When the Volvo XC40 Recharge went on sale in South Africa, the first units sold out within four days. Drivers bought the XC40 without even a test drive! This says more than any review could about the trust consumers place in the brand and, in particular, their all-electric line-up.
Did it live up to the hype? Most certainly because a Volvo is a Volvo whether it has an ICE or electric engine. Its design is forward thinking and carefully chosen, the drive is smooth and performs well whatever driving scenario encountered. Possibly the biggest challenge of the Volvo is not the car itself but EV infrastructure.
The drive
While Volvo is one of the leaders in the transition to EV’s, it very clearly felt like an electric vehicle. While this may seem like a strange comment, I mention it is because some manufacturers have refined their electric technology so well that there is only a miniscule difference, at best.
The XC40 Recharge’s drive had a definite EV feel because as you lift your foot from the accelerator it brakes for you and uses that to regenerate power. If you know what to expect, it does not take anything from the drive. It climbs to speed steadily, handles the road confidently and one of the most enjoyable parts of the compact SUV is its velvety smooth and powerful drive. Added to that, the performance lacks for nothing.
The tested vehicle was the XC40 Recharge Twin Motor Ultimate. It has two motors, one on each axle. There is also a lithium-ion battery for power storage. From the 78kWh battery pack drivers will get 304 kW of power and 660 Nm of torque. This gives you a sport-worthy sprint from o to 100km/h in 4.9 seconds. The current best for a Volvo EV is the EX30’s 3.6 second sprint.
Our efficiency at the of a week was at 22 kWh/100 km. This was after using the almost full charge it was delivered with and then charging it again until about 70%. To place this into perspective, obtaining 4,8km/kWh is considered average efficiency. Using the 22 kWh recorded, on approximately 1.5 charges, the XC40 provides 4,5km per kWh.
The tendency is to focus on the range of a vehicle as opposed to its efficiency. It still costs money to recharge an EV which should be factored in before purchase. You cannot charge the X40 at home if you do not have a wall charger. The price per kWh is around R7.50 at a public charging station. Thus making the cost to charge around R600 for a full charge. Luckily, the XC40 comes with a home wall charger which will the cost about R2.50 per kWh or R195 for a full charge.
It is much easier for owners with the wall charging station at home but wanted to test the ‘real-world’ functionality of the XC40 by seeing how easy it is to recharge and what it was like if your battery percentage dropped below 20%. Yes, I had range anxiety of note.
I live about 5km from a charging station so it was not difficult to find one. It charges very quickly on a DC charger. It went from approximately 15% to 70% in less than an hour. If you did run into trouble with your charge level, this is where EVs do have their downside. While there was a GridCars charger near me, it was also the only charger within quite a large radius. While some places have plenty charging stations, most of the country does not. It si quickly improving but right now I do not believe infrastructure is good enough yet for the country as a whole.
The design
If I had to point to the most futuristic looking cars on our roads, it is definitely Volvo. The design of the electric vehicles is what I would have expected vehicles today to look like when I was 10 years old. The biggest change to design is the replacement of the grille with a solid panel. This creates strong and bold presence on the road.
Within this, however, they are still distinctly Volvo. In particular, are the lights, specifically the taillights, which have rolled over from previous generations. The XC40 also features the bi-colour or floating roof design.
The design of the interior seems to be just as committed to efficiency in building the vehicle as what it is to run. Material used in the seats of the XC40 is made up of 40% recycled materials. I did wonder though what these seats would look like after a while because it looks like they would stain easily. There was already a small mark on the front seat as well.
Many buttons and dials have ben removed to simplify the interior. There is no longer a start button in the XC40, you shift into gear and its ready to go. To switch off you put it in park. For the full test period I didn’t quite wrap my head around this because it felt so strange not physically turning the car off.
Stepping inside
Despite these changes the Volvo XC40 remains a luxury compact SUV. There is very little it cannot do. It simply switches some button functionalities to the infotainment screen.
The vehicle looks larger from the exterior than what it offers inside. This, however, is not uncommon in compact SUVs. The focus appears to be on creating a large looking vehicle rather than one that is actually large. It will still fit four adults fairly comfortably but be aware it is not quite as big as one would expect.
It does have a good-sized boot. Under the baseboard is a place to keep the charging cables or there is also the option to keep it in a storage space under the bonnet.
In the centre of the two rear seats, there is a section that you can open to access items in the boot. This is not new or revolutionary but definitely an underrated feature that I do not see that often anymore.
There Is a folded mat in the boot that you can use to protect the bottom board. Again, not revolutionary but definitely very useful and appreciated in a car that costs a pretty penny.
Volvo has now also joined the race to include a matte grey colour to the lineup. Theirs is unique because when you step closer to the XC40 you see it has just the slightest sparkle which adds a twist and is very effective.
Operation of many functions using the infotainment screen is very intuitive and easy. It is also the Google Android infotainment system that essentially turns your car into a moving PC. Apple Carplay is now is available.
The Volvo XC40 has a fully opening panoramic sunroof. It does have the newer ‘net’ cover. Despite this, I never experienced the sun coming through this like I have with other vehicles. I was driving in winter so perhaps the sun was not strong enough for me to penetrate it. On the subject of sun, the infotainment screen is placed so it never catches the glare.
It features both heat seating and cooling. The rear seats can also be heated and this is controlled by the rear passengers. One of the few times I’ve seen this.
The wireless charger Is placed under the entertainment screen and a phone can be placed vertically and still have space on each side of it. There is also a C-port directly above it if your phone is not wireless enabled, it can be plugged in.
As mentioned, there is no longer a start button. What makes starting and turning off the car feel even odder is, as an EV, it is completely silent. Other than the driver information screen changing, there’s no real indication whether it is on or off. Certainly, something that I would need to get used to.
The XC40 has a Harmon Kardon Sound System that gives it phenomenal sound. On the infotainment screen you can activate surround sound and it’ll create such an experience that it catches the attention of passers-by.
Something else that adds to the intuitiveness of the XC40 is the sunroof functionality. It is a touch sensor and you just run your finger along it to open or close. I always sit there impatiently moving the switch every which way to get the sunroof open and then just touching this one to get it to work was a very pleasant surprise.
One minor downside was the rear windscreen wiper. There is button on the outside of the indicator lever which is very easy to accidentally bump. The first time I did it, I drove a good 60 to 70km with it on, trying to figure out where the switch. Only when I stopped could I look properly and find it. Often I bumped it and kept putting it on by accident so I found it was a bit too sensitive.
Other tech includes electronically opening boot, electrically adjustable seats with memory functions, USB and C-port charging points, rear AC controls, climate control, first aid kit, keyless entry and exit, seats that can be extended in the front of the vehicle for taller occupants and a full-view 360° camera.
The Volvo XC40 Recharge Twin Motor Ultimate is really the ultimate vehicle, wanting for nothing. With a price tag of R1.2 million and other options in the XC40 range that still have plenty to offer, will it be a top choice? The first few vehicles selling out without even a test drive, suggests it will.
Good to know
The specs of the Limited
Battery: 2 on each axle providing 78 kWh
Transmission: 1-speed electric
Range: 500km (claimed) / less than 400km (achieved)
Power: 304 kW
Torque: 660 Nm
Price: starting from R1 298 000 (Twin Ultimate)
Warranty and service plan: 5-year/100 000km vehicle warranty, 8-year/160 000 battery warranty.
Read more MasterTests
