A few years into its life cycle, the Volvo XC40 Recharge, the brand’s first electric vehicle introduced in 2019, has received some updates for 2024.
While the styling remains unchanged, the XC40 Recharge receives a new powertrain, a rear-wheel drive single-motor version that increases the vehicle’s useful range.
The XC40 is offered in three trims, the Core, Plus and Ultimate trim, which was our tester.
Pricing starts at $63,488 for the Core with RWD powertrain, while the Ultimate tester is significantly higher at $75,788.
Powertrain: The motor in the XC40 is a 185-kW permanent magnet e-motor at the rear of the vehicle which delivers 248 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. It is paired to an automatic transmission.
One thing that takes some time to get used to is the lack of a start/stop button, as the vehicle will automatically recognize the key being in the vehicle and as soon as you shift the vehicle into gear, it will turn on, and automatically turn off when you exit.
The 82-kWh battery provides a range of up to 472 kilometres, which is excellent numbers for this EV wagon and a significant increase of 15 per cent over the previous offering.
Unlike other EVs I have tested, unlocking the doors does not release the charging cable from the power port. You need to hit a button near the charge handle to release the cable.
Exterior: Although the powertrain was updated for 2024, nothing has changed in terms of styling. While the XC40 Recharge is quite boxy, it still has an overall nice shape. The two-tone exterior paint scheme and nice 19-inch wheels definitely make the XC40 feel like the premium vehicle that it is.
Interior: Part of the selling points for the XC40 EV is the use of recycled or more eco-friendly materials, and that carries through to the cabin environment – even in the Ultimate trim.
The upgraded suede/microtech fabric for the comfortable seating is made up of partially recycled seat panels.
Overall, the cabin interior is clean and simple, which has its pros and cons. The minimalist design results in a dependence on the screen for many controls, which is not always the easiest to navigate.
A neat feature I found quite eye-catching is the patterned trim above the glove box, that illuminates at night and is quite elegant.
I found the amount of storage in the XC40 to be generous, and being an EV, you benefit from an extra storage compartment under the front hood for smaller items.
Infotainment: The tablet-style infotainment screen in the XC40 is pretty much a one-stop shop for many of the controls in the XC40, in addition to the actual audio system.
And herein lies the issue. The reliance on the screen for so many systems and controls can be problematic, and I found the interface to be less than user-friendly. While the response time is good, the fact you need to navigate extra touches to do simple things is not ideal in my eyes.
That said, the tester did have a very nice sound system in the form on a premium Harman Kardon setup, with 13 speakers and a subwoofer. That is a lot of speaker power for a vehicle this size.
Drive: Out on the road, the XC40 Recharge delivers a pleasant, even fun-to-drive experience. The acceleration response is lightning quick, and handling is very good. Despite the RWD setup, the XC40 feels very balanced on the road. Road noise is kept to a bare minimum in the cabin.
While the cold weather affected the range a little bit during my week with the vehicle, I found it to be sufficient for what most owners would need this for and only really needed to charge the vehicle once during my test with it.
Conclusion: This is a very good electric vehicle despite the annoyances that come from the over reliance on the screen for so many controls.
It offers a unique, elevated exterior design, the cabin is very comfortable, and the driving experience is superb.
2024 Volvo XC40 Recharge
2024 Volvo XC40 Recharge
2024 Volvo XC40 Recharge
2024 Volvo XC40 Recharge
2024 Volvo XC40 Recharge
The nearly 80K price tag for our tester seems a bit high, however, so you might want to consider lesser trims which are still well equipped.
2024 Volvo XC40 Recharge Ultimate
Price as tested: $75,788.00
Freight: $2,620.00
Configuration: Single engine/Rear-wheel drive
Power/torque: 248 horsepower/ 310 lb-ft of torque
Battery Capacity: 82 kWh
Estimated Range: 472 kilometres
Warranties: 4-years/80,000 km (basic)
Competitors: Audi Q4 E-Tron, Genesis GV60
Website: Volvo Canada