Is the 2023 Volvo XC40 Recharge a Worthy EV Competitor?
Volvo’s first compact EV SUV is well made and has a lot going for it, but does it make a big enough splash in a quickly growing EV market?
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In
Volvo’s
focused effort to go fully EV by 2030, all eyes are on the quality of EVs being put out now to give us a better understanding of where they’re going. The 2023 XC40 provides such an opportunity. Is it the
best compact SUV
on the market? Probably not. But with some added changes from last year, it holds its own and is a reliable bet for many people. Nothing wrong with being in the middle of the pack; just means there’s the right amount of room for improvement. What are the specs?
According to
Car and Driver
, the XC 40 Recharge comes with two motors; one that powers the front set of wheels and another for the backset, giving it full-time, all-wheel drive. With both of these motors working for it, the XC 40 puts out an impressive 402 horsepower and the instant torque gets it from 0-60 mph in a mere 4.3 seconds.
The car features a now commonly seen component for EVs which is the regenerative braking that allows for one-pedal driving.
Using a 75 kWh battery, the XC40 Recharge has an estimated range of 223 miles per charge. This puts it in the same general charging class as the Audi e-tron and the Jaguar I-Pace, all of which are behind the Tesla Model Y at more than 300 miles per charge.
All models come with DC fast charging capabilities as well as 240-volt at-home charging.
Storage for days
The interior, particularly the storage, of the XC40 Recharge is surprisingly spacious for the overall size of the car.
While very similar to the spacing of the gas-powered XC40, there are a few EV-specific features like the welcome “frunk” (front trunk since the motor is underneath the car. With its rear seats folded down, the vehicle fits an impressive 23 carry-on suitcases.
Screen display and connectivity
With the XC40 Recharge, Volvo has done away with their Sensus Connect software in exchange for the snappy Android Automotive by Google.
While the functionality of the software itself has been well received, the physical size and button layout on the small 12.3-inch screen has received their fair share of criticism.
This hangup aside, the collaboration with Google has a lot of pros to it and will willingly connect to Apple products as well.
The price
While not as demanding of a price as the Audi e-tron or Tesla Model Y, the XC40 Recharge isn’t a cheap EV SUV. The base model, Twin, starts at $54,465. The Twin Plus comes in at $57,345 and the Twin Ultimate is $60,595.
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