Volvo’s XC40 is one of the best value premium compact crossovers with its chic styling, comfortable and unpretentious quality interior, decent powertrain, and a long list of standard features. The XC40 Recharge loses the gas tank and four-cylinder engine to replace them with a battery pack and electric motors for 402 horsepower. The 2023 models carry over into 2024, but a new single-motor setup will be available with longer range. The 2023 XC40 we drove had an estimated range of 223 miles, but it’s the outputs of 402 hp and 486 lb-ft of torque that impress. That’s a lot of punch for a small crossover and plenty of range for its city-dwelling demographic.
Styling: City Slicking
The XC40’s sibling, the C40, has a sleeker fastback style design, but the XC40 sticks to practicality as, effectively, a raised hatchback. For 2023, though, the XC40 inherited the newer C40’s bumper and grille as a styling update, along with its sharper LED headlamps.
There are three trims available, starting with the Core at $53,550. Volvo doesn’t mess about with different levels of drivetrain, so going to the top of the range isn’t, relatively speaking, in premium terms, a massive step up to $59,500.
Interior: Pure Volvo
Inside, you’ll find no start button as there’s a pressure monitor in the seat performing its job, and that seat is made using vegan-friendly upholstery. The interior gets Volvo’s usual excellent fit and finishes and there’s a light and airy feel inside. It’s not too cramped in the back for tall adults on shorter journeys. The driver’s seat sits the driver high and upright, but it’s easy to find a comfortable driving position. There’s no compromise over the original XC40’s interior and cargo space, meaning the Recharge is hugely practical despite its smaller packaging.
Volvo’s infotainment system is in need of a refresh, but the large portrait-oriented touchscreen is quick and easy to use and features Google Built-In, although having the HVAC controls via the screen isn’t ideal and a lack of wireless Apple Carplay will put off some buyers. The top trim gets an excellent Harman Kardon sound system as well as an air purification system.
Powertrain: It’s Quick
The dual motor system powered by a 75.0-kWh battery pack makes the gas and hybrid XC40 look slow. It produces healthy outputs giving the XC40 Recharge a 0-60 second time of around 4.5 seconds. At this point, a smooth delivery of electric power is expected, and the XC40 is on point. There’s no fuss as the XC40 ramps up to speed, and there’s still more available for overtaking slower traffic – ideal for a premium vehicle venturing into the luxury space.
Charging generally takes 20-30 minutes to go from 10 to 80 percent battery capacity at 150kW. Allow more time on most public fast chargers, though. We found going from 40 to 80 percent took around 40 minutes on a 65kW charger.
On The Road: Pleasent Driving
Although the dual-motor XC40 is quick, it’s not a sports car; the low center of gravity lends itself well to getting a hustle on, however. Throw it about, and passengers won’t enjoy the chassis lean in corners, but they will appreciate the suspension when you drive like a normal human being. The suspension is smooth, despite the car’s weight, and happy to soak up bumps on choppier pavement.
One thing Volvo is incredibly good at is consistency in driving feel. Like everything else in Volvo’s range, the XC40 is easy to drive in every way. The steering is quick without being finicky at any point, visibility is great, and the numerous safety and driver aids stay out of the way until it’s absolutely necessary to warn you about something.
Conclusion: The Right Car For The Right Lifestyle
No doubt someone in the comments will deride the XC40’s sub-300-mile range, but it’s designed to be a car for city dwellers, and, in that price range, they’ll have a garage with a charger fitted. For someone rarely putting in over 100 miles, it would be silly to cart around a larger battery pack. If someone is logging in that many miles a day, the single-motor long-range version is available for 2024.
As a daily driver, there’s little to fault the XC40 Recharge. Keyless ignition takes a whole minute to get used to and Google users don’t even need to hook a phone up to the infotainment. This still strikes us as a bit weird, because we literally carry computers in our pockets, and having it all over again as a feature in a car is redundant. We prefer wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and then the wireless charger makes more sense on the upper trims.
The Tesla Model Y and Ford Mustang Mach-E are quicker in their performance-focused trims, but that’s like worrying about cargo space in a supercar – it’s just not why you buy it, and the same is true here. The XC40 Recharge is plenty quick enough and beats the competition in driving and interior comfort while matching or exceeding utility.
If you’re buying a small premium electric crossover for its speed and range, you’re doing it wrong and should be looking at a sedan or coupe. If you’re looking for a small but useful and great-to-drive electric crossover in the premium bracket, the XC40 Recharge should be at the top of your list to test drive.