By: Joshua Lee
September 20, 2022
As more manufacturers progress towards a more sustainable future, Volvo’s mission is to have around 50% of the cars they sell be pure electric by the year 2025, and the other 50% to be hybrids. Their promise looks strong as their current lineup is available in mild hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and pure electric variants. Volvo introduced the XC40 Recharge as their first fully electric model in 2021, and have recently introduced the C40 Recharge as their second electric model in 2022.
Thanks to our friends over at Volvo of Unionville, we got the keys to a Crystal White C40 Recharge Ultimate. The XC40 Recharge and the C40 Recharge share the same platform with the Polestar 2, using a 78-kWh battery that provides a range up to 364km and can be fast charged from 10% to 80% in about 37 minutes. The C40 Recharge comes standard with AWD and two electric motors, one in the front and the other in the rear providing 402 horsepower and 486 lb-ft of torque.
Acceleration is phenomenal as the C40 goes from 0-100km/h in 4.7 seconds! The C40 has a pleasant driving experience; with the battery pack stored underneath the seats, it has a lower center of gravity which handles well in corners. The steering is light, but you can firm it up if you want a sportier feel. The C40 Recharge features one pedal driving but you can turn that off, so it feels like you’re driving a normal car.
We think the C40 Recharge looks fantastic alongside its SUV counterpart. The front grille is closed off with a body-coloured panel to improve aerodynamics and a heated grille emblem to minimize frost/ice buildup.
The C40 Recharge is fitted with Pixel LED headlights that use 84 LED pixels in each headlamp which adapts to the road ahead without dazzling oncoming traffic. The sloping black contrast roof and 20” black diamond-cut wheels add to the sporty character of the C40 Recharge. The rear is what’s iconic about the C40. There are two fins at the top of the liftgate and a lower spoiler which improves range and stability. We love the vertical LED taillights that have their own animations when you unlock/lock the car.
The C40 Recharge offers a leather-free interior; our charcoal upholstery is made of recycled suede textile and a hi-tech synthetic material that feels like smooth leather. You can also opt for a wool blend interior. The carpet and door panel material are made of 100% recycled PET plastic bottles with an option for a contrasting Fjord Blue look. The interior is what you expect from a Volvo; supportive seats, a simplistic cabin layout with backlit topography trim, and a fantastic 600W 13 speaker Harman Kardon Premium Sound system.
The C40 Recharge features a 12.3” driver’s display and a 9” center touch screen that operates on Google OS which is also compatible with Apple CarPlay and includes a 4-year Google subscription service with Maps and Google Assistant.
The C40 Recharge doesn’t have a start button; as soon as you get in with the key fob, the car is ready to drive! With its low roof line, the rear visibility area is quite small, and taller passengers might feel cramped in the back. However, a fixed panoramic sunroof opens the cabin up and a 360-degree camera view helps with awareness. Cargo room is at 413L with the seats up and expands to 1205L folded down. There is an additional 31L of space in the frunk.
The C40 Recharge is fitted with Volvo’s latest safety features such as Pilot Assist (semi-autonomous drive system with adaptive cruise control), lane keeping aid, blind spot detection, and autonomous emergency braking with cyclists, pedestrians, and large animals’ detection.
Volvo says the C40 Recharge uses 23.9kWh/100KM (~2.7L/100KM) and we got 22.4kWh/100KM (~2.5L/100KM) for the time we had the vehicle. Charging at home wasn’t too difficult with an adapter for a normal household 110V outlet but it does take extremely long so installing a level 2 charger is recommended when deciding to purchase any EV.
We like that when it is charging, the cable is locked, and the driver’s display will tell you what time the car will reach 100%. We got a real-world range of 340KM which is sufficient for most people; we did not feel any range anxiety as Google Maps will tell you the battery life when you reach your destination and can help you find charging points along the way.
The C40 Recharge Core starts at $59,950, Plus at $69,995, and our Ultimate trim at $74,600. Creating an electric car has been an important focus in recent times and with the release of the C40 Recharge, demand has been so high that the Core trim is sold out for MY2023. The C40 Recharge is stylish at every angle, fun to drive, and fitted with tech and features that makes it distinctly Volvo. We think it is one of the better-looking coupe crossovers we’ve seen and the team at Volvo of Unionville is ready to help you get familiar with this vehicle or any other vehicles in the lineup.
