07/12/2022
2023 Volvo XC40 Recharge and C40 Recharge get better range and power
Written By Richard Aucock
The new Volvo XC40 Recharge and Volvo C40 Recharge electric SUVs have been updated with improved range, better efficiency and more power from their electric motors.
The new cars are available to order now, with the Volvo XC40 Recharge is a practical small SUV that competes with the BMW iX3, Mercedes-Benz GLA and Audi Q4 e-tron, plus the popular Tesla Model Y. The Volvo C40 Recharge is a more stylish coupe-SUV that takes on the Audi Q4 Sportback e-tron, Volkswagen ID.5. and Polestar 2.
New Volvo XC40 Recharge and new Volvo C40 Recharge price and release date
Prices for the new Volvo XC40 Recharge start from £46,505. That’s for those looking to buy or lease the XC40 Recharge Single Motor, in entry-level Core grade. The Volvo XC40 Recharge Twin Motor Core is priced from £51,755.
New Volvo C40 Recharge prices start from £48,355 for the Recharge Single Motor Core; the new Volvo C40 Recharge Twin Motor Core costs from £53,605.
Production of the range-topping Recharge Twin dual-motor versions starts in May 2023, with deliveries likely to start from later in the summer. Production of the single motor Recharge versions begins in autumn 2023, with deliveries likely to begin in early 2024.
New Volvo XC40 Recharge and new Volvo C40 Recharge: exterior and interior
The new Volvo XC40 Recharge now shares the same sleek front end design as the Volvo C40 Recharge. They have a closed-off grille and crisply-detailed bumper, which help with aerodynamic efficiency. It also means the Volvo XC40 Recharge is more easily differentiated from its petrol-powered siblings, which continue with the open-form grille.
The new Volvo XC40 Recharge and Volvo C40 Recharge are almost identical up to the front doors. It’s the rear end that differs. The Volvo XC40 Recharge has a more traditionally boxy SUV profile, while the Volvo C40 Recharge has a swooping rear end that feeds into a distinctive rear tailgate spoiler.
The standard (as in, no-cost) colour for the new Volvo XC40 recharge is Silver Dawn; for the new Volvo C40 Recharge, it is Vapour Grey. Both models offer a broad range of optional colours, many of which are shared between the two vehicles – with Bright Dusk being reserved as a choice just for the new Volvo XC40 Recharge, and Fusion Red being unique to the new Volvo C40 Recharge.
Inside, the new Volvo XC40 Recharge and Volvo C40 Recharge also share a similar interior. All feature a charcoal headlining and sport steering wheel, while there’s a choice of interior inlays, seat upholstery plus carpets and mats.
The new Volvo XC40 Recharge and Volvo C40 Recharge continue to come as standard with the firm’s impressive Google Android Automotive OS-based infotainment system. It runs through a 9.0-inch portrait-style centre touchscreen, and an additional electronic driver display. The system includes built-in Google Maps, Google Assistant and the Google Play app store.
Wireless smartphone charging is standard in the new Volvo XC40 Recharge and Volvo C40 Recharge, along with wired Apple CarPlay. The electric SUVs come with unlimited mobile data for in-car apps and vehicle communications, and there’s a complementary Volvo smartphone app so owners can remotely monitor charge status or operate the climate control so they get into a warm (or cool) car in the morning.
The new Volvo XC40 Recharge has a 452-litre boot, which expands to 1,328 litres with the rear seats folded. The new Volvo C40 Recharge has a 413-litre boot, which expands to 1,205 litres. Both vehicles have a 450mm off-road wading depth – and the Single Motor versions can tow 1,500kg, while the Twin Motor variants can tow 1,800kg.
New Volvo XC40 Recharge and new Volvo C40 Recharge: engines and gearboxes
The key improvements for the new Volvo XC40 Recharge and Volvo C40 Recharge are in their electric motor and battery performance. One big change is the single-motor Volvo XC40 Recharge and Volvo C40 Recharge switching from front-wheel drive to rear-wheel drive. Volvo says this delivers improved efficiency.
The figures bear this out. The new Volvo XC40 Recharge uses the same 69kWh battery as the outgoing cars, but total range is up from 264 miles to 286 miles. The Volvo C40 Recharge can now cover 296 miles, compared to the previous 272 miles. Volvo says this will result in improved official efficiency figures too, with both models covering more miles per kWh of electricity.
The new single-motor Volvo XC40 Recharge and Volvo C40 Recharge also have a more powerful motor. Output is improved from 231PS to 238PS, which will result in better performance and acceleration – aided further by improved rear-wheel drive traction off the line.
The new Volvo XC40 Recharge Twin and Volvo C40 Recharge Twin dual-motor versions receive a larger battery, up from 78kW to an impressive 82kWh. It means the Volvo XC40 Recharge Twin can cover up to 312 miles on a single charge, compared to 270 miles; the Volvo C40 Recharge Twin is even better, with a 316-mile maximum range, instead of 278 miles.
Interestingly, while overall power output for the new Volvo XC40 Recharge Twin and Volvo C40 Recharge Twin remains the same at 408PS, how it’s delivered differs. Instead of both motors having the same output, the front motor now produces 163PS, and the more powerful rear motor puts out 245PS. This will serve up better-balanced performance and, again, better acceleration thanks to the extra rear-wheel drive traction.
The potent new Volvo XC40 Recharge Twin and Volvo C40 recharge Twin also have a faster rate of charging at high-power public chargers. They can top up at 200kW, compared to 150kW. It means the time to charge from 10% to 80% falls from 37 minutes to just 27 minutes.
The single-motor Volvo XC40 Recharge and Volvo C40 Recharge continue with the same 150kW rapid-charge rate – but because the batteries are slightly smaller, it actually means they boast the same 27-minute time to charge from 10% to 80%.
Find a used Volvo XC40 Recharge or used Volvo C40 Recharge for sale
The Volvo XC40 Recharge Twin is available on the used car market with prices starting from around £46,500. 2021 or 2022 cars have commonly covered fewer than 10,000 miles. The Volvo C40 Recharge is rarer, and will start hitting the used car market in 2023.
If you don’t want to go fully electric, the Volvo XC40 is available in 2108 1.5-litre turbo petrol guise with prices starting from just over £21,000. Diesel models are priced from around £19,000.
Looking for more new car news?
We have all the latest 2023 new car news on upcoming models. The 2024 Audi Grandsphere Concept is the star of this year’s Audi Christmas commercial – and we have all the news about the car that previews Audi’s future flagship here at heycar. We’ve also looked at the new Vauxhall Astra Electric that’s set to cause a stir in the family EV market in 2023, and also had a first drive in the unique Skoda Enyaq iV FestEVal ‘camping adventure EV’.
Introducing the Volvo XC40 Recharge
The Volvo XC40 Recharge and Volvo C40 Recharge are essentially the same vehicle. They share the same EV underpinnings, interior and front end design. They differ from the central B-pillar rearwards, with the C40 Recharge boasting a sleek coupe rear end, compared to the XC40 Recharge’s more traditional SUV style.
Efficiency for the new Volvo XC40 Recharge Twin is forecast to improve from up to 3.0 miles per kWh, to 3.5 miles. The Volvo XC40 Recharge will improve from up to 3.4 miles per kWh, to 3.6 miles. The single-motor Volvo C40 Recharge will now travel up to 3.8 miles per kWh.
The new Volvo XC40 Recharge and Volvo C40 Recharge are known as the Model Year 2024 cars, or MY24. This is how you will be able to find them on the Volvo Cars website.
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