The Volvo C40 Recharge is the smoother brother of the XC40 Recharge. The starting price of the C40 is in principle slightly higher than that of the XC40, but all in all, the price difference turns out to be in favor of the C40.
Volvo C40 Recharge Twin
€ 57,995
You don’t have to think very long when choosing the engine and version of the C40 Recharge. Volvo offers no choice in that area. As with the XC40 Recharge, the C40 has one available powertrain: the ‘Twin’. Two electric motors jointly deliver an output of 408 hp and 660 Nm of torque, with which the C40 accelerates to 100 km/h in 4.7 seconds and – just like any other modern Volvo – reaches a limited top speed of 180 km/h. With the battery capacity of 75 kWh, a range of 420 kilometers should be possible. You can fill it with fresh power at a charging speed of up to 150 kW on the fast charger. Translated into time, charging from 10 to 80 percent battery charge takes 40 minutes.
While Volvo still offers a choice of different versions with the XC40 Recharge, the C40 is only available in one version. It has no name, but in terms of equipment it is based on the Pro version of the XC40. That means that the C40 is already pretty generous in its stuff as standard.
Heated grille
From the outside, the C40 stands out in the first place, of course, because of its strikingly designed rear with sloping roofline. The tailgate is electrically operated and can be unlocked hands-free thanks to Keyless Entry. The light units also have a different shape than its direct relative, the XC40. The C40 features ‘Pixel LED headlights’ as standard, which, thanks to 84 LED pixels in each headlight, can continuously adjust the beam when the high beam is on. The LED taillights are also standard equipment. The modified roofline also always includes a sliding/tilting glass roof. To make it easier to maneuver the 4.4 meter long crossover into the parking space, parking sensors at the front, rear and side are standard. Via the central display you can keep an eye on the environment with the 360-degree camera. The heated emblem in the grille is particularly striking, so that frost does not affect the field of view of the front camera.
Volvo C40 Recharge
Despite that one version, Volvo fortunately still offers plenty of options to flavor the exterior of the C40. The black in the photos is the standard color, in addition you can choose from four metallic – two ‘Inscription Metallic’ paint colors. Metallic has an additional cost of €995, Inscription Metallic costs €1,345. The mirrors and the roof of the XC40 are always in black, the contrast is of course not visible in the photos. The C40 basically rolls on the 19-inch wheels shown. If you wish, you can choose a size larger for € 659. Prefer tinted rear windows? That costs € 395. Another option that may come in handy is the folding towbar for € 1,129.99.
Never got lost in Gothenburg
The interior of the C40 largely corresponds to that of the XC40. The seats are upholstered in ‘City Weave’ fabric as standard. Perhaps a bit of an exaggerated name for black fabric, but the ‘City’ part does come back in the dashboard. The decorative frame shows a map of Gothenburg; Volvo’s hometown. A funny detail. If you don’t need the floor plan in your C40, you can also opt for ‘Connect Microtech/Nubuck’ upholstery. Then the trim is made of brushed aluminum. That option costs € 1,595. If desired, the carpet and door panels can also be finished in ‘Fjord Blue’. In that case you pay € 1,795 extra.
Volvo C40 Recharge
So much for the options, because everything else is standard in the C40. The 12.3-inch touchscreen and digital instrumentation run on Google’s Android operating system, just like in the XC40 Recharge. Furthermore, the smartphone can be charged wirelessly and the system also has wireless smartphone integration. For music lovers, it’s good to know that the 600 Watt, 13-speaker Harman Kardon Premium Sound is always included. The front seats are electrically adjustable with a memory function for the driver’s seat. Seat heating is also standard. Furthermore, the two-zone climate control contributes to the cosiness of the interior of the C40. The heat pump ensures that the air conditioning and heating have less impact on the range. As with many other EVs, you can also heat and cool the C40 remotely.
Volvo wouldn’t be Volvo if it didn’t affect safety. With the safety systems, it is therefore a must in the C40. We note, among other things, adaptive cruise control, Lane Keeping Aid, Oncoming Lane Mitigation, Rear Collision Warning and Road Sign Information.
All in all, there is little shortage in the C40 Recharge. Compared to the basic version of the XC40 Recharge, the C40 is € 1,500 more expensive. However, if you look at the starting price of the XC40 Recharge Pro, on which the standard equipment of the C40 is based, you are suddenly € 1,375 cheaper. Not a bad deal, although the sloping roofline of the C40 should of course be your thing.