Volvo C40 Recharge Review 2024

If you're looking for a comfortable, premium SUV that'll frankly make you feel good about yourself every time you drive it, the Volvo C40 Recharge is a great choice. It's not cheap and isn't the most practical electric SUV, but it does look pretty and has a superb interior. It's not a great deal less practical than the Volvo XC40 Recharge on which it's based and, while it's expensive to buy, you'll soon recoup some of the initial hit in lower running costs.

Unless you really want a ludicrously quick Volvo C40 Recharge, we reckon the single-motor variants will be sufficient for the majority of buyers. Even these are not a cheap choice so, with that in mind, the entry-level Volvo C40 Recharge Plus, or Core for used buyers, more than covers all the basics. Don't feel the need to stretch to a high-spec Ultra or Ultimate model.

The Volvo C40 Recharge faces stiff competition from a number of very desirable electric SUVs. We'd suggest you also look at the Audi Q4 Sportback e-tron (as well as the mechanically very similar Volkswagen ID.5 and Skoda Enyaq iV Coupe) as well as the Mercedes EQA, while the BMW iX1 should also be on your radar.

Naturally, if you're considering a Volvo C40 Recharge, you should probably look at the very similar (but slightly more practical) Volvo XC40 Recharge as well as the Polestar 2. We'd also strongly recommend the Kia EV6 and Hyundai Ioniq 5 - they might not have a premium badge, but they are two of the best electric cars money can buy. If you want a sportier choice, take a look at the Ford Mustang Mach-E.

It's hard to pick fault with the Volvo C40 Recharge's interior in terms of quality. It feels just as well-finished as the Audi Q4 Sportback e-tron's and a step above what you'd get in a Tesla. All the switchgear feels well-engineered, while carpet up the side of the centre console is a nice touch.

There isn't any noticeable lift in quality between the most affordable Volvo C40 Recharge Core and top-spec C40 Recharge Ultimate (now Plus and Ultra with the renamed EC40), although the latter does come with some fancy ambient interior lighting and premium Microtech upholstery. As we touched on above, the Volvo C40 isn't available with leather seats, although it does use synthetic leather on the steering wheel and gear knob.

The Volvo C40 Recharge comes with a nine-inch portrait touchscreen infotainment display in the centre of the dash. We find it a bit more distracting than smaller displays positioned higher up in the driver's eye line, but a tech-heavy car deserves a tech-heavy media system.

It's actually powered by Android Automotive (Google's operating system and different from Android Auto) and uses Google Maps as the built-in navigation - not a bad thing as this is usually better than carmaker's own systems (as anyone who's ever used Android Auto will attest). It operates a bit like an iPad (or an Android-based tablet, to be more accurate), responding to pinch and swipe gestures. If you prefer using Waze to navigate, the good news is it can now be downloaded from the car's built-in Play Store app.

It feels suitably premium for a car of this price and the menus are fairly logically laid out, while Google's voice-activated personal assistance is on hand for those times when you don't want to traipse through menus. When it first went on sale, the Volvo C40 Recharge didn't have Apple CarPlay - but that was fixed via an over-the-air update in June 2022 and is standard on all cars now.

All Volvo C40 Recharge models (and the EC40 now) also come with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster which, although it's not as customisable as Audi's Virtual Cockpit, can switch between a minimalist display and a busier setup showing you navigation directions. It looks pretty smart and has a logical layout, so isn't too distracting to glance at on the move.

The standard Volvo C40 Recharge Core and Plus models came with an eight-speaker sound system. That's the same for revised EC40 PLus, but the Ultra trim enjoys the same top-spec 13-speaker Harman Kardon premium sound system as the previous Ultimate trim.

The Volvo C40 Recharge's external dimensions are pretty much the same as the XC40's. It measures 1873mm in width (2034mm including mirrors), 4440mm in length and 1591mm in height.

In the front of the Volvo C40 Recharge, you could be sitting in an XC40 Recharge. You get the same high seating position with lots of space and a decent amount of adjustment in the seats. There's the usual mix of storage cubbies, too, including big door bins and a wide centre console.

Naturally, the C40's rakish roofline means it's not quite as spacious in the back. Only the tallest of rear passengers should moan about limited headroom, although the rear doors are a little on the narrow side which makes getting in and out tricky.

The Volvo C40 Recharge now known as the EC40 has a boot that can accommodate 404 litres of luggage up to the window line. The positioning of the batteries mean there's no hidden underfloor storage, but you do get a small 31 litre compartment at the front of the car (under the bonnet). This is useful for small trips to the shops or maybe stowing away your charging leads.

When the Volvo C40 Recharge first went on sale in 2022, it was available solely with a twin-motor all-wheel-drive setup. This variant, badged the Volvo C40 Recharge Twin, uses a pretty sizeable 78kWh battery (with a usable capacity of 75kWh) and an electric motor on each axle. For 2023 this has been updated with the C40 Recharge Twin (now called EC40 Twin Motor) having a 82kWh battery (with a usable capacity of 79kWh) and power distribution has changed, with 150PS going to the front wheels and 258PS driving the rear. 

With 408PS, this Volvo C40 Recharge is almost unnecessarily quick. It'll officially sprint to 62mph in 4.7 seconds but it feels even quicker than this - you can feel the front of the car pitch up as it surges towards the horizon. It's no wonder that police forces are trialling the Volvo C40 Recharge as undercover traffic cars - a rogue Volkswagen Golf R won't break free of those flashing lights in the mirrors. However, the Volvo is limited to a top speed of 112mph...

Making do with 'just' 238PS, the single-motor Volvo C40 Recharge is perhaps a more sensible choice. It uses an ever-so-slightly smaller 69kWh battery (67kWh usable) and one electric motor driving the rear axle. Acceleration to 62mph takes 7.3 seconds, which will be more than sprightly enough for the majority of drivers. You certainly won't struggle on a short motorway slip road or pulling off a hasty overtake in the entry-level Volvo C40 Recharge.

A third option joined the range with the transition from C40 Recharge to EC40 for the naming. This is the Extended Range model, which uses the same drivetrain as the single motor model, but with a 78kWh battery that ups the driving range to a claimed combined of 345 miles. It also delivers the same 0-62mph sprint of 7.3 seconds as the 69kWh model, helped along by its 252PS output.

The Volvo C40 Recharge's official range figure varies depending on factors like the trim level and whether you're looking at the single- or twin-motor variant. Early models  Most models are capable of around 260 or 270 miles from a charge, but things have improved dramatically with the updated 2023 models. 

The single-motor C40 Recharge now has a maximum range of 297 and the dual-motor C40 Recharge Twin now has an official maximum range of 342 miles. The improved range makes it much more comparable to rivals like the Audi Q4 Sportback e-tron and better than the BMW iX1.

With the switch in name to EC40, Volvo also took the opportunity to revise the driving range claims of this car. So, the single motor model now claims a combined driving range of 299 miles, while the Extended Range version ups that to 345 miles. The Twin Motor can cover an officially stated 340 miles (339.9 miles on paper, but let's not split hairs).

Like all electric cars, the real-world range is likely to be slightly less than the official figure. That's especially true over winter or if you're heavy with the accelerator pedal. You should be able to travel more than 200 miles between top-ups, though.

Without an engine to mask noise from outside of the car, you might notice an ever-so-slight roar from the tyres or a bit of a whistle as the door mirrors cut through the wind. It's nothing too instrusive, though, and certainly nothing that can't be drowned out by the radio.

In fact, we'd probably say the Volvo C40 Recharge is one of the more relaxing electric cars to drive. The electric motor is very quiet, and there aren't any 'sporty' swooshing noises to upset the serenity of the cabin.

Volvo prides itself on its safety record (no one should be killed or seriously injured in a new Volvo, says the brand). It's no surprise, then, that Euro NCAP awarded the C40 Recharge (which also applies to the EC40) a full five stars when it was crash tested in 2022. That included an impressive 92% score for adult occupant protection, 89% for child occupants, 70% for vulnerable road users and 89% for the C40's safety assist features.

Pleasingly, you don't have to pay more for one of the higher-spec models or expensive options pack for a long list of driver-assist technology to help prevent a crash. The Volvo C40 Recharge comes with the City Safety Pack (including pedestrian and cyclist detection, front collision warning with full auto brake and rear auto brake). That means the car will look out for an impending collision and apply the brakes if necessary to prevent it (or at least reduce the severity).

The entry-level Volvo C40 Recharge also comes with the brand's Run-off Road Mitigation (which nudges you back onto the road if you start to steer off it) and Oncoming Lane Mitigation (which does much the same if you start to steer towards oncoming traffic). The Volvo C40 Recharge also comes with Isofix child seat mounting points on the front passenger and rear outer seats. 

The Volvo C40 Recharge Plus adds a few nice-to-have driver-assist features in the form of the Driver Awareness pack. This includes a Blind Spot Information System with Steer Assist, Cross Traffic Alert with Autobrake and Rear Collision Warning and Mitigation.

With the 2024-on EC40 renaming, both Plus and Ultra trims have the same fully stocked cupboard of safety gear as the previous Plus and Ultimate models.

Volvo generally has a very good reliability record. The brand's 14th place (out of 29) in the latest HonestJohn.co.uk Satisfaction Index is slightly middle-of-the-road but, with fewer moving parts than petrols and diesels, electric vehicles tend to be more reliable.

All Volvo models come with a three-year/60,000-mile warranty - that's pretty standard for premium cars, which is a shame when the Kia EV6 is covered for seven years. The C40's battery gets a longer warranty - it's covered for eight years or 100,000 miles (whichever comes first). 

Electric car insurance can often be a little more expensive than insuring a petrol or diesel car. That's down to a number of reasons - namely expensive repair costs if the car's involved in a crash as well as the high performance on offer.

The cheapest Volvo C40 to insure will be one of the single-motor models, which have been placed in insurance group 34 for the Core model. The more powerful twin-motor variants are pricier to insure, rising to as high as group 43.

A big perk of electric cars like the Volvo C40 Recharge is they're currently exempt from road tax. You'll pay nothing in VED each year - a huge saving compared to premium petrol or diesel SUVs which are stung with an annual tax bill based on their emissions and are also subject to a surcharge if their list price is north of £40,000.

The Volvo C40 Recharge was available in three trim levels: Core, Plus and Ultimate. The renamed EC40 now comes in Plus and Ultra trims, which mimic the previous Plus and Ultimate versions for equipment.

Standard equipment on the Volvo C40 Recharge Core includes 19-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels, high gloss black exterior details, automatic LED headlights and adaptive brake lights. Inside, the Volvo C40 Recharge Core comes with a fixed panoramic sunroof, a nine-inch portrait infotainment screen and a 12.3-inch driver's display. Safety and security equipment includes Volvo's City Safety pack (with Pedestrian and Cyclist Detection, Front Collision Warning with Full Auto Brake and Rear Auto Brake), Run-off Road Mitigation and Vehicle Deceleration Control. The C40 Recharge Core also comes with Isofix child seat mounting points on the front passenger and rear outer seats.

The Volvo C40 Recharge Plus adds Keyless Drive (with Keyless Entry and Keyless Start), Front Park Assist, a reversing camera and puddle lights. The C40 Recharge Plus also features a heat pump and a flexible load floor, as well as powered front seats and heated seats (front and rear). You also get an electric tailgate, heated steering wheel, auto-dimming mirrors and the Driver Awareness pack (with Blind Spot Information System).

Topping the range, the Volvo C40 Recharge Ultimate comes with active bending pixel LED headlights, a headlight cleaning system and front LED foglights with cornering function. You also get premium metallic paint as standard and 20-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels. The Volvo C40 Ultimate features a 360-degree parking camera, a premium Harman Kardon sound system and Connect Textile/Microtech upholstery.