Review: Volvo C40 Recharge Pure Electric – The first Volvo designed from the ground up as an EV

Are you set for the emerging generation of Volvo? The Volvo C40 Recharge Pure Electric Twin Motor EV is the first car in the company’s past to be crafted explicitly as an EV. For this reason, it’s one of the most remarkable blends of safety, power, and invention in a handy, metropolitan package.

The Volvo C40 Recharge Pure Electric Twin is a one-of-a-kind vehicle that is perfect for those who want to experience the thrill of a powerful electric vehicle while also enjoying the convenience of a crossover that’s at home darting down a side street or carving up the freeway out of town.

Introduction to the Volvo C40 Recharge Pure Electric Twin

The Volvo C40 Recharge Pure EV is based on the same platform as the Volvo XC40 and is powered by either a 69 kWh or 78 kWh lithium-ion battery that provides a range of up to 450 kilometres on a single charge. The Volvo C40 Recharge is available with a choice of single or twin motor drive – powering the front wheels or all four. Moreover, in the Twin motor version we tested, the front motor has a power output of 150 kW and the rear motor another 150kW – quite a punch. The Volvo C40 Recharge Pure Electric Twin has a top speed of 180 km/h and can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.7 seconds – which is impressive for a mid-sized crossover weighing over 2,100kg.

What Makes the Volvo C40 Recharge Pure Electric Twin Special?

The 2022 Volvo C40 Recharge Pure Electric Twin is a vehicle that is sure to stand out in the crowd. This vehicle has been designed with luxury, performance, and innovation in mind, making it the perfect choice for those who want to experience the thrill of a powerful electric vehicle.

This vehicle has been designed with aerodynamics in mind, which helps to improve the vehicle’s overall performance and range. The exterior of the vehicle also features a unique lighting system that includes LED headlights, taillights, and daytime running lights, giving the vehicle a distinct look that will turn heads wherever you go.

The interior of the Volvo C40 Recharge Pure Electric Twin has been designed with luxury and convenience in mind. The vehicle comes with a spacious and comfortable cabin that is excellent on long drives. The vehicle also features a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 9-inch portrait infotainment system that make it easy to stay connected and entertained while on the go. The Volvo C40 Recharge Pure Electric Twin also offers a variety of convenience features such as a wireless charging pad, a heated steering wheel, and ventilated seats.

Exterior Design

The exterior design of the Volvo C40 Recharge Pure Electric Twin is sure to turn heads wherever you go. This vehicle has a modern and athletic look that will make a statement. For a small crossover – 4.43m L x 1.87m W x 1.58m H – there are many subtle edges and small winglets helping to make the C40 Recharge as slippery as possible. Above the rear window are two small extensions to the roof and a tiny fixed spoiler on the boot lid. Nothing outrageous.

The vehicle is equipped with a unique lighting system that includes LED headlights, taillights, and daytime running lights. The exterior of the vehicle also features a smooth and aerodynamic body that helps to improve the vehicle’s overall performance and range.

Choose from one of 7 vibrant colours for your Volvo C40 Recharge Pure Electric Twin – all without any additional cost! Rock 19-inch wheels if you are going for the Single motor version, or level up with 20-inch 5-Spoke Black Diamond-cut Alloy wheels for the Twin motor.

Interior Design

When you step into the Volvo C40 Recharge Pure Electric, you can look forward to a luxurious and serene ride – as all Volvos now deliver. The C40 offers a spacious and cozy cabin that’s perfect for long drives. The 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster is simple to use in any light. Head-up display would be a good addition.

Experience the thrill of the Volvo C40 Recharge with its easy-to-use 9-inch touchscreen interface mounted in the dash! Embedded with the brilliance of Google, it allows you to control navigation, climate, and phone calls with just your voice. Passengers can also enjoy the fun of controlling the HVAC system on the touchscreen, with its intuitive and user-friendly menu structure!

The C40 Recharge also offers a variety of convenience features, such as heated seats all around, a heated steering wheel and a wireless charging pad. However, keep an eye on your phone on the charging pad. On a couple of occasions, it overheated my smartphone and caused issues with Apple Car Play and Android Auto.

Other interior features include beautifully backlit topography decor inlays in the doors and dash with a high gloss piano black centre console that would impress Henry Steinway. To that you can add power adjustable driver’s seat with memory and 4-way adjustable lumbar support, power-adjustable passenger seat, three-spoke sport design multi-function steering wheel, automatically dimmed frameless inner and exterior mirrors, 2-Zone Electronic Climate Control including Volvo’s impressive CleanZone Interior Air Quality System, and Airborne Particulate Matter Sensor.

Reat-seat comfort is more than adequate for two. You might find it a bit of a squeeze for three people in the back. The rear luggage space is good for an EV, and the front trunk is undoubtedly suitable for the weekly shop of a couple of school bags.

Performance and Range

The 2022 Volvo C40 Recharge Pure Electric Twin is a discreet powerhouse, and it’s clear that environmental impact was part of the design brief. Our test car featured a dual-motor system that pumped out an astounding 300kW and 660Nm of torque, completely emission-free! The performance speaks for itself – 0-100km/h in 4.7 seconds and a maximum speed of 180km/h? Not to mention the 60-100km/h pick-up that makes short work of highway traffic.

The stated max on the Volvo C40 Recharge Pure Electric is up to 450km which we didn’t get to challenge too much in our time with the car.

What we did find, however, is that in One Pedal Drive mode, the regenerative braking was stunningly efficient. One Pedal Drive means you don’t go anywhere near the brake pedal in normal driving conditions. When you don’t have your foot on the accelerator, taking energy away from the 78kWh battery, the brakes and drivetrain capture the unused kinetic energy and charge the battery. This means that in cities with lots of inclines, like Sydney or San Francisco, you can be extremely thrifty when driving the car on a daily basis.

I spent one day driving in typical accelerator and brake mode, and I could not match One Pedal Drive in harvesting energy.

That being said, we did a little over 200km in the C40 Recharge and consumed 20.9kWh/100km.

Technology Features

The Volvo C40 Recharge Pure Electric Twin has various technology features that make it easy to stay connected and entertained on the go. Firstly, the C40 has a 9-inch infotainment system that allows drivers to access their favourite music, podcasts, and more. Secondly, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster provides drivers with helpful information such as speed and range.

The Harman Kardon sound system is something else again. If you want to test an in-car sound system, pair a teenager’s phone and let them loose with their Playlists. You’ll soon understand the limits of a premium sound system. Safe to say that Drake and KAYTRANADA almost blew the fixed panoramic sunroof and doors off with no distortion. The other critical feature for passengers is USB charging ports of which there are plenty – two in the front and one each for the rear passengers.

Safety Features

Safety is a top priority for the Volvo C40 Recharge Pure Electric Twin EV.

The Volvo C40 Recharge comes with some of the best LED headlights we have ever used. The “Hammer of Thor” LED High Beam could quickly light a suburban oval for a game of cricket.

In addition, the Volvo App has gone through a full makeover and with the C40 Recharge, you can control the locking and unlocking of the doors, the air conditioning system – particularly helpful on sweltering days – and the battery level.

Another safety feature that we applaud Volvo for is the Care Key. We reviewed this ground-breaking technology in detail when we drove the Volvo XC90 T8 Recharge earlier in the year. You can program a unique Orange key to restrict the top speed of the C40. Imagine how many lives could be saved if we adopted a more thoughtful approach to speeding.

Other safety features include:

• Pedestrian, Vehicle, Large Animals and Cyclist Detection
• Intersection Collision and Oncoming Mitigation with Brake Support
• Steering Support
• Driver Alert
• Lane Keeping Aid
• Adjustable Speed Limiter function
• Oncoming Lane Mitigation
• Blind Spot Information (BLIS) with Cross Traffic Alert (CTA), Front and Rear
• Collision Warning with mitigation support
• Run-off road Mitigation
• Hill start assist and Hill Descent Control
• Park assist Front and Rear
• Rain Sensor
• Drive mode with personal power steering settings
• Emergency Brake Assist (EBA) and Emergency Brake Light (EBL)
• Frontal Airbags and Side Impact Protection System (SIPS) with airbags in front seats,
• Inflatable Curtains and Whiplash Protection System
• Driver’s knee airbag
• ISO-FIX outer position rear seat;
• Intelligent Driver Information System (IDIS)
• 360° Camera

Pricing

The Volvo C40 Recharge Pure Electric range starts at $74,990 for the single-motor version. Our Twin Motor version was finished in Fjord Blue and is priced at $82,490 plus taxes and on-road costs.

Conclusion

The 2022 Volvo C40 Recharge Pure Electric Twin is a revolutionary vehicle that combines the performance of a traditional car with the convenience of an intelligent all-electric drivetrain. This vehicle is ideal for those who are eager to feel the exhilaration of a highly-responsive electric vehicle and the comfort of a typical crossover form-factor while running errands around town With its modern and stylish design, impressive performance, and a variety of technology and safety features, the Volvo C40 Recharge Pure Electric Twin EV is sure to be a hit with drivers who want a dependable and easy to live with EV.

If you told me that I had to live with the Volvo C40 Recharge Pure Electric Twin as my daily driver in the city for the rest of my days, that would be fine by me.