The electric Volvo C40 Recharge

Volvo’s success in our local market of late is something for the brand to rejoice in. Strong sales figures, orders that have slightly outpaced supply, but crucially reliable supply and satisfaction of orders, have meant the Swedish brand has kicked some tangible goals in the Australian market despite the challenges during and post the pandemic.

Volvo’s first step into the future takes the shape of the 2023 Volvo C40 Recharge. Now, it has to be said, that currently all new Volvos on sale in Australia feature some form of electrification, so it might be a stretch to call the C40 Recharge the ‘first’ step into the future. Still, it is Volvo’s first release of an all-new, dedicated electric vehicle model. It’s also the first Volvo to be completely leather-free. And, we expect demand to be strong.

The styling is attractive – think a coupe take on the already stylish XC40 – in the flesh. The C40 cuts a fine figure whether it’s parked up or out in traffic. As we’ve seen with Volvo in the past, the brand has opted not to shout from the rooftops that the C40 features electric technology beneath the skin. Rather, the C40 looks like a stylish Volvo from any angle.

Volvo will go head-to-head with its own stablemate Polestar with the new C40, not to mention the likes of Tesla and any number of newcomers. One thing we do know about electric vehicles is that new models and new manufacturers are coming to the party all the time. There’s little doubt also that the interest in electric vehicles is growing with pace in this country, and a quality offering from a renowned brand like Volvo will be positioned to succeed.

Two models are available, with the entry-grade C40 featuring a single electric motor and front-wheel drive, while the top of the range gets dual electric motors and all-wheel drive. Pricing starts from $74,990 before on-road costs for the single motor, and $82,490 before on-road costs for the dual motor. Drive-away pricing is listed in the table below and is indicative for Sydney. Interestingly, Volvo tells us that initial interest is slanting toward 90 per cent for the dual motor and 10 per cent for the single motor.

The standard equipment list is long – including safety – with LED head- and tail-lights and a panoramic glass roof standard for both C40s. Step up to the dual-motor model and you get special 20-inch wheels (19s are standard for the single motor), a premium Harman Kardon audio system, textile and microtech interior trim, and a 360-degree camera.

The cabin is very much as you’d expect from Volvo. That is, premium, insulated, well executed and cleverly designed. Volvo’s seats – regardless of model – are some of the best in the business, and the C40 is another one to add to that list. Regardless of height, the front two seats are comfortable, with excellent visibility from both. There’s a calm, insulated feel to the cabin, even on coarse-chip surfaces at 100km/h.

Storage up front is handy with decent door pockets, bottle holders in the doors, cupholders in the centre console, and a safe storage bin for smartphones, which also houses the wireless charging pad. Two USB-C connections and a 12-volt lighter-style socket take care of power delivery up front. There’s also a large enough centre console bin that doubles as the armrest when the lid is down.

In the second row, there’s space for adults, but if you’ve got really tall occupants up front, that space will be a little on the tight side. However, the second-row seat itself is sculpted neatly and broad enough for three kids or two adults. You get two USB-C chargers in the second row and controls for the heated outboard seats as well.

The luggage space has a useful flat floor, with storage space underneath for charging cables or smaller items, but there’s no spare tyre of any kind, so keep that in mind if you head too far off the beaten path. That space goes from 489L out to 1205L with the second row folded flat, and remains the same for both single- and twin-motor variants.

The C40’s infotainment system is typical of Volvo. That is, minimalist and effective. There’s an inherent simplicity to the system, which is operated via a 9.0-inch touchscreen. It features Google services, including mapping, and you get the aforementioned wireless phone charging. At launch, we tested the included Google mapping app, and Apple CarPlay worked faultlessly for us as well.

The screen is clear and easy to read, and it’s positioned neatly into the dash so it doesn’t feel like it’s too small. There are bigger screen on the market, but the C40’s is a good one. A 12.0-inch digital instrument display provides crucial driving and vehicle info as well.

When we spend more time with the C40 post launch, we’ll delve into the operating system a little deeper and test out the premium audio system in the dual-motor model.

The 2023 Volvo C40 Recharge has been awarded a maximum five-star safety rating from ANCAP in testing, having been tested recently and that rating applies to both models.

Strong scores included 92 per cent for adult occupant protection, 89 per cent for child occupant protection, 70 per cent for vulnerable road user protection, and 91 per cent for safety assist systems.

It’s fair to say that Volvo has hung its hat on safety for decades now, and as such, we expect each new Volvo to be a safe vehicle. With a five-star safety rating, Volvo has once again nailed that brief.

Across both models, the C40 Recharge comes standard with power-folding, auto-dimming exterior mirrors, an auto-dimming interior rear-view mirror, autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, front and rear parking sensors, automatic parking, and hill descent control.

A 360-degree-view camera system is reserved for the C40 Twin Motor model, but is the only safety tech difference between the two variants.

Volvo’s C40 is covered by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty, and the first three years of servicing are included. That covers buyers up to as much as 100,000km. You can then opt to buy a $1000 service package to cover the C40 for the next two years, meaning the outlay is $1000 across the first five years.

At the time of publishing, insurance quote info wasn’t yet available.

Please note, in the table below, we’ve contacted Volvo to expand on charge time info and will update this table when Volvo responds.

Measuring the efficiency of any vehicle on a tightly controlled launch drive is always difficult. The dual-motor variant we tested showed an average of 21.4kWh/100km over more than 1800km of driving, while the single motor showed an average of 23.5kWh over a similar distance. We’d actually expect those figures to be lower when you’re running around town specifically, so we’ll test them more closely when we get the C40 into the Drive garage.

The single motor uses a 69kWh battery, while the dual motor steps up to a 78kWh battery pack. Claimed ranges are 434km and 420km respectively. DC fast charging is available up to 150kW, meaning you can theoretically boost the single-motor variant from 10–80 per cent in as little as 32 minutes. The dual motor takes around 40 minutes for the same charge.

We’ve come to expect electric vehicles to feel their heft and be firm on the road, especially on choppy surfaces. Straight up, this is where the C40 Recharge was most impressive on rural South Australian roads.

Firstly, it didn’t feel as heavy – either behind the wheel or as a passenger – as its kerb weight would indicate. Secondly, the ride compliance in both models was excellent even on harsh surfaces. Our regional network around the country is pretty poor, and it’s not always the most flattering way to showcase a new electric vehicle, but the C40 was right at home.

Now, despite the undoubted ability of the dual-motor variant, you certainly don’t feel like you can’t get cranking in the single motor. 170kW and 330Nm with a 0–100km/h run of 7.4 seconds is more than enough for the average punter running round town day-to-day.

I reckon we often make too much of the speed of an electric vehicle, and certainly now when we test them with the mainstream daily driver in mind. As such, the single motor is more than enough vehicle for just about every occasion.

And yet, the dual-motor C40 is something of a weapon. Power steps up to 300kW, torque jumps to 660Nm, and the 0–100km/h takes just 4.7 seconds. That’s seriously quick for what is a practical family SUV. It feels fast, too, when you nail the throttle onto a freeway on ramp, or to get off the line speedily.

The seat-of-the-pants response is that it feels even faster than the 4.7-second claim. That said, the single-motor variant certainly doesn’t feel slow.

Beyond the ride, which remains impressive on any surface in both variants, the cabin is quiet and relaxed, the steering direct at any speed, and the brakes excellent no matter how many times you ask them to work hard. The C40 is a nicely sorted package, and solid evidence that a dedicated electric vehicle platform is advantageous to the end buyer.

The dual-motor version runs a constant 50/50 split, and there’s no complexity in terms of drive modes or switchable options. Just get in and drive however you feel comfortable.

On that note, simplicity is something Volvo is talking about repeatedly in our dealings with the manufacturer. Not just as a brand in regard to its vision for the future, but also within model ranges, where specifications and options have been focused in to make the buying and ownership prospective as easy as possible. Sick of buttons? There isn’t even a start button. Just get in and sit down, and the C40 is ready to go.

If there’s more specific detail you’d like to explore, let us know in the comments section below, but we’ll focus in on power consumption and range when we get a more tailored, longer test drive under our belt.

Aside from price, which won’t be in reach for everyone looking for an electric vehicle, it’s tough to argue the case against the C40 Recharge.

It’s a high-quality Volvo that just happens to be electric. The styling, the cabin, the control systems, and the drive experience, all deliver that calm and relaxed demeanour that makes any Volvo a great vehicle to own.

If you’re shopping for an electric vehicle, and clearly plenty of you are, add the stylish C40 Recharge to the list.