Used Volvo C40 for sale: everything you need to know

The Volvo C40 is one of the increasingly popular breed of coupe SUVs, with the raised stance of a crossover or SUV but a sloping roofline for, in theory, just a little more style than its more practical counterpart, the XC40 Recharge.

Whether it’s actually as stylish is up to you, but if you’re already interested in the XC40 and don’t necessarily need the extra headroom or potential boot capacity, then the C40 may be worth a look too. It’s an expensive car to buy new, particularly for what is a relatively compact car, but as is ever the case, buying a pre-owned one can take the sting out of a hefty price tag.

The C40 competes with models like the BMW iX2, Audi Q4 e-Tron and Mercedes-Benz EQA in the premium electric compact crossover segment, while the ubiquitous Tesla Model Y is always worth a look too thanks to its long range, strong performance and excellent charging network.

Should you buy a Volvo C40?

If you’re looking for a premium family car but aren’t interested in the usual German trio of Audi, BMW and Mercedes, then you’ve probably considered Volvo at some point - and in the growing market for coupe SUVs, the Volvo C40 may well have appeared on your radar.

It has more than just handsome styling to back it up too, and not just because if you’re looking at a used Volvo C40 rather than a new one, you’ll be saving money on a car that’s probably a little too expensive brand new. But the Volvo C40 also has a pair of quick drivetrain options and pretty decent range estimates on its side, ticking off two boxes that make a difference to the EV driving experience.

The Volvo C40 isn’t actually that entertaining to drive, despite the strong performance - like all modern Volvos, it’s engineered more to isolate you from the action than involve you in it, and that doesn’t mean it’s got the best ride quality either; the Volvo C40 can jostle you around over uneven surfaces. But it’s quiet and confident at speed and doesn’t lean too much in corners.

The single-motor models with a 66kWh battery pack can achieve as much as 300 miles from a charge while the twin-motor, 79kWh cars can top 340 miles, at least on paper. So before you buy, have a think about what kind of trips you do, as the smaller battery, less powerful car may end up being a better buy.

Alternatively, you could look at the Volvo C40 Recharge’s more practical sibling the XC40 Recharge, which feels a bit more spacious for those in the rear. Look elsewhere and the new BMW iX2 is a sporty C40 alternative, while the Audi Q4 e-Tron and Mercedes-Benz EQA serve a similar role too. If you’re regularly charging while out and about, Tesla’s Supercharger network remains the best out there, and that means the Tesla Model Y should also be on your shopping list - though it’s nowhere near as stylish as its rivals.

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What’s the best used Volvo C40 model to buy?

Within the C40 range there’s no real wrong answer here. Even the single-motor model offers a decent range, on paper at least, and most drivers won’t need the surprising extra performance of the Twin Motor. Meanwhile, the entry-level Core specification is well equipped and not lacking any essential modern features.

However, the best C40 to buy may not be a C40 at all but the slightly squarer-backed XC40, which is the same car underneath but more practical, so that’s well worth considering too if you’re shopping for C40s.

Used Volvo C40 range and performance

• Volvo C40 Recharge Single Motor: Single-motor C40s are rear-wheel drive, making 238PS and getting from 0-62mph in 7.3 seconds. Volvo claims a range of between 276-305 miles from 66kWh of usable battery capacity.
• Volvo C40 Recharge Twin Motor: As the name suggests the Twin Motor has motors at both the front and rear axles, for a combined 408PS and a 0-62mph time of only 4.7 seconds. Thanks to a larger 79kWh battery pack, range climbs to between 317-342 miles in official testing.

What used Volvo C40 trim levels are available?

The Volvo C40’s trim level lineup is fairly straightforward. All are comprehensively equipped so even the basic Core should meet the needs of most drivers, with Plus and Ultimate trims adding desirable rather than essential kit, such as heated rear seats or a 360-degree parking camera.

• The Volvo C40 Core gets 19-inch alloy wheels, auto LED headlights, a power tailgate, front and rear parking sensors with a rear parking camera, auto wipers, ‘touring’ chassis settings, cruise control, two-zone climate control, a 12.3-inch driver display and 9-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, textile trim, heated front seats, and a wide range of electronic safety features.
• The Volvo C40 Plus gets all the features from the Core but adds keyless entry and start, a heat pump, flexible load floor, heated rear seats, a power driver seat with memory function, a power passenger seat, heated steering wheel, front LED foglights, pilot assist with adaptive cruise control, and several extra safety features including steering assist and cross traffic alert.
• The Volvo C40 Ultimate builds upon Plus trim with 20-inch alloy wheels, active bending pixel LED headlights, front LED foglights with a cornering function, 12-speaker Harman Kardon audio, a 360-degree parking camera, and power folding rear seat headrests.

Used Volvo C40 dimensions and boot size

The Volvo C40’s dimensions are:

• Length: 4440mm
• Width: 1910mm (mirrors folded), 2034mm (with mirrors)
• Height: 1596mm

The Volvo C40’s boot size is:

• 413 litres
• 1205 litres with the rear seats folded (to roof)

Used Volvo C40 road tax

The Volvo C40 will currently cost you nothing in VED or ‘road tax’, as being an electric vehicle it’s currently tax-free. This is likely to change in future though EVs like the C40 will probably remain cheaper than the equivalent combustion vehicle to tax.

How much is it to insure a Volvo C40?

For a relatively small crossover, the Volvo C40 also has relatively high insurance group ratings - though that’s commensurate with its initial cost, and the relatively high performance of the Twin Motor models in particular. It ranges between insurance groups 34 and 43 out of 50, which isn’t quite in the Tesla Model Y ballpark (46-50) but is close to something like a Mercedes-Benz EQA (groups 37-45).

Read our full Volvo C40 Recharge review