Volvo C40 Recharge 2022 Review

By Toby Hagon, carsales.com.au

Volvo is charging quickly towards a fully electrified future. The Swedish brand confirmed recently it will only sell battery-powered vehicles in Australia from 2026 and started building its range with the XC40 Recharge compact SUV last year.

Now, it has added a second electric model with the C40 Recharge, which utilises the same architecture as the XC40 and the closely related Polestar 2 but brings a unique coupe-style body style to the compact SUV.

It is the first Volvo variant to be exclusively available as an electric vehicle only, and its environmental credentials are backed by an emphasis on sustainability with no leather interior options available.

The start of a new era

The 2022 Volvo C40 Recharge is available in two model grades, each defined by the number of electric motors: an entry-level version with a single and a higher-spec variant with a dual motor configuration.

The official names for each are C40 Recharge Pure Electric Single Motor and C40 Recharge Pure Electric Twin respectively, although for brevity we’ll shorten it throughout this review.

The single-motor model is priced from $74,990 plus on-road costs, which is $2000 more than more conventional Volvo XC40 equivalent.

The dual-motor version sells from $82,490 plus ORCs and brings some extra gear, as well as the additional electric motor.

Servicing is required every two years or 30,000km and Volvo covers the cost for the first three years or 100,000km. Adding an additional two years of coverage – and extending the kilometre coverage to 150,000km – costs another $1000.

The C40 is covered by a five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty. The high-voltage battery has a separate warranty that applies for eight years and 160,000km, which guarantees at least 70 per cent of the original capacity will be in play after that time.

It’s in the details

Both 2022 Volvo C40 Recharge model share the same basic body style, with wheels and details providing the visual differentiation. Much of the equipment mimics that in the XC40 that is closely related to the C40.

Standard equipment for the Volvo C40 Recharge includes smart key entry, panoramic sunroof, powered tailgate, dual-zone ventilation, heated front and rear seats, power-adjustable front seats, wireless phone charging, adaptive cruise control and 19-inch alloy wheels with tyre pressure monitors.

The dual-motor version adds 20-inch alloy wheels, a 360-degree camera, 13-speaker Harman Kardon sound system with subwoofer and various trim changes, including Fusion Microtech and Textile upholstery.

Both also include a home charging portable cable that plugs into a regular power point. There’s no spare tyre, with a repair kit beneath the boot floor.

The only option on each is the colour, with all eight choices available at the standard price.

At the forefront of safety

The 2022 Volvo C40 Recharge comes with airbag protection for all of its occupants – front, front side, centre front, side curtain and a knee airbag for the driver.

There’s also a comprehensive suite of advanced safety technology, including adaptive cruise control, rear crash warning, blind spot warning, rear cross traffic alert and autonomous emergency braking (AEB), the latter only operating when driving forwards, not in reverse.

There’s also pre-collision warning that flashes lights to try to get the attention of an approaching vehicle and prepares the seat belts and brake hold to minimise injuries in a rear impact.

The crash protection and safety assist systems earned the C40 Recharge a five-star ANCAP rating tested against the 2022 criteria.

Creature comforts

The 2022 Volvo C40 Recharge is loaded with the latest in comfort and convenience technologies. The driver is greeted by a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster that can be tweaked using a simple collection of buttons on the steering wheel.

Various parameters can slot between the speedo and power gauge, including the navigation display which is handy and allows the separate 9.0-inch centre screen to control the infotainment features.

Both utilise the Google-based Android Automotive operating system, which incorporates Google Maps and Google Assistant as part of a data plan that is included for the first four years of ownership (beyond that there’s a subscription).

There are four USB-C ports – two up front and two in the rear – to keep mobile devices charged up.

One or two?

The entry-level C40 Recharge Pure Electric is powered by a 170kW/330Nm electric motor that drives the front wheels and is provided electricity from a 69kWh battery pack with a useable capacity of 67kWh.

If you opt for the dual motor C40 Recharge Twin Pure Electric you get another motor powering the rear wheels, providing it with all-wheel drive, plus combined outputs of 300kW and 660Nm, which is good enough to acceleration from 0-100km/h in a claimed 4.7 seconds.

The 2022 Volvo C40 Recharge is claimed to travel up to 434km on a charge for the single-motor model, according to the WLTP standard, with average electricity use claimed at 16.8kWh per 100km (using the less accurate ADR standard).

The dual-motor model has a larger battery – with a useable capacity of 75kWh – but its heavier body and delivering power to two motors means the range is slightly less, claimed at 420km (WLTP). ADR electricity use is claimed at 22.2kWh/100km.

Both can charge on a home AC charger at up to 11kW, with the single motor variant taking around 34 hours to fully recharge while the dual-motor would be more like 38 hours.

A higher voltage AC wallbox charger will lower those charge times to as little as 6.5 hours and seven hours respectively.

Faster DC charging can be done at up to 150kW, which Volvo says will provide a 10-80 per cent charge in as little as 32 minutes for the single-motor and 40 minutes for the dual-motor.

On the charge

Not unsurprisingly considering all that differentiates the C40 from the XC40 is its coupe-style body shape, it drives and performs in much the same way.

For the C40 Recharge Single Motor that means respectable acceleration, albeit without the initial surge some may yearn for.

Having 330Nm channelled through the front wheels occasionally has the steering wheel tugging gently to one side with torque steer when accelerating hard. But it’s generally well behaved and has the dynamic nous to match its sporty looks.

Decent 19-inch Pirelli tyres deliver plenty of traction and it sits nicely in corners.

The ride is more compliant than a Polestar 2 and it does a decent job of dealing with road imperfections. Larger bumps will occasionally jar into the cabin in response, although it settles swiftly.

Stepping up to the 20-inch wheels of the dual-motor means it more obviously transmits the occasional sharp edge into the cabin. There’s also increased tyre noise and low-speed suspension noise over bumps. It’s no deal breaker, but it’s not as silent as some.

The obvious improvement for the dual motor is performance. There’s a lot more urgency off the line and driving through all four wheels adds a greater sense of security that in turn dials up the fun factor. It’s as brisk as a hot hatch, making for plenty of smiles.

But utilise all that extra punch and the chassis occasionally struggles with the excitement, leaning on its front wheels as the pace ramps up.

That’s hardly an issue around the suburbs but it’s more point-and-shoot than a car that deeply tickles the dynamic senses.

While the 2022 Volvo C40 Recharge is being pitched as an SUV, it’s not an off-roader.

In dual-motor guise, it’ll tackle slippery surfaces such as snow or gravel with added confidence. But it’s not designed to venture far from the blacktop. The lack of a spare tyre reinforces that.

How Swede it is

Even though there is plenty of XC40 in in the 2022 Volvo C40’s cabin, there is also some key differentiators.

The trims and finishes, for example, are unique to the C40, which is all part its appeal to eco conscious buyers.

Tradition has to some extent been sidelined, with a strip across the dash and bleeding into the doors featuring an interesting rubber finish that looks like a stylised Swedish map, with place names to match.

The dual motor changes it up with what looks like a topographic map finished in black plastic. It won’t suit all tastes, but in some ways it’s refreshingly different.

Metal highlights blend nicely with dark plastics for a simple but classy appearance. And the soft door tops are a convincing alternative to leather. Not quite as convincing though is the steering wheel which looks and feels like the real deal but doesn’t match the premium presentation elsewhere.

While Volvo is sprouting the C40 as the brand’s first dedicated EV, there’s still the DNA of a conventional car beneath that can’t be ignored.

That is most obvious in the back seat, where a sizeable hump robs the middle occupant of foot space.

Those in the back will also notice less headroom than the impressively spacious XC40; that’s the compromise of style with that sloping roof.

The roofline also takes its toll on boot space relative to the XC40. The 489-litre capacity is about 15 per cent less than its more traditional SUV sibling.

But there’s a 60/40-split folding rear seat function and some underfloor storage, which pairs with the binnacle under the boot as a hidey hole for valuables (and the charging cable).

One for the heart

Sitting alongside the XC40 in the showroom means the 2022 Volvo C40 Recharge appeals more to the heart than the head.

It’s more expensive and less practical than its wagon sibling but is otherwise extremely similar.

Like the XC40, the Volvo C40 Recharge mounts a compelling EV case that occupies the more affordable end of the premium segment.

Perhaps its biggest appeal is that, unlike some potential rivals, Volvo looks set to get a steady supply of vehicles, ensuring wait times should be weeks or a couple of months rather than a year or more.

That in itself could be enough to tempt someone into a brand with big EV ambitions.

2022 Volvo C40 Recharge Pure Electric Single Motor at a glance:

Price:  $74,990 (plus on-road costs)	Battery:  69kWh lithium-ion (67kWh useable)
Available:  Now	Range:  434km (WLTP)
Powertrain:  Single permanent magnet synchronous motor	Energy consumption:  16.8kWh/100km (ADR)
Output: 170kW/330Nm	Safety rating:  Five-star (ANCAP 2022)
Transmission: Single-speed reduction gear

 

2022 Volvo C40 Recharge Pure Electric Twin at a glance:

Price:  $82,490 (plus on-road costs)	Battery:  78kWh lithium-ion (75kWh useable)
Available:  Now	Range:  420km (WLTP)
Powertrain:  Two permanent magnet synchronous motors	Energy consumption:  22.2kWh/100km (ADR)
Output: 300kW/660Nm	Safety rating:  Five-star (ANCAP 2022)
Transmission: Single-speed reduction gear

 

Disclaimer: Images supplied by Volvo Australia.

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