BUY, LEASE OR FINANCE A VOLVO XC40 RECHARGE PURE ELECTRIC FROM OSV: https://bit.ly/3x1bkzX

The XC40 Recharge Pure Electric AWD is pretty much everything you'd expect a Volvo full-EV model to be. This fashionable battery-powered compact premium SUV features a state-of-the-art fully-electric all-wheel-drive powertrain that offers a WLTP-rated range of up to 260 miles on a single charge and an output of 408hp. The drawback is premium pricing but otherwise, a lot of boxes seem to have been ticked here.

TIMESTAMPS
00:00​​​​ Introduction
00:48 Background
03:43 Driving Experience
08:34 Design & Build
18:03 Market & Model Range
32:51 Cost of Ownership
38:46​​​ Summary

Background

You might be surprised that it's taken so long for Volvo to bring us a full-EV: the marque was, after all, one of the very first to popularise Plug-in hybrid electrification in its cars. Or, conversely, if you know the industry, you might be surprised that this Gothenburg maker is selling any kind of EV at all. In recent years after all, this Swedish manufacturer's Chinese Geely parent company has dictated that development of full-battery power should be largely delegated to Volvo's all-electric subsidiary brand, Polestar.

It seems not. Volvo wants (and needs in view of current European directives) to dramatically increase the sales percentage of its electrified models and that can't be done merely by concentrating on mild hybrid and plug-in hybrid engineering. Plus the XC40 sits on the same CMA platform used for the Polestar 2 model, so it was pretty straightforward to create a milkfloat mobility version of this little SUV. Mind you, with 408hp on tap, this car is a long way from milkfloat mobility...

Driving Experience

This AWD Pure Electric XC40 uses the larger 78kWh battery pack and twin electric motor set-up (one on each axle) that we've already seen on the top version of the extremely rapid Polestar 2 EV sports saloon. There's 408hp on tap (yes, you heard that right), which seems like it'd be rather excessive for the needs of most likely customers. Which is probably why Volvo is also offering lower-powered front driven versions of this Pure Electric Recharge model. But in this AWD variant, you have to have the gutsiest powerpack, which sprints you to 62mph from rest in just 4.9s with more torque than you'd get in a Nissan GT-R super sports car - 660Nm of it, at which point, the motor's spinning at a heady 14,000rpm.

The driving range on offer isn't quite what you'd get from that equivalent Polestar 2 - or some notable rivals. Volvo quotes a best of up to 260 miles, which is 32 miles less than the Polestar 2's figure, that deficit being down to this XC40's boxier shape. To get the claimed mileage, you'll need to engage what the Swedish maker calls 'One Pedal Drive', selectable from the 'Driving' menu provided on this centre-dash screen. This dramatically increases the regenerative braking effect when you come off the throttle, to the point where, as advertised, the brake pedal will hardly ever be needed.

Design and Build

The main visual difference marking out this full-electric P8 XC40 model is its blanked-off front grille, which is rarely a great adornment for an EV - and isn't here. That panel's there of course because there's no engine to cool. Pop the bonnet and what you'll actually find is a useful 31-litre 'frunk' stowage space. You'll find this a usual place to chuck the charging cables into so that they don't end up getting in the way of everything in the boot.

At the wheel, there are few giveaways to this Volvo's battery-powered remit, save for a few EV-specific electronic gauges. Delve into the workings of the central portrait-style 9-inch screen and you'll find that the infotainment system is powered by Android, which means you get a raft of over-the-air Google features, including Maps and YouTube Music built in. What else might you need to know about the cabin? Well because the XC40's basic architecture was designed to accommodate a full-electric powertrain from the start, there are no compromises over combustion versions when it comes to rear seat legroom. Or luggage space. Which is just as well because trunk capacity isn't huge, though the 452-litre capacity figure will probably be quite sufficient for the needs of most owners.

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