As a brand, Volvo is known for its minimal approach and sophisticated interiors. It's a brand we usually associate with buses, but lately, their products have turned heads and lured folks away from the Germans. The XC40 was one such vehicle that didn't only dominate as diesel and petrol but even as an EV. Built on Volvo's Compact Modular Architecture (CMA), the C40 also shares its platform with the XC40 Recharge, with specific improvements essentially down to aesthetics. The XC40 Recharge was always understated, which was part of its charm. But it existed in a segment where flamboyance seems to be in demand; with the Hyundai IONIQ 5 and the KIA EV6 bringing in their stylish versions, it was about time Volvo did something to spice things up. Thus, the all-new C40 Recharge.
Is the C40 Recharge worth the purchase?
It's a big yes for me. But for someone looking for a more practical purchase, I can see why someone would gravitate towards the IONIQ 5, which packs enough performance and much more practicality. These two cars shouldn't attract the same buyer. The C40 Recharge buyer seeks simplicity with a touch of glitz and is a petrol head converted from combustion to electrification. The quality touches sprinkled across the cabin, the elegance, the mind-numbing performance, and the orgasmic sound system come together to sway any petrolhead. I feel like one of those guys, and I would love to get my hands on a C40 Recharge. However, I hope Volvo manages to undercut its competition, making this quite a bargain.
Is the C40 Recharge fun to drive?
Hell Yeah! From the moment you get going, you realize this EV has the mannerisms to be calm and composed, but you know what lurks beneath the pedal is a total beast. Floor the accelerator, and you will unleash a family SUV that can put most sports cars of a bygone era to shame. A Lamborghini Miura and an Aston Martin Rapide are cars that would most likely lose a drag race against the C40 Recharge. It's just nuts to think about and slowly realize what a performance bargain this drivetrain is. Its straight-line performance is undoubtedly the best in class, but even the handling could be better. The low-resistance tires could be to blame, but despite that, the C40 Recharge is quite agile when you factor in just how much weight it's lunging about. The brakes, too, perform well, though they leave you wanting more in extreme cases.
Is it a good daily driver?
Well, yes, again. The C40 Recharge has exact throttle inputs and will happily crawl in your city's traffic. The suspension is comfortable and composed and glides over most low-speed obstacles. The C40 Recharge also boasts a tall enough ground clearance for you to be confident even to take it off the beaten path now and then, though the wheels would suggest you stick to mild dirt trails. Volvo claims a range of 530 – 630 kms, depending on your driving style and terrain. The C40 Recharge should easily pull off up to 400 to 450 kms of range, sufficient when you factor in just how much power you're packing.
Is the C40 Recharge practical?
Regarding storage, it may be slightly down on boot capacity thanks to the lowered roofline and spare wheel. The EV6 and the IONIQ 5 may have more oversized boots, but they give you a puncture repair kit. A spare wheel is a much more reliable addition and adds more to practicality. Plus, you can always use the frunk, which has more storage than an EV6 or leave the spare behind and carry a puncture repair kit for city stints. The interior space may have been reduced, but it's sufficiently practical for a small family.
What's new on the C40 Recharge?
Though it may appear the same from the front, one would miss the new headlamp equipped with Volvo's Pixel Technology, allowing it to illuminate only parts of the road without dazzling oncoming traffic. It works like a set of MATRIX LED lights, and the C40 Recharge is Volvo's first car to feature this setup. Move along the side, and you'll notice a brand new design for the 19-inch wheel, which Volvo claims is more aerodynamic and paired with a pair of specially designed low-resistance tires to help increase efficiency.
The overall roofline is now lowered thanks to the coupe-like roofline, making the Volvo appear much sportier and muscular. This also calls for a change in taillamps. Volvo's now equipped the C40 Recharge with beautiful LED taillights that house sequential turn indicators and showcase a welcome and goodbye feature when you lock or unlock the vehicle. Combined, Volvo claims that this makes the C40 Recharge about 4% more aerodynamically efficient, extending range ever so slightly.
The interior changes are less drastic than the exterior. The carpeting is now changed with a material made from recycling up to 72 plastic bottles. Infact, the interior uses sustainable materials like forest debris, plastic bottles and used corks. This is quite an exciting initiative from Volvo, and they now offer a fully vegan interior. A new gear knob dawns the centre console, and like before, one doesn't need to use a key to start the C40 Recharge. Gone is the panoramic sunroof in exchange for a fixed panoramic glass that should make one less car on the streets with people sticking out of the roof.
Jokes apart, Volvo claims this glass can cut down up to 95% of the UV rays and darkens on a sunny day to maintain cabin temperature. The lowered roofline means less rear visibility, and one can now lower the rear headrests at the touch of a button, but unfortunately, they don't go back up. The 13-speaker 600 W Harman Kardon system is one to behold and will knock your socks off with its beautiful audio tuning. Apart from that, everything remains business as usual, and I like that Volvo still needs to try to fix what's not broken.
Battery Capacity - 78 kWh
Output - 408 bhp
Torque - 660 Nm
Range - 530 kms
