A transitional model for Volvo that doesn’t go quite far enough

In our road test of the Tesla Model Y a few weeks ago, we concluded it was

“a far better electric car than a premium SUV”. The Volvo C40 is the opposite, but doesn’t pull it off quite as well.

Where the Tesla is a technically brilliant exercise that is easy to dislike for the more conservative buyer, the Volvo is an EV in which people who have been buying Volvos for years will feel right at home from the start. It has the comfy seats, solid build quality and pleasant but unremarkable driving dynamics we have come to expect from the brand. In 402bhp Recharge Twin form, the C40 is also startlingly fast.

However, that doesn’t make up for the C40’s failings as an electric SUV. Its range, efficiency and interior space fall short of the class average and perceived quality is also not up to usual Volvo standards. The unconventional subscription pricing model might appeal to some but makes price comparisons difficult for consumers.

The C40 is a decent, likeable car, but Volvo’s breakthrough EV ought to have more premium appeal and make better use of its big battery.