When launched first, the Volvo XC40 Recharge had automotive journalists pen down rave reviews. With two electric motors and outputs of 408PS and 670Nm, it boasted sportscar-rivalling performance. I didn’t get to drive it, but the XC40 Recharge Twin Motor has carved a niche for itself quickly, using all the virtues Volvo is known for to its advantage, besides its manic performance. And now Volvo has played it smart by launching its less powerful, single-motor version, which is priced slightly lower. Impressive sounding on paper, how does the XC40 Recharge feel in the real world? I spent a couple of days to decide.
There’s nothing to talk about on the design front as the XC40 Recharge Single Motor looks exactly the same as the Twin Motor. It misses out on a few features too but I’ll come to that later. The design looks contemporary and properly classy, though there are a few differences compared to the Twin Motor, like the fact that this one misses out on fog lamps and the pixel LED lighting. I also like the silhouette from the sides and overall, despite being around for a while, the XC40 Recharge is one good-looking vehicle. The interiors impress too, given the black theme and minimalistic design.
The dashboard and door trim contours look very appealing and very premium when lit by the ambient lighting, which offers a very premium vibe. That said, some of the plastics feel cheap, which shouldn’t be the case in a Volvo. The use of recycled materials for the seats and carpets is a nod to sustainability, besides which the seats are nice and comfortable and also feel very premium. There are lots of large storage spaces in the cabin, and despite its compact dimensions, the XC40 Recharge also feels spacious. The 9.0-inch portrait-mode touchscreen display feels a tad too small now, though it is excellent to use, be it in terms of touch sensitivity or ease of operation on the go, it feels a little outdated. Google integration is brilliant, but as an iPhone user, I was more at home connecting my phone using a cable for Apple CarPlay.
I also like the 12.3-inch instrument cluster display for its visual appeal, but more themes and customization options besides navigation in a wide format would have been welcome. Rear space is impressive too, especially knee room and legroom. The panoramic sunroof helps in adding to the luxury quotient. Overall, there’s a likeable feel inside but more importantly, this being the Single Motor version, it doesn’t feel lacking. That said, this one does miss out on a 360-degree view, meaning the rear camera is not great to use as only the bottom half of the portrait-oriented screen shows the view. The brilliant Harman Kardon sound system is gone too, though acoustics and overall audio quality will not give you a chance to complain.
The ‘Single Motor’ has the motor mounted onto the rear axle and offers 238PS and 420Nm, which is still very impressive. Performance is thus brisk but friendly, and the progressive throttle response means you or your passengers will not get jolted unnecessarily. Mash the pedal and there’s a nice, linear surge that makes for rapid takeoffs and helps when overtaking. Effectively, there’s ample performance on offer, and no way will you be left wanting more. Claimed 0-100kmph time is 7.3 seconds, which is quick! The XC40 Recharge thus comes across as a no-nonsense luxury EV, especially when considering its claimed range per charge of 475km (WLTP), from its 69kWh battery pack. You can thus expect between 350-400km per charge in the real world, which is just about fine. The Single Motor also supports DC fast charging up to 150kW, which will help for quick juice-ups.
An interesting feature is the option to choose auto mode for regenerative braking, which uses ADAS to calculate the distance to the vehicle ahead and modulates braking force accordingly. There’s an off-road mode in menu options as well, which makes the steering lighter and engages hill descent, besides which one-pedal driving is something I found myself resorting to on most occasions, especially in traffic. Of course, this is a Volvo and it feels like one while driving, as it offers a safe, comfortable feel along with low noise levels thanks to the excellent cabin insulation. In short, there’s not much to nit-pick in this luxury EV, except perhaps the want for more range.
Overall, the XC40 Recharge Single Motor ticks quite a few boxes and impresses. That said, retailing at ₹55 lakh ex-showroom, the Single Motor has a price difference of just three lakh rupees compared to the Twin Motor, which is barely any difference. Enthusiasts will perhaps ignore the savings and walk straight to the more powerful version, and even regular buyers might just follow suit. So while the Single Motor is impressive on its own, Volvo India needs to price it more aggressively to make it a better value proposition, especially as a Volvo.
