Stylish Volvo provides plenty of power
C40 Recharge offers optional one-pedal drive and 364-kilometre driving range
The launch of the C40 Recharge is a part of Volvo's push to become an electric vehicle leader. It is heavily based on the XC40, but its exterior styling is quite different.
The raked rear roofline gives it a coupe-like profile. This does put a minor crimp in overall utility, but if you value form over function, it works. And the tail-light treatment is stunning.
At the heart of the C40 is a 78-kilowatt-hour battery that delivers 364 kilometres of driving range from a full charge. In the warmth of Palm Springs, Calif., where we tested the vehicle, it delivered that range handily. It takes eight hours to recharge the battery using a Level 2 charger, but a 50-kW DC fast charger can fill it to 80 per cent in 68 minutes. Forget the 110-volt option, which takes 40 hours to top off the battery.
The battery powers two electric motors, each producing 201 horsepower and 243 pound-feet of torque. The upshot is a net system output of 402 hp and, more importantly, 486 lb-ft of instant-on torque. Each electric motor drives an axle through a single-speed transmission to give the C40 an all-wheel-drive extension. As a package, it all works very nicely. It pops off the line with authority and has a strong mid-range; a run to 100 m/h in 4.7 seconds underscores the potency at play.
One of the C40's key assets is the one-pedal drive, which uses aggressive regenerative braking so the driver can control the vehicle using the accelerator pedal alone. Kudos to Volvo for allowing the preferred regeneration mode to be saved as the driver's preference. This means it doesn't have to be activated every time.
One-pedal driving is not for everyone, so Volvo allows the driver to turn this feature off. Doing this lets it drive like a normal crossover, but it appears to lose some of its ability to harvest waste energy and return it to the battery.
The C40's suspension rides a fine line. It is comfortable in the city and it limits body roll to a handful of degrees when pushed down a twisty road. Yes, the 2,100-kilogram mass is obvious, and the C40 does tend to understeer when pushed toward the limit, but the steering is quick and responsive. The P235/45R20 front and P255/40R20 rear tires deliver lots of grip, but also widen the turning circle.
Volvo likes to be different, and accessing the cabin and driving away is a good example. The driver simply walks up to the C40 with the fob in a pocket or purse, opens the door, puts the seatbelt on, and shifts into drive. There is no ignition key to turn or button to press. At your destination, it's more of the same. Put the C40 in park, get out, close the door and walk away.
The cabin is well executed, with front seats being among the most comfortable in the business. The materials follow the green theme; many are derived from recycled pop bottles, polyester or other plastics. The execution is first rate, which gives it a sense of richness in spite of being vegan friendly. And the C40 is the first Volvo with a leather-free interior.
There are, however, a couple of minor peeves. The configurable dash does not display much information about the range left in the battery. It has a little battery percentage readout, but that's about it. The lack of meaningful numbers mandates using the infotainment screen if you want more detailed information; when the battery dips below 30 per cent, you want detailed information on the remaining range.
Second, the new Androidbased infotainment system is a mixed blessing. The Google apps, maps and a superb Harman Kardon sound system are all great features. And to get a more immersive experience, Volvo recommends logging in to a Google account for more options, including the Google Play app store.
Unfortunately, the new system is not as intuitive as the outgoing one. For example, in the previous system, turning off the lane departure warning was as simple as swiping left to reveal the safety features and then touching the appropriate icon. Now you have to touch the setting icon in the corner of the screen, go to the Driving menu and then scroll down to find the function to deactivate. The fact the system does not support Apple CarPlay at this point underscores the teething problems.
Finally, there is plenty of space for the rear outboard riders, and they enjoy heated seats. The middle spot is not so friendly because the central tunnel gets in the way. The C40's cargo space is 489 litres seats up and 1,205 L when folded flat. The swoopy tail means there's less space than in the XC40. The 2022 Volvo C40 Recharge is on sale now with a Canadian price of $76,200. The only option is metallic paint ($900).