Volvo XC40 Recharge
REPORT 2
£45,750 OTR/£48,085 as tested/£761pcm
WHY IT’S HERE
Is this electrified crossover as good as a bespoke EV from Polestar?
DRIVER
Jack Rix
WHEN IT CAME TO DIVVYING UP THE M8 AND XC40 FOR CHRISTMAS it was inevitable that papa here was going to end up with the sensible beige Volvo while Rowan being young and child free was destined to zing about in the Beemer And I’m OK with that for haulage of family and sacks of presents plus round trips to my parents and the in laws it was just as a Volvo should be rock solid quietly capable and every journey except for two screaming over sugared children was stress free
This could have been so different because if I’m honest the range of the XC is way off the pace I saw a mile estimated range from a full charge one averagely chilly morning over miles down on the WLTP figure For a premium near k SUV that’s not enough
Volvo knows this because as I type an updated XC Recharge has been announced The big news is the single motor version is now rear not front drive like ours And despite the battery staying at kWh improved efficiency means WLTP range jumps to miles which is a bit more like it More interesting than that is a new long range single motor version with a more powerful bhp motor and a bigger kWh battery for a claimed range of miles which finally feels like the numbers this car deserves
Because range aside the driving experience is really nicely judged well damped suspension and steering armchair comfortable seats a cocoon from the outside world At first I recoiled from the overly aggressive regen mode but now I’m a big fan you can feather out some of the ferocity by not lifting off completely but it brings you to a complete stop when you need to Proper one pedal driving But there are signs all over that this is an ageing car and an EV retrofit on a combustion engine platform The lack of a flat floor across the front the lack of a front trunk that range the absence of wireless CarPlay