the now discontinued IC version of the XC40. The vehicle looks butch, sharp and has definite SUV styling. Even the rear, while being unmistakably Volvo, has simple styling with a hint of edginess that adds character to the car. Overall, the design is bold and youthful.

The XC40 Recharge measures 4,440 mm in length, 1,873 mm in width, and 1,651 mm in height with a wheelbase of 2,702 mm.

Notable features on the outside include a colour-coordinated BEV grille, LED headlights, LED DRLs, LED tail-lamps, glossy black roof rails, panoramic sunroof, sharkfin antenna, black body cladding and 19-inch 5-spoke diamond cut alloy wheels.

There are six colour choices on offer - Crystal White, Onyx Black, Cloud Blue, Sage Green, Fjord Blue and Bright Dusk (our test car). All colours come with a glossy black roof.

Build Quality, Fit & Finish

As expected of a European premium car, the build quality of the XC40 Recharge is impressive. All the body panels feel sturdy and the doors, bonnet and tailgate have a good deal of weight. The panel gaps are tight and consistent and the fit & finish are good too. The paint quality is as good as we've seen in this segment.

Wheels & Tyres

The XC40 Recharge gets 19-inch 5-spoke diamond-cut alloy wheels and a staggered tyre setup. While the front wheels come with 235/50 section rubber, the rear wheels are shod with wide 255/45 section tyres. Our test car had Pirelli P Zero Elect tyres which provided excellent grip in the corners. The recommended tyre pressure is 41 PSI all around.

Ground Clearance

The XC40 Recharge has a laden ground clearance of 175 mm, which is good enough for most driving conditions in India.

Standard & Extended Warranty

The XC40 Recharge comes with a warranty of 3 years. It gets a battery warranty of 8 years / 1,60,000 km warranty. Additionally, it comes with a 3-year Volvo service package and 3-year roadside assistance as standard.

Safety

As expected of a Volvo, the XC40 Recharge is loaded with safety features including 7 airbags, TPMS, hill descent control, hill-start assist, collision mitigation support (front & rear), lane keeping aid, blind spot information system, cross-traffic alert, reversing camera, emergency brake light and ISOFIX child seat anchors. However, it doesn't have a 360-degree camera system.

The XC40 Recharge has been given a 5-star crash-test rating by Euro NCAP.

[Aditya]

Interior

Cabin Design & Quality

The XC40 Recharge has an identical dashboard design to the regular XC40. It is all-black with a large 9-inch touchscreen. A concave backlit insert runs across the length of the dashboard. There are only a few physical buttons here rather than a clutter. Soft touch materials have been used at places on the dashboard and door pads. The carpets are black as well. Volvo claims that the interior is leather-free. Overall, the cabin quality is very good and most owners will be impressed.

Space & Comfort

Getting in and out of the XC40 Recharge is quite easy. It’s not as tall as traditional SUVs, so don’t have to climb into the cabin. It’s more like a crossover. Once inside, there’s a good amount of space. The front passengers don’t sit too close and the wide centre console gives you a good sense of space. The all-black interior doesn’t feel as airy as a lighter-coloured one, but the car comes with a large panoramic sunroof which helps matters.

Front passengers get wide electrically adjustable seats draped in suede textile / microtech upholstery that are very comfortable. They come with lumbar adjustment and their seat base can be manually extended. The cushioning is on point and they provide ample support as well. There’s a healthy amount of side bolstering to keep you in place.

Driving Position & Ergonomics

Frontal visibility is excellent. Both front seats are electrically adjustable and get lumbar adjustment too, while the driver’s seat also comes with a memory function. Finding the perfect driving position is easy as the steering gets tilt & telescopic adjustment. The steering wheel has a three-spoke design and is wrapped in artificial leather. It’s nice to hold and has thumb contours as well. The hornpad will be a stretch for those with small hands and not easy to press either. Overall, the cabin is well laid out and all the controls are ergonomically placed.

Cabin Storage

There is a good amount of storage space for the front passengers. The door pockets have a soft lining and can accommodate a 1-litre bottle and other small items. The glove box though, is small and can just about hold the owner’s manual, vehicle documents and a pen. You also get a reasonably big storage box with a removable dustbin under the central armrest, two cupholders and a wireless charging pad. An ashtray, 2 Type-C USB charging ports and a 12V power outlet have also been provided. At the base of the windshield, there is a small clip for displaying parking tickets.

Rear passengers get seatback pockets that can hold a 1L bottle and small articles. The seatbacks of the front seats have storage nets to keep magazines. 2 Type-C USB charging ports have been provided below the rear A/C vents, while cubby holes on the sides of the rear seat can be used to keep small to medium-sized items. The rear centre armrest houses two cupholders.

Air-Conditioning

The Volvo XC40 Recharge comes with a dual-zone climate control system. We drove the car in the heat of late March in Mumbai. Even in hot and humid conditions, the A/C did an excellent job of cooling the cabin. There’s not much of a drop in the performance of the air-conditioning while driving with the range optimiser activated either. The system also comes with an inbuilt air purifier (CleanZone).

Features

Unique & Noteworthy Features

The XC40 Recharge comes with a fair set of features including ambient lighting, a panoramic sunroof, a hands-free tailgate, LED headlamps, smartphone connectivity, a wireless charger, front seats with electrical adjustments and extendable seat bases, memory function for the driver's seat, auto headlamps and wipers, one-pedal driving, dual-zone climate control with air purifier and connected car technology.

On the other hand, Pixel technology headlamps, a full-sized spare wheel, wireless Android Auto & Apple CarPlay and ventilated seats have not been provided. The 360-degree camera system and Harman Kardon sound system, which are available on the dual motor version are missing. Also missing are features such as the Vehicle-to-Load mobile power supply function, which the Korean manufacturers provide and even some Indian manufacturers provide.

Audio System & Sound Quality

The XC40 Recharge comes with a 9-inch touchscreen infotainment head-unit that has a crisp display. There’s no lag and jumping through different options and screens is pretty seamless. The interface is Android-based and very user-friendly and finding the right function is easy. It comes with Bluetooth connectivity as well as wired Apple CarPlay. Android Auto can be downloaded as well. The system is paired with a 9-speaker 250W sound system with Volvo's Air Woofer.

Coming to the sound quality, the system isn't as enjoyable as the Harman Kardon system of the dual motor version. Still, it is not bad and most users won't find a reason to complain.

Rear Passengers

Rear Seat Comfort & Space

Getting in and out of the rear is not very easy as the doors don't open sufficiently wide. This is also due to the high floor of the car and the roof that slopes downwards at the sides. You get 3 adjustable headrests and 3-point seatbelts for all 3 passengers. However, the floor hump is very tall and wide. This along with the hard backrest in the middle (due to the centre armrest) and rear A/C vents means that an adult third passenger in the middle won’t be very comfortable. A child might be able to bear it though.

There’s a good amount of knee room and adequate headroom for rear passengers. The backrests are rather upright, but not uncomfortable. The cushioning is spot on and the seats should be comfortable over long drives. However, like in most EVs the floor is high. This results in a knees-up seating position and many will complain about a lack of under-thigh support. Rear passengers get a centre armrest with two cupholders, seatback nets, A/C vents and two Type-C USB charging ports.

Boot Space

The XC40 Recharge has a boot space of 419 litres with the rear seats up. However, a lot of the space is taken up by the space-saver spare tyre which rests on the boot floor rather than under it. The 60:40 split rear seats can be folded down to increase cargo space.

Additionally, the frunk can hold 31 litres of luggage.

[Aditya]

Driving the XC40 Recharge Single Motor

The XC40 Recharge Single Motor comes with a 69 kWh lithium-ion battery pack mounted on the floor of the car. Powering the car is a single electric motor that puts out 235 BHP and 420 Nm. It comes with a shift-by-wire single-speed transmission and rear-wheel drive configuration.

The first thing you notice when you want to start the car is that there is no start/stop button. To bring the electric motors to life, you need to press the brake and put the gear shifter in “D” mode. There is a sensor that detects if someone is present in the driver’s seat. Only then does the car’s motor start.

Step on the accelerator and the car moves forward gently. There are no jerks from gearshifts and no sound from the engine, which means it is an extremely refined experience. What’s great is that the car comes with a one-pedal drive feature which can be activated through the touchscreen head-unit. This allows the XC40 Recharge to be driven by just using the accelerator and without using the brakes in bumper-to-bumper traffic. Driving the car in city traffic is a breeze. While the front visibility is good, and side visibility is average. However, the thick C-pillars hamper the visibility through the rear windshield.

On the open road, the XC40 Recharge provides instant acceleration when you step on the accelerator. Volvo claims a 0-100 km/h sprint time of 7.3 seconds, which though 2.4 seconds slower than the dual motor version, is still quite fast. Floor the A-pedal and you will surge ahead of most other cars around you. It provides enough excitement to keep enthusiasts happy.

The XC40 Recharge can easily cruise at triple-digit speeds on the highway and when you need to overtake a slower vehicle quickly, just floor the A-pedal and fly past the vehicle. However, the harder you drive, the faster the range drops. This is also why you will see EVs that are driving longer distances sticking to the middle lane and cruising at 80-100 km/h (which is the best cruising speed for the current lots of EVs).

Off-road Mode

The car comes with an Off-road drive mode that can be activated through the touchscreen. It is only available at slow speeds. It provides enhanced traction which makes it possible to increase or reduce the speed of the car on steep hills by using only the accelerator pedal, without using the foot brake.

Regenerative Braking

Unlike many other EVs, the XC40 Recharge does not get adjustable regenerative braking. Instead, as mentioned earlier, it comes with a one-pedal drive feature. The car will start shedding speed the moment you lift your foot off the accelerator and come to a stop. It is beautifully calibrated and a boon in city traffic. Engine-braking lovers will appreciate driving with this feature activated.

One can switch the one-pedal drive feature off through the touchscreen. However, this will mean absolutely no regeneration. There is an "Auto" mode as well in which the system decides when to activate the one-pedal drive. With one-pedal driving engaged, the car loses speed rapidly when the accelerator is released. Therefore, at highway speeds, it's best to deactivate the feature or use Auto mode where the car won't immediately decelerate. If the one-pedal drive feature is switched on at highway speeds, the regen is strong and vehicles behind you might end up coming very close to your car. Volvo should've just provided adjustable regeneration as it gives the driver control as per his / her comfort level.

Noise, Vibration & Harshness (NVH)

Like most EVs, the XC40 Recharge is super quiet. There’s no engine or gearbox to make any noise, so the overall driving experience is silent. At slow speeds, no one will hear you coming and you might need to use the horn to warn others of your presence.

Cabin insulation is top class and wind noise and tyre / road noise are well controlled. Overall, the cabin is a quiet and comfortable place to be in.

Range

The Volvo XC40 Recharge Single Motor has an ICAT-certified range of 592 km or a WLTP-certified range of 475 km. I drove the car for ~150 km and used up ~40% of the battery. So in real-world driving conditions, you can expect a range of ~350 km. Given the rising demand for EVs, there are plenty of charging stations popping up everywhere, which ought to take care of range anxiety as well.

Charging

Volvo provides an 11 kW charger as standard with the XC40 Recharge. A full charge should take ~8 hours. The car can also be charged using a 150 kW fast charger. The company claims that this can charge the battery from 10% to 80% in ~30 minutes.

Suspension

Ride Comfort

The Volvo XC40 Recharge gets a MacPherson strut suspension at the front and a multi-link suspension at the rear. The suspension is on the stiffer side and the car rides on 19-inch wheels. This makes the low-speed ride firm. Every crack and bump on the road is felt. While the ride is not uncomfortable, it is far from plush. As we have seen in the case with most stiff suspension setups, the ride quality improves with speed. The recommended tyre pressure is a rather high 41 PSI. Dropping the pressure might help improve the ride.

Handling & Dynamics

Like most European cars, in a straight line, the XC40 Recharge feels very stable. It’s so planted that you won’t realise how fast you are going. Undulations on the road are dispatched with aplomb. In the corners, body roll is very well-controlled and the car handles admirably when driven hard through a series of corners. Mid-corner bumps are easily dealt with and the car doesn't lose its composure. The stiff suspension helps matters when the car is driven hard. The Pirelli tyres provide excellent grip as well.

Steering

The electric power steering is a nice unit and easy to operate as well. It is light at city speeds which makes it very user-friendly. The steering weighs up well at highway speeds. Further, it can be given some more weight by activating a mode through the touchscreen. Overall, the steering feels connected and inspires confidence.

Braking

Volvo has equipped the XC40 Recharge with 18-inch discs at the front and rear. These give the car great stopping power. I slammed on the brakes when the car was doing ~120 km/h and the car stopped without any drama.

[Aditya]

Volvo XC40 Recharge Single Motor Exterior Images

Familiar Volvo family face with Thor's hammer DRLs. The radiator grille has been sealed off:


Except for the "Recharge" badge and lack of tailpipes, it's difficult to tell the Recharge apart from the IC engine XC40:


Diamond-cut alloy wheels and "Recharge" moulding on the C-pillar are the only differences on the side:


High, squared-off bonnet gives the car a much more macho look. The design still looks fresh and draws a lot of attention:


Looks nice in the Bright Dusk colour. Glossy black roof is standard with all body colours:


LED headlights with "Thor's Hammer" LED DRLs. Unfortunately, they do not get Volvo's pixel (active bending) technology:


Front grille is body coloured with glossy black vertical slats below and the Volvo badge in the middle:


Front bumper houses a pair of glossy black inserts at the ends, a wide air dam, sensors and a towing point:


Fog lamps have not been provided:


Fully protected and absolutely flat undercarriage. 175 mm ground clearance should be adequate:


Sensor box sits behind the IRVM:


Frameless wipers have the washer nozzles integrated into them:


Black ORVMs with integrated LED blinkers are electrically adjustable and foldable. They also auto-fold when you lock the car:


Each door handle gets a well-integrated request sensor and puddle lamp:


19-inch diamond cut alloy wheels are shod with 235/50 section tyres at the front...


...and 255/45 section rubber at the rear:


Full wheel well cladding at the front...


...and rear:


Crease on the lower portion of the doors adds character to the design. Like most crossovers / compact SUVs, the XC40 Recharge gets black plastic cladding around its wheel arches and along its sides:


11 kW charger comes as standard. A 150 kW DC fast charger can also be used:


"Recharge" moulding on the black portion of the C-pillar:


Large panoramic sunroof:


Roof rails are finished in glossy black:


Sharkfin antenna is located towards the rear of the roof:


Rear tail-lights are identical to the IC engine XC40:


"Recharge" badge is located on the right of the tailgate. No badge anywhere on the car to denote the number of motors:


Bumper gets a glossy black skid plate at the bottom:


Neat and tidy underbody:

[Aditya]

Volvo XC40 Recharge Single Motor Interior Images

Interiors are all black. Quality and fit & finish is top class:


Steering is small in diameter and nice to hold. It is wrapped in artificial leather and has contours where you would normally grip the wheel. Hornpad will be a stretch for those with small hands. It's not easy to press either:


Cruise control buttons are placed on the left spoke of the steering. Adaptive Cruise Control and Pilot Assist can operated by these buttons as well. RHS buttons are used for menu selection in the MID and voice commands:


Press the brake and shift the gear lever to D / R to bring the electric motors to life:


Instrument cluster is fully digital with a speedometer on the left and a power/regen meter on the right. A map for navigation is displayed in between. Battery status and range are displayed too:


The map can be swapped for a trip computer:


Auto hold can be engaged by pressing the brake pedal one more time after the car has come to a halt:


MID displays the exact door (including tailgate or bonnet) that is open:


Switchgear for the lights is located on the left, while the controls for the wipers are located on the right. The XC40 Recharge is equipped with automatic headlights and automatic wipers:


No engine start/stop button or keyhole to start the car. The blanked area is an eyesore:


Boot release is placed on the right:


Doorpad is soft where the window meets the door all the way down to the armrest. Translucent insert next to the door handle gets ambient lighting. The bottom part is hard plastic but of decent quality. The wool-felt-like material on the doors is likely to get roughed up in Indian conditions though. Door pockets can hold a 1L bottle and other stuff:


Door sill is not very wide and gets "Recharge" branded scuff plates:


Seats come in black with white stitching. They feature suede textile / microtech upholstery. The seats are firm with excellent bolstering on the sides and offer superb support with lumbar adjustment. They are also wide enough to suit larger-built folks:


Both seats are electrically adjustable and also get a lumbar adjustment. Driver seat gets 2 seat memory positions. The fore and aft travel range is long. Even tall drivers will fit in without complaints:


The seat base can be manually extended as well to provide better under-thigh support for taller drivers:


Driver armrest is clad in leather and has a soft padded surface. Sadly, it is not adjustable:


The accelerator and brake pedal are well-spaced. The dead pedal is positioned perfectly and can even accommodate large-sized shoes. It has a rubberised surface. The front footwells are illuminated:


Bonnet release lever is placed on the right side of the driver's footwell:


ORVMs are wide enough to give a good view of happenings at the rear. They also come with blind-spot warnings:


Frameless IRVM gets auto-dimming functionality. It is large enough to cover the rear windshield:


Rear headrests (left & right) can be folded forward through the touchscreen head-unit to improve rearward visibility:


Centre fascia is tilted towards the driver. The subtle use of chrome, silver and piano black gives it a classy minimalist look:


9-inch touchscreen head-unit runs an Android-based Google-assisted infotainment system. It is smooth to operate with no lag. It comes with Bluetooth and wired Apple CarPlay connectivity, voice commands and telematics:


Sound quality from the audio system will be acceptable for most users. However, it is not as good as some systems from Harmon Kardon or Burmester:


Climate control system can be controlled through the touchscreen. It comes with an inbuilt air purifier called CleanZone:


One can choose between standard and off-road driving modes:


Multiple settings including those for ADAS and driving dynamics can be changed through the touchscreen head unit:


The XC40 Recharge comes with a range optimiser function which limits certain functions of the climate control system:


Charging limit, current limit and time can be set up through the touchscreen:


A timer for the charging can be set as well:


Physical switches for operating the most common functions of the infotainment system and climate control are provided as well as a button to switch between the various drive modes. They are finished in piano black and have a subtle chrome border:


12V power outlet and two Type-C USB ports are located low on the centre fascia:


The base of the centre fascia features a wireless smartphone charger with ambient lighting:


Ashtray is located just ahead of the gear shifter:


Gear shifter is wrapped in artificial leather and gets a piano black console. Two cupholders are located to its left:


Gear shifter has a cavity in the middle with a glossy black insert:


The storage bin under the armrest is reasonably big and even houses a removable dustbin:


Dust bin has a spring-loaded lid and is deep enough to easily swallow toffee wrappers, tissue papers, toll tickets or any other items you want to discard:


Passenger side of the dash gets a translucent insert with ambient lighting:


Glovebox has two sections but is on the smaller side. It also comes with a foldable bag hook on the edge of the lid that can hold loads up to 2 kg in weight:


A small groove is provided on the left side of the centre fascia. Volvo says it is a storage space:


Both front doors have spring-loaded grab handles above them. No grab handles for the rear passengers. However, Volvo has provided slots in which you can fit removable coat hooks:


Both front sunvisors get vanity mirrors with lights as well as ticket holders:


Roof bezel consists of controls for the cabin lights, SOS call and touch-type controls for the sunroof:


Panoramic sunroof helps make the cabin feel airy since the roof liner is dark grey:


Rear doorpads follow the same theme as the ones in the front. However, they do not get translucent inserts and ambient lighting. Instead, they get grilles. Door pockets are smaller as well, but are still large enough to hold a 1L bottle and a few knick-knacks:


Like the front, the rear door sill is not wide. No scuff plate at the rear:


While legroom is sufficient, many people may feel under-thigh support lacking due to the raised floor. The tall and wide floor hump makes it difficult for the third passenger to be comfortable:


All three rear seat passengers get three-point seatbelts and headrests. ISOFIX child seat mounts are a part of the standard equipment:


Centre armrest is clad in leather and houses two cupholders:


Loose soft lining prevents the armrest from getting scratched...


...by the adjustable headrest:


Cubby holes on the sides of the rear seat can be used to keep small to medium-sized items. They have a rubberised base:


Seatbacks have nets for the rear passengers to store stuff. While they are scooped out, they have a hard plastic cover:


A/C blower for the rear passengers. No controls for temperature or blower speed are provided. Direction and air volume can be controlled manually:


2 Type-C USB ports with a plastic cover for rear passengers are placed low down:


Space saver spare tyre is stored above the boot floor and restricts luggage space:


Type 2 charging cable comes as standard:


First aid kit is stored in a compartment on the RHS:


Boot light is placed on the right:


Tools are stored under the boot floor:


Wide parcel tray comes with a prominent lip to stop articles kept on it from rolling onto the rear seat:


Headrests fold forward while folding the rear seatbacks:


With the rear seats fully folded, you get a perfectly flat loading bay with enough space to take all your airport luggage and more:


Simply press the button on the left to close the tailgate. The button on the right is used to close and lock the tailgate:


Frunk has a carrying capacity of 31 litres. It gets a soft lining on the base:

[Aditya]

Thread moved out from the Assembly Line.

[srgntpepper]

Test Drove the dual motor XC40 last week.

It's a car I wanted to love for the following reasons :

1. It is understated and doesn't look like a funky EV.
2. Is relatively reasonably priced (in a era of 55Lac SKODA Superbs, and 75Lac 1.3 litre engine sedans)
3. Safe
4. Reasonably long range, although I think range anxiety is the wrong reason to avoid EVs. They are most useful in short traffic bursts where ICE fuel consumption is the highest. I think the future belongs to city EVs, not Highway tourers.

The things that are a bit of a letdown :

1. Interiors while neat and clean, lack wow factor. My 14 yr old daughter said our 5 yr old Passat felt more plush.
2. As mentioned here, at 41 psi, ride is noticeably bumpy. I asked the SA if we could run 32-34-36, but he suggested that I shouldn't. (maybe on the record, he couldn't)
3. The rear seats are upright, and for people 5'4" or lower will feel like sitting in a basket. The window line is a tad high, and doesn't give you a good look of the outside.

Over all its a good bet, compact enough to use in the city, should last forever, just lacks the wow factor on the inside.

On the fence right now.

[praruaaa4]

Originally Posted by srgntpepper

at 41 psi, ride is noticeably bumpy. I asked the SA if we could run 32-34-36, but he suggested that I shouldn't. (maybe on the record, he couldn't)

For my XC40 Rechare I have found 38PSI works best. Have covered 6k kms in one month. Drove about 1000kms with 34PSI and found the steering to be a bit on the hard side. Another 800kms with 36PSI and have settled with 38PSI. Factory recommended 41PSI made my family regret the car purchase as the ride was very firm and harsh.

The MY24 XC40 Recharge comes with the same battery chemistry as C40. On my recent trip to Ooty, I was able to return back home without any charging stop in between and still had about 90kms of range left. So 360kms+90kms-50kms buffer=400kms is easily achievable.

[Hume]

Originally Posted by Aditya

The XC40 Recharge Single Motor is priced at Rs. 54.95 lakhs (ex-showroom), which is ~3 lakhs cheaper than the dual motor version (Rs. 57.90 lakhs). However, when you consider the fact that the BMW iX1 which produces similar power is priced at Rs. 66.90 lakhs (ex-showroom), the XC40 Recharge Single Motor looks like a bargain!

The more appropriate comparison is perhaps with the Ioniq 5 instead since both of them are CKDs instead of the X1. Then it wouldn't be a bargain anymore and quite the opposite actually. Besides, most vehicles compared to an X1 (both EV and ICE) will seem like bargain . The primary draw for the XC40 recharge was the dual motor variant's performance. This single motor version strips down the features further such as 360 degree camera, fog lamps & Harmon Kardon Premium Sound system.

IMO, Volvo has been lazy to even bring this variant to India at a price the dual motor variant was launched in the not too distant past and offered at further discounts quite recently during the festive season. This feels more like a stock dump and I personally wouldn't recommend this variant to most.

[sh3lby]

Being frankly honest I think this is a boring car and don't understand why someone would go for this if they had money, apart from desperately needing to save that petrol money (which if true, means they wouldn't be spending this much on a car).

The exterior, while not bad, doesn't have a hint of wow factor or anything to suggest this vehicle could be worth 60 lacs OTR. The Ioniq 5 looks way better, you see it and instantly understand that there's something futuristic about it.

The interior is even more disappointing - especially in this all-black trim - the same black plastic everywhere, a boring centre console (the vertical screen doesn't help with aesthetics), and a generally outdated-looking dash. Many 'downmarket' cars have much nicer interiors. At this price, the interior has to be somewhat plush at least.

Rear seat comfort being compromised was expected due to its size, but I didn't think it would be this bad. The way it's been described, even hour-long journeys could be quite uncomfortable. Let alone longer journeys, being an EV in India. If ingress/egress is bad for fit able-bodied people imagine how it'd be for the elderly?
(sidenote-very detailed review!)

7.3 sec 0-100 is good but nothing to write home about on an EV, when its ICE competitors (Audi & Merc - let's forget the underpowered X1) are offering the same for maybe cheaper (audi discounts hmm...).
Harsh ride quality makes the uncomfortable seating even worse and is even more dissauding. It's not like this is a sedan where you can make this compromise knowing that you'll get your money's worth in the handling department.

All that aside, no premium sound system?! Not even a decent in-house one? Appalling to say the least. Oh and the space saver wheel just plunked into the boot, eating into the space is just senseless.

It isn't all negative though. I think the single pedal driving experience is a positive, panoramic sunroof as well (necessary to make the small cabin feel more spacious) - and some quirks like the shifter and SOS button (never knew about that before. Also the pros of being an EV but that's common to all. But that's about it. If I had to spend this much money on a premium EV, I'd much rather choose the Ioniq 5.

[sarathlal]

The charm, XC40 recharge had when it launched, is slowly fading away.

It's indeed sports car kinda performance, but the interiors, the comfort factor etc is not matching the luxury segment expectations of current day. Could be the impact made by cars like Ioniq/EV6 in terms of plush luxury interior experiences, Volvo somehow seems to be losing it.

Not sure about others; but when I read the review above, the 'pretty ordinary' black interiors was standing out more prominently than the other better parts of the car. Just looking at that rear passenger side photos left a very bad impression.

This one in particular:

Originally Posted by Aditya

While legroom is sufficient, many people may feel under-thigh support lacking due to the raised floor. The tall and wide floor hump makes it difficult for the third passenger to be comfortable:
Attachment 2588982

[JunkyardHunter]

It's a great car, but just lacking in that wow factor. For a 60 lakh car, you would be better off buying the Ioniq 5. For a cheaper price, you have a bigger car, nicer interiors, a brand with a strong foothold in India, etc etc.

Yes, the acceleration is great, but for all the reasons listed above, if I were to choose, I would pick the Hyundai any day of the week.

With my eyes shut.