Green new deal
The way you buy Volvo’s first electric-only model is more interesting than how it drives
Cars are becoming more and more like smartphones everyday. Take this Volvo C40 Recharge – it’s powered by batteries and the infotainment runs Android software. And just like a smartphone, most people will run it on an all-inclusive contract, described by Volvo as ‘effortless and joyful’ (£729 monthly cost aside).
More pertinently it’s Volvo’s first vehicle available exclusively with electric power and its first foray into the divisive world of the coupe-SUV. It’ll also be exclusively available to buy online – either as a cash purchase for the five per cent of people so inclined, or on a lease/maintenance/ warranty/insurance package called Care by Volvo. So is the C40 a new iPhone that’s going to take the world by storm, or another Windows Phone doomed to fail?
Just like the XC40 Recharge, the C40 produces a plentiful 402bhp from its twin electric motors (a single-motor rear-drive version will eventually go on sale too). It’s swift enough to leave even the quickest Audi Q4 e-Tron or Mercedes EQA at the lights but the real perk is effortless motorway performance.
Driving is all about simplicity over endless choice. No starter button or handbrake – the car’s on and ready when you step in, and switches itself off when it’s locked.
One-pedal mode allows regen braking to a full stop and negates the need to touch the brakes in most situations. Its combination of weight and height makes for plenty of bodyroll, and with remote-feeling steering there’s little fun in hustling the C40. Still, it rides well on our test car’s 20-inch wheels; busy at lower speeds but comfortable loping along the motorway.
Range-wise you’ll get 273 miles out of the battery’s 75kWh usable capacity; less than the best Q4 e-Tron or Tesla Model 3 but more than the EQA’s 265-mile claim. Find a 150kW charger and it’ll reach 80 per cent in 40 minutes.
The interior’s largely shared with the XC40. Vegan materials abound, along with 3D-printed decorative panels. You also get that Android-based infotainment system, with native support for Google Maps and Google Assistant, which offers superior voice commands to any regular car system we’ve tried.
First verdict
No new ground broken here but drives as well as most of its rivals. More exciting Volvo EVs should follow before too long #####