PROS:

+ Very fast

+ Refined and smooth on the road

+ Low running costs

CONS:

- Steep price tag

- Slightly scratchy interior

- Only one version available for now

Verdict:The XC40 Recharge is a fast, refined and practical electric SUV that impresses in almost every way possible. The problem is, at £50,000 it’s a lot of money for a small SUV and most people don’t need its blistering performance. Many will want to wait for the slower and cheaper versions to become available.

2021 Volvo XC40 Recharge P8: five minute read

When the XC40 Recharge first arrived it could only be bought as a £60,000 First Edition model. That is, quite simply, ludicrous money for what’s essentially a battery powered version of a car which can be bought for £26,000 in petrol form.

Thankfully it now starts at £49,950 which makes it a more reasonable prospect, although it’s still steep. It sits in a space shared by cars like the Ford Mustang Mach-E and VW ID.4, albeit the higher spec versions of both of those models. In terms of performance, it’s also in the ballpark of cars like the Jaguar I-Pace and BMW iX3.

The Recharge is built on the same platform as the petrol and hybrid XC40 and as a result shares the same handsome, fuss-free design: only the grille is closed off and it offers some bespoke wheels and paintjobs.

The cabin is equally Scandi in design, with clean lines, plenty of piano gloss trim in places like the air vents and driver console, as well as plush, supportive seats. It’s only let down slightly by the use of scratchy and light plastics in places like the glovebox, which is forgivable on a £30,000 car but not so much on something costing £50,000.

The XC40 recharge is the first Volvo to use the new Android Automotive infotainment system which seamlessly links the car to your other Google systems, such as your Gmail calendar. The screen itself boasts rich graphics and the app-based interface is easy to use, but there’s an over-reliance on the system in that it controls more or less everything. The only physical buttons found control the media volume and turn on the heated windscreens, so anything else can be a bit fiddly.

Three people can fit comfortably in the back seats, although naturally the middle seat is a little cramped. Headroom is generous though, and so is legroom thanks to the fact the battery is stored underneath the car. Also for this reason the boot is a perfectly acceptable 452-litres, which is more than the Mustang Mach-E but nearly 100-litres less than the ID.4.

Powering the XC40 Recharge is a 78kWh battery that feeds two electric motors, one on each axle. Not only does this make it a proper 4x4 but the total power amounts to 402bhp and - wait for it - 660Nm of torque. That’s a hell of a lot of shove for a car of this type.

Volvo’s claimed range of 257-miles per charge isn’t outstanding in the field, but it’s acceptable. The ID.4 uses a 77kWh battery to get 323-miles, while the Mach-E offers up to 379-miles. The XC40 supports 150kW charging which means 80% of range is possible in 40 mins of being plugged in.

As you might expect from power output figures, this car is fun on the road. The 0-62mph time is only fractionally slower than the Jaguar I-Pace at 4.9-seconds. That said, while the off-the-line shove is impressive it still corners with relaxed composure – just because you will win drag races don’t expect a sportscar ride. It is smooth and refined and handles bumpy ground in a very grown up manner.

Volvo’s first stab at all-electric is impressive in almost every, but the price tag still presents a problem. Lower powered and front wheel drive versions coming, and we suspect many will want to wait. The performance is impressive, no doubt, but for many buyers in the market for a small SUV they don’t need or want it.

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Extended read…

2021 Volvo XC40 Recharge P8 interior and infotainment

Scaled back Scandi design is the name of the game when it comes to the cabin, and the materials used just about live up to the £50K price tag. Piano black gloss and chrome trim can be found on the air vents and the driver console, but it’s let down slightly by hard, scratchy plastics used on the dash and glovebox.

It all looks great though, with interesting sliver-flecked trim surrounding the door handles and carpet on the door bins and floor which is made from 97% recycled plastic bottles.

The steering wheel feels sturdy in the hands and hosts common controls such as media volume and voice commands, although, again, the plastic buttons feel a bit cheap.

The Android Automotive infotainment system is crisp and clear and the graphics are rich, and it’s easy to use once you get your head around the tablet-style swipe nature. The only problem with it is the fact that everything - including climate control – is controlled via the touchscreen.

The only physical buttons control the volume and heated screens, which means controlling anything else on the go is fiddly and distracting.

The system itself supports over-the-air-software updates, one of which has already been issued to improve charging speed and range.

The Google Assistant voice command system works better than most others on the market and can be used to control the car’s temperature, access apps like Spotify or send messages. And having Google Maps powering the sat nav is a blessing, it offers real-time traffic updates and can be programmed from the comfort of your home so it’s ready to go as soon as you turn the car on.

The digital driver’s display is sharp and clear but is limited in the amount of information you can toggle through.

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2021 Volvo XC40 Recharge P8 practicality and boot space

The XC40 is a spacious car for its size. Three people won’t have a problem sitting in the back, although for longer journeys you wouldn’t want to be stuck in the middle. Legroom is generous both front and back, and when the third seat isn’t occupied an armrest folds down which also contains two cup holders.

There’s also plenty of headroom in both the front and back seats, taller occupants won’t have a problem at all. The glovebox, while flimsy and scratchy to touch, is a good size.

Another neat touch is the removeable waste bin in the centre console, which slips in and out to be emptied. The centre console is a good size and can hold plenty of stuff, while the door bins front and back are also large and lined with carpet.

The back seats split in a 60/40 format which isn’t as practical as the 40/20/40 as some of the XC40 Recharges’s rivals, like the Audi E-tron, and the boot itself stands at 452-litres which beats the Mustang Mach-E falls short of the ID.4 by around 100-litres.

2021 Volvo XC40 Recharge battery, motors and charging

Before you prod the accelerator you might wonder how Volvo can ask for 50 grand for this car. It’s nice, but not £50K nice. The premium is largely down to the car’s performance.

This is a small family SUV which can do 0-62mph 4.9-seconds, which is only 0.7-seconds slower than a Porsche 911 Carrera. It’s not Tesla Model Y fast, but it’s nearly as quick as the much more expensive Jaguar I-Pace.

It achieves these figures thanks to a 78kWh battery which feeds two electric motors, one on each axle. That means all four wheels are helping get the power down on the road, power which amounts to a total of 402bhp and 660Nm of torque.

It seems quite excessive for the market the XC40 sits in - Volvo buyers traditionally don’t look for drag race bragging rights – so we expect slower and front wheel drive versions to be more popular.

When it comes to range the XC40 Recharge sits in the middle of the segment, with 257-miles according to WLTP tests. That’s less than both the long range versions of the ID.4 and Mustang Mach-E but more than the 402bhp Audi E-tron 55.

Because the XC40 supports 150kW charging 80% of range can be topped up in around 40 minutes, if you can find the right charge point. On a home wallbox it will take around 12 hours for a full charge.

2021 Volvo XC40 Recharge P8 driving

The off-the-line speed of the XC40 Recharge is astonishing, and there’s certainly a thrill to be had watching the surprise on people’s faces when you take off from the lights so quickly in what looks like a sensible family SUV.

That said, despite the brisk acceleration this car is well suited to a family of four on the road, it absorbs bumps and lumps with aplomb and lends itself to fast but smooth driving, rather than apex-attacking fury.

There’s a little body roll in corners but it never threatens to run out of grip.

Throwing it into corners won’t do you too many favours either, you do notice that car’s 2.2-tonne weight when tipping in and out of a bend. But on a twisty B-road it glides nicely and everything in cabin is serene and peaceful.

If you dial up the regenerative braking settings (only two modes) via the infotainment system the XC40 Recharge becomes a one-pedal car, which is very welcome in and around town and helps preserve the range.

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