2023 Volvo C40 Recharge evaluate

Volvo is on the cost in Australia in the intervening time.

Its gross sales are rising regionally, led by the XC40 and XC60 SUVs, and it’s gearing as much as roll out a full vary of electrical automobiles as its world vary pivots away from petrol energy.

That rollout began with the XC40 Recharge Pure Electric in Australia, and continues with the C40 Recharge Pure Electric on check right here.

Up entrance, you could possibly be forgiven for considering this was an XC40. It shares its CMA chassis with the petrol and electrical XC40, the powertrains on supply match these within the XC40, and the smaller headlights are a refined differentiator at greatest.

What’s the principle distinction, then? Where the prevailing XC40 is designed to be a sensible rival to the Tesla Model Y, the C40 includes a sloping roofline and sportier styling down again in a bid to enchantment to completely different consumers.

It additionally represents but another choice in Australia’s provide constrained however rising electrical automotive market.

How a lot does the Volvo C40 Recharge value?

The C40 Recharge carries a $2000 value enhance over the equal XC40 Recharge on the entry-level, whereas the twin-motor vary topper is $3000 dearer than its extra sensible sibling.

The $74,990 plus-on roads beginning value aligns the C40 with the Tesla Model Y ($72,300) on paper, together with the Hyundai Ioniq 5 ($72,000) and Kia EV6 Air RWD ($72,590).

At the highest finish, the C40 is priced consistent with the Ioniq 5 Techniq AWD ($79,500) and Kia EV6 GT-Line RWD ($79,590).

2023 Volvo C40 Recharge pricing:

• Volvo C40 Recharge: $74,990
• Volvo C40 Recharge Twin: $82,490

Prices exclude on-road prices

What is the Volvo C40 Recharge like on the within?

Up entrance, the C40 Recharge is almost similar to the XC40. For essentially the most half, that’s factor.

The driver and passenger sit excessive, with a commanding view of the highway forward, and strike an ideal steadiness between padding and help. It’s not an excessively sporty place to spend time, however it’s snug.

The base Single Motor variant options extra primary black fabric trim than the Twin Motor, which packs a vegan different to leather-based with some gray streaks via it.

Although each characteristic a glass roof as commonplace, the Twin Motor’s barely extra vibrant – or barely much less black – inside is the nicer place to spend time.

On the dashboard, the bottom mannequin includes a 3D map of Gothenburg in a neat nod to the automotive’s lineage – even when it’s made in China, somewhat than Sweden. The Twin Motor has the topography of a Swedish nationwide park specified by plastic on its sprint.

With an upright sprint and minimalist design, you received’t be mistaking the C40 for something however a Volvo.

Pride of place on the dashboard belongs to a vertically-oriented 9.0-inch touchscreen, working Android Automotive software program underneath its pores and skin. That means you get Hey Google voice management and Google Maps commonplace, however the closing pores and skin is ready up by Volvo to look acquainted to anybody who’s pushed one of many model’s current automobiles.

It’s snappy on the transfer, and the tiled interface is usually engaging – though it does really feel a bit demure in comparison with the brighter, extra fashionable tackle related software program employed by Volvo’s company cousins at Polestar.

The means to obtain apps like Spotify from the Google Play retailer opens the door for a degree of customisation not doable in most programs. Having the identical individuals who do the software program for cellphones design your Bluetooth interface, for instance, means this is among the best automobiles through which to discover a contact and make a name on the transfer.

When it’s linked to a community, Hey Google is extra helpful than Hey BMW or Hey Mercedes ever could possibly be… however when it’s not linked to a community, the voice assistant is way much less helpful. Apple AutomobilePlay smartphone mirroring is commonplace on the again of a software program replace, having initially been off limits for Volvos with Android Automotive.

The driver is confronted with a easy instrument binnacle with inbuilt Google Maps. It’s mild on for configuration choices in comparison with what’s on supply in some luxurious marques, though all the knowledge you want is displayed prominently.

The XC40 is a standout in relation to inside storage, and the C40 is not any completely different. The felt-lined door pockets, spacious transmission tunnel, and under-dash area are all cleverly designed, whereas the built-in garbage bin is a considerate contact.

Where rivals just like the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6 characteristic extra futuristic cabins with open, ethereal designs due to their electrical platforms, the C40 remains to be rooted on this planet of inner combustion. That means it feels acquainted, for higher and for worse.

The glass roof and sloping profile don’t sound like an excellent mixture for rear-seat passengers, however there’s a stunning quantity of headroom again there.

Adults will have the ability to get snug with out their head on the roof lining, and there’s extra legroom than you’d anticipate of what’s a comparatively compact SUV.

Air vents, USB-C ports, seat heaters for outboard occupants, and a fold-down central armrest are readily available to maintain the youngsters snug, though the extra upright roof of the XC40 Recharge Pure Electric means it’s a extra sensible option to carry adults round.

It’s additionally value noting similarly-priced rivals such because the Hyundai Ioniq 5 are bigger inside, though the C40 punches above its weight given the dimensions of its exterior.

Boot area is a claimed 489 litres with 5 seats in place, increasing to 1205L with the second row folded flat. That’s down 93L on the XC40 Recharge with the seats up, and 123L with them folded.

The flooring itself is identical, which implies it may be folded to create a bag hanger/divider, and there’s underfloor storage for cables or valuables – the area loss comes above the seatbacks, the place the sloping roof eats into carrying capability.

Up entrance, there’s a bin beneath the bonnet with area for cables.

What’s underneath the bonnet?

The single motor, front-wheel drive C40 Recharge produces 170kW of energy and 330Nm of torque, whereas the dual-motor all-wheel drive mannequin produces 300kW and 660Nm. These outputs are similar to the XC40 Recharge.

It includes a 69kWh lithium-ion battery in single-motor guise, and a 78kWh battery with the dual-motor powertrain.

Claimed 0-100km/h instances are 7.4 seconds for the single-motor, and 4.7 seconds for the dual-motor. Claimed WLTP electrical vary is 434km within the base C40, and 420km within the Twin Motor.

You can cost the 69kWh battery from 10 to 80 per cent in 32 minutes utilizing a 150kW DC quick charger, whereas the identical enhance in share takes 40 minutes with the 78kWh battery. They may also be charged at as much as 11kW with AC energy.

How does the Volvo C40 Recharge drive?

Messing round with keys is so old school, proper? You sit within the driver’s seat and put the C40 in Drive when it’s time to go, and simply go away it in park while you wish to stroll away.

That similar simplicity applies to the driving expertise. There aren’t any paddles to fiddle with, neither is there an enormous vary of drive modes.

You’re in a position to flip one-pedal driving on or off (go away it on), or toggle the steering between mild and heavy (the latter is our decide), however each these capabilities are buried within the central touchscreen.

Once most house owners have discovered their preferences, we’d wager they’ll simply go away them set.

Don’t be fooled by the very fact it appears to be like like a daily metropolis SUV, the C40 Twin Motor completely hauls in a straight line. Its 100km/h dash time is on a par with all-wheel drive scorching hatches, however the way in which it snaps your neck again on the transfer is extra attention-grabbing as a result of there’s no gears to drop or increase to construct.

Ride consolation on the 20-inch wheels commonplace on the range-topper is surprisingly good. Pockmarked backroads elicit a little bit of slap-slap noise from the tyres, however the C40 does a wonderful job conserving the surface world the place it belongs.

On our launch drive it felt like a extra composed factor to drive than even the associated XC40 Recharge Pure Electric, though we’ll have to get them side-by-side to verify it.

Road noise within the C40 was noticeable away from billiard-smooth highways, which isn’t unusual in smaller European luxurious automobiles.

With a eager entrance finish and stable physique management, it’s extra enjoyable than the common electrical SUV to hustle alongside bumpy nation roads.

Volvo’s regen braking is tuned well sufficient to not throw you thru the windscreen for those who elevate off the accelerator at pace, so with a little bit of familiarity it’s doable to get right into a rhythm on winding roads with out ever touching the brake pedal.

With luggage of immediate torque on faucet and spectacular traction, you may actually slingshot out of tight corners as effectively.

The Single Motor lacks the identical punch, as you’d anticipate, though it’s nonetheless prone to really feel impressively fast for anybody hopping out of an internal-combustion crossover.

Despite its smaller wheels, the Single Motor doesn’t really feel all that completely different to the Dual Motor in relation to experience high quality.

Regardless of mannequin, the C40 Recharge comes with a full vary of driver assists commonplace.

The adaptive cruise management does job conserving a niche to the automotive in entrance on the freeway, however the lively lane-centring is hands-on to the purpose the place it will possibly really feel such as you’re wrestling the automotive for management.

What do you get?

C40 Recharge highlights:

• 9.0-inch touchscreen Android Automotive infotainment
  • 4-year information subscription
  • Google Services
  • Over-the-air updates
• Wireless cellphone charging
• Keyless entry and begin
• Dual-zone local weather management
• Heated entrance seats
• Heated rear seats
• Hands-free energy tailgate
• LED headlights
• Fixed panoramic roof
• Hill descent management
• Power-folding exterior mirrors
• Auto-dimming inner, exterior mirrors
• Power-folding rear headrests

C40 Recharge Twin provides:

• Dual-motor all-wheel drive
• 20-inch ‘Black Diamond-cut’ five-spoke alloy wheels
• Surround-view digicam
• Harman Kardon sound system
• Microtech and textile inside

Is the Volvo C40 Recharge protected?

The Volvo C40 Recharge wears a five-star ANCAP security score, based mostly on testing carried out earlier in 2022.

The C40 scored 92 per cent for grownup occupant safety, 89 per cent for baby occupant safety, 70 per cent for susceptible highway person safety, and 91 per cent for security help.

Standard security gear contains:

• Autonomous emergency braking (ahead, reverse)
• Blind-spot monitoring
• Rear cross-traffic alert
• Adaptive cruise management
• Lane-keep help
• Pilot Assist (adaptive cruise management + lane centring)
• Front and rear parking sensors
• Surround digicam system

How a lot does the Volvo C40 Recharge value to run?

The Volvo C40 Recharge is backed by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre guarantee with eight years of roadside help.

There’s additionally an eight-year battery guarantee, and two-year servicing intervals. The first three years or 100,000km of upkeep are free.

CarExpert’s Take on the Volvo C40 Recharge

The Volvo C40 doesn’t supply too many surprises, however that’s no unhealthy factor.

With its sloping tailgate and fancy LED tail lights, the C40 appears to be like completely different sufficient to its extra sensible XC40 stablemate to really feel distinctive.

Its efficiency is spectacular and the vary is aggressive, and there’s some enjoyable available behind the wheel relative to most of its electrical SUV rivals.

Competitors constructed on devoted electrical platforms characteristic extra futuristic, spacious interiors for related cash, however the reality the C40 feels so regular will little doubt endear it to some consumers.

The reality Volvo expects to have the ability to deliver greater than 500 examples to Australia in 2022 and an additional 1550 in 2023 will assist as effectively, given how supply-constrained our market is in the intervening time.

Of the 2 fashions within the vary, the Twin Motor seems like a greater purchase. It’s meaningfully sooner than the Single Motor, and has a nicer inside for $7500 extra.

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