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Volvo SA has launched its second model in its EV range, the C40 Recharge, following last year’s introduction of the XC40 Recharge in P6 (single electric motor) and P8 (twin electric motors) guises. This is part of the Swedish marque’s strategy to become a fully electric car company by 2030 and reach a 50% global sales coverage mix of fully electric models and the balance being hybrid by 2025.
While this seemed an ambitious undertaking when it was announced in 2021, the firm seems to be on the right trajectory, having abandoned diesel for mild petrol hybrid models in its core models, all the while offering full EV models, with more in the pipeline in the form of the EX30 and EX90. Unveiled in 2022, the C40 marks Volvo Cars’ first standalone EV nameplate with the model being built from the ground-up as exclusively fully electric as opposed to being based on an existing model such as the XC40, which also comprises petrol powered variants.
The svelte-looking C40 is, in essence, an XC40 from the front bumper right up to the b-pillar in design, but from there on the former takes on a more coupe-like silhouette, which should make it more distinct and attract a slightly different buyer profile as a result. Although I am of the view that the C40 is more than likely to cannibalise on the XC40 Recharge P8 as these are priced quite similarly. I guess, much like most things, time will remain the only constant barometer. Powering the C40 is a 78kWh battery and twin electric motors, one on each axle. As a result, the net power output is 300 kW and 660 Nm giving this Swedish compact SUV a sprint from rest to 100 km/h in 4.7 seconds.
That’s quite brisk, but there is more to this car than just performance, and that can be found in the cabin. For starters, there’s no iota of leather used in the interior as part of the company’s sustainability manufacturing processes. So, instead, there is recycled materials used on the door padding, which are an acquired taste if I’m honest, but I get the idea behind them. There is also a topography inspired, glowing dashboard insert that emits a soft white glow under the night sky. Meanwhile, most of the car’s functionalities are housed within the Google-based infotainment screen, which is quite intuitive to use once accustomed to, thanks to the smartphone-like operation. Audiophiles have also been well accommodated by the standard, thumping 600 W Harman/Kardon sound system.
On a full charge, the C40 has a claimed driving range of 444 km and we will soon put this to the test, in varying driving conditions, to see how close to that figure we can get. Our launch drive in Cape Town consisted of mostly urban driving, where we put the model’s regenerative braking mechanism to the test, which essentially converts the synchronous motors’ kinetic energy into electrical energy during coasting. This, when used regularly, can incrementally improve electric driving range during each trip. It’s a clever mechanism that when used efficiently, can omit one from using the brakes to slow down the vehicle. As mentioned, performance is one of the C40’s fortes as it offers instantaneous, neck-flexing acceleration, which can be addictive and effective to dispense with from the traffic lights any pesky would-be hot hatch.
According to Volvo the C40 is capable of up to 150kW of charging power on a public DC charger, which means charging the battery pack from 10 to 80 % in just 37 min - enough time to grab a cup of coffee and catch-up on emails. Once again, this is yet another aspect we will put to the test and report on, so do keep your eyes on these pages in the next few weeks. Range anxiety, with the improvement of EV battery technology, is becoming less of an overarching burden for EV ownership although the still handful number of public chargers in urban areas and along main highway corridors, remains a bone of contention.
At R1 285 000, the C40 is not the cheapest compact EV SUV, but it definitely is the most powerful, which balances out the power versus capital outlay equation. The BMW iX1 and Mercedes-Benz EQB at R1 140 000 and R1 305 000 respectively are the Volvo C40’s closest rivals in terms of offering AWD (all wheel drive) traction, but both are almost 100 kW down on power.
While SA remains but a blot in the grand scheme of things as far as EV markets go, the world is quickly moving towards this form of propulsion and we ought to gear up for this or lest our local auto manufacturing industry becomes obsolete as the demand for combustion engined cars wanes and ceases altogether. The Volvo C40 could possibly come in much cheaper than is currently the case, but the government’s crippling tax structure for EVs means, once again, the technology remains out of reach for most. That, however, doesn’t detract from the fact that the Volvo C40, at least on first impressions, has a great deal to offer.
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