Why we used it: To see if the Volvo XC40 Recharge, Volvo’s smallest battery-powered SUV, can be a weekend companion
XC40 recharge in the fleet – February 8, 2023
“You’re kidding, it’s my dream car!” my husband said when news of the Volvo XC40 arrived. At this point, I hadn’t been able to tell him that it would be electric, and since we live in a third-floor apartment downtown, I think that’s the right decision for now. More information to come.
Volvo’s have long been a divisive choice, especially with the lingering stigma of being an antique dealer/old man/dad. Even now, I get the answer “Really? A Volvo? Yes, really. And I’m excited. This is my second place, I had already had a new V40 D2 2015 (in R-Design specification, of course), which I enjoyed and hated having to sell.
The new style in question is the small electric SUV from the existing Volvo range. The XC40 Recharge is somewhat dazzling to look at (ours has a sage green finish) that holds up on the road as well as any existing SUV on sale. It has a presence to that of the new Land Rover Defender 90, also tall and stocky.
With a starting value of close to £45,000, it’s also fine and, indeed, in the premium segment of electric SUVs. infotainment formula, and on the most productive trip you will find in this variety of prices or even in the previous one.
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Volvo’s XC40 hits the premium compact SUV crowd and hits the nail on the head with design, capability and driving style.
Others obviously agree, as it was the ninth best-selling electric vehicle in Europe last November and Volvo’s best-selling style (in any form of powertrain) last year, with a total of 84,132 cars moved.
Our picture model is in the mid-tier Plus edition (a larger interior and some impeccable exterior touches), which raised the value of access by just under £8000. £925 option.
Volvo promises a diversity of 262 miles with the XC40’s 69kWh battery for this price. Not bad. However, that dream vanished immediately after my first rate of one hundred percent, which had to be done on a 10-minute walk, given my lack of domestic/driveway qualifier, with a diversity of 170 miles. True, it’s 6 degrees C outside, however, it’s a big splash. And with a 120-mile trip, the plan to re-qualify each day seemed to be in tatters.
On the driving side, the XC40 passes almost successfully. Its sleek driving and easy-to-use one-click cruise control, assisted via Advanced Lane Keep Pilot mode (but to get used to), make it easy to take the road. . Just a little too much road noise will be lowered.
The diversity disappears when you get to 70 mph (I went home with less than 30 miles on the clock), which looks like this car, the 228-hp single-engine edition, was designed more like a round-trip intercity ride than a longer remote. Commute to work.
Still, if you’re ordering an EV variant of the XC40 now, the timeouts mean the styling will come with a new rear-wheel drive setup rather than the front-wheel drive of that style. Volvo claims this replacement improves power and therefore range, which increases to 286 miles.
Other positives of our test car come from the Google-derived infotainment formula (it works exactly like Google Home with voice assistance: “Okay, Google. . . “) and the vertically oriented central display compatible with Google Maps. But a little a week later, the crisis came: the sound stopped working. And only the radio, but also the signals and warnings of the sensor; Everything comes out of the speakers. Not very well. Luckily, YouTube provided the solution and a formula to reset it.
This is not the only information and entertainment problem. The bloodless weather makes it slow and buggy, which is especially infuriating in recent biting weather when I’m looking to adjust weather settings or turn on my heated seat (controls for either of which, of course, are now hidden on the screen). One last complaint: you can activate or deactivate the driving mode of a pedal only in the settings menu on the screen, which compares unfavorably to switching to the driver of the Volkswagen ID 4.
Either way, those are minor messes in a car that otherwise solves the messes. With room for five adults (four in maximum comfort), a trip from Southampton to Bristol was a piece of cake and no legroom messes were heard. The heated rear seats were namely popular with passengers.
Christmas, the weather that comes too temporarily and requires a lot of coming and going across the country, also felt comfortable in the XC40. I’m more used to my BMW Z4, with its trunk the length of a kitchen drawer, so by comparison, Volvo’s 452-litre delivery looks like the Tardis. He swallowed the gifts for two families without making a fuss (though the back seats were lowered to help with Dad’s new golf mat). And if you want more space, those rear seats can be flattened. pulling a lever and not having to worry about seat belts. It really is a practical and familiar vehicle.
In short, it feels like you’re in a car designed to make life easier and, so far, it is.
Second opinion
This XC40 is a car that reassures other people about transitioning from ICE to EV, because overall it’s still Volvo. It is comfortable, quiet, flexible in potholes and still practical. containment of cruising speeds on open roads), but in all other respects it is true to the values of its logo.
Steve Croley
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Specs: New value £45,750 Test price £53,525 Options Textile upholstery and microtech Connect £925, premium metallic paint £850
Test data: Single-engine RWD engine, 69 kWh battery Power 228 bhp Torque 243 lb ft Weight in running order 2030 kg Top speed 99 mph 0-62 mph 7. 4 s Range 262 miles Economy 3. 3 mpkWh CO2 0 g/km Defects Infotainment problems Expenses None
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Four5K and you get a cruise as standard, you deserve to be a wonderful automatic car. Oh yes, to get Google loose, after four years it’s no longer loose, wake other people up. Why do you think automakers are racing with Google to remove loose built-in satellite navigation, etc.
Volvo is obsessed with subscriptions, Google is obsessed with being its 24/7 passenger for a subscription, of course.
I think most people have to settle for that potential EV diversity is just a mistake!
Remove 30% (40-45 when freezing in winter) of the indicated diversity to get a real figure in my 18 months with a Tesla Model 3