Volvo XC40 Recharge (2020-2023) Review

If you're looking for a premium electric used SUV, then the Volvo XC40 Recharge has a lot to offer. There are bigger (and pricier) alternatives out there, but if you're looking for a stylish and relatively practical EV for a family of four, then the XC40 Recharge ticks a lot of boxes.  

The twin-motor XC40 Recharge has the best range and best performance, but we'd be inclined to favour the rear-wheel drive single-motor version. The performance should be more than enough for most people's needs in an electric SUV, while the range at just under 300 miles should be ample.

There are three models to choose from - Core, Plus and Ultimate. Out of the three, the Plus gets the balance about right for features, though we probably would miss some of the advanced driver assist tech that came as standard on the Ultimate. 

The top-of-the-range Ultimate model is aiming to attract premium electric SUV buyers, so will be targeting those looking at the likes of the Jaguar I-Pace and Audi Q4 e-tron. There's also the BMW iX1 and BMW iX3 to consider as well, along with the slightly more affordable Volkswagen ID.4 and Skoda Enyaq. 

That's not forgetting the Polestar 2 (which is also based on the XC40), the Tesla Model 3 and Ford Mustang Mach-E. 

Want a Volvo EV but are looking for something with some coupe-style looks? You'll want to take a look at the Volvo EC40. Based on the XC40 Recharge, the fastback EC40 is a rival to the likes of the Audi Q4 Sportback e-tron. 

Volvo interiors are some of the best around, rivalling those from the likes of Audi and Mercedes, and the interior in the XC40 Recharge is no exception.

It might have been the baby of the Volvo range (in terms of size at least), but the interior quality of the XC40 Recharge is excellent. All the touch points feel nicely engineered - there's nothing here that feels like it's going to break or wear easily overtime. It'll certainly stand up to some heavy family use, though the finish is so nice you'll instinctively want to look after it. 

There's some clever thinking here as well. For example, there's no hard plastic surround for the centre console, instead Volvo's played it clever and extended the carpet up the sides. It's a little thing perhaps, but it certainly feels that bit nicer. The same goes for the door panels as well, with bits of carpet adding a greater feeling of luxury than you'd get with plastic door panels. 

When Volvo does use plastics, they're high-quality - there's no sign of cost-cutting here with cheap scratchy plastics, while the other materials used including the metals and leather all have a premium feel. The XC40 Recharge is a car that feels really well bolted together. 

Just as we've seen in other modern Volvos, the dashboard on the XC40 Recharge is a 9.0-inch portrait-style infotainment system. Why portrait format? Volvo's argument when it was first introduced was that people want to see where they're going on a map, not either side of it. 

Volvo opted to use Google Android Automotive as the car's operating system, just as we've seen with the Polestar 2. This is not to be confused with the smartphone-mirroring Android Auto, as it's a lot more integrated into how you can use the car if you wish. For a start, it allows you to use voice commands to change the car’s settings. As an example, you can say: ‘Hey Google, set the cabin temperature 22 degrees’ and the XC40 Recharge Pure Electric will happily oblige - which is a good thing, as the only other way to change the climate control is via the touchscreen, and it's a bit of a faff when you're on the move. 

There's also Google Maps for navigation (and you can download Waze from the infotainment system's Google Play Store), while there's also access to the likes of Spotify to stream music or access the music on your smartphone via Bluetooth. Don't worry, there's also a DAB radio as well, while Apple users have Apple CarPlay if they prefer.

The standard eight-speaker stereo in the XC40 Recharge is very good, but for those really into their audio, then the 13-speaker Harman Kardon sound system is worth looking out for and was standard on Ultimate spec. With the benefit of a subwoofer, 600 watts and Dolby Pro Logic TT surround sound, the sound quality is sensational. 

As the XC40 Recharge is the same design as the XC40, the dimensions are exactly the same as well (4425mm long and 1873mm since you're asking). This makes it a bit shorter than the likes of the BMW iX3 (4734mm) and Audi Q4 e-tron (4588mm) and a little bit narrower than both.

Up front, passengers sit up nice and high, while the front seats are some of the comfiest you'll find on a small SUV. There are clever storage solutions too. The pockets on the front door panels are large enough to stow a laptop or tablet (if you need too), while the speakers that would normally take up space here reside in an air-ventilated dash-mounted subwoofer. Then there's the wide centre console that's perfect for stowing away bits and bobs. 

Moving to the back and the high roofline design of the XC40 Recharge means there's plenty of headroom for passengers in the back. There's a good amount of space across the rear bench to accommodate three adults if needed, but the big hump in the centre will mean the middle passenger will have to straddle this. If you're going to be filling the back with a couple of kids and car seats, this won't be an issue, though they might moan that they can't see out of the window that easily thanks to the slick exterior lines of the XC40 that flick up at the back. 

The XC40 Recharge offers 413-litres of boot space, which is less than the 460-litres of the regular model. Although, due to the space saved by the absence of an engine, it gains a 31-litre ‘frunk’ storage area underneath the bonnet at the front. Handy for small trips to the shops or for stashing charge cables. 

The Volvo XC40 Recharge launched with a twin-motor all-wheel drive set-up that was followed by a single-motor front-wheel drive option after that. While there were no quibbles around performance, the range let both models down compared to rivals. 

Things changed for 2023 with the introduction of new electric motors, but it didn't stop there. For the single-motor version, Volvo changed the car from front- to rear-wheel drive in an effort to increase efficiency and boost range. And it succeeded, with the new motor new delivering 238PS and 420Nm of torque, and increasing the official maximum range from 264 miles to 290 miles. 

For the twin-motor car, the XC40 Recharge Twin got a battery boost from 78kWh to 82kWh, while the new motors led to a change in the distribution of power. It still totals 408PS but instead of an even 204PS split between front and back, the 2023 update saw 150PS sent to the front and 258PS delivered to the rear. Torque increased to 670Nm (from 660Nm) and as a result the 0-62mph time was shortened to an impressive 4.8 seconds.

It's not just about headline grabbing stats though, as this power and turn of speed is readily available when you need it - perfect when you need to make light work of slow traffic on a crawler lane. It's also at home on the motorway, and doesn't feel like it's struggling at higher speeds that's the case with some other EVs. 

With the arrival of new motors in 2023 and a better understanding of battery cooling efficiency, the maximum range of the XC40 Recharge Twin increased from 259 miles to 334 miles. The single-motor XC40 Recharge also improved to offer up to 290 miles on a single charge, up from the earlier 264 miles. 

Those are certainly very useable ranges and more than a match for rivals. The Audi Q4 40 e-tron is capable of a 322 miles, while the Jaguar I-Pace and Polestar 2 are both good for up to 292 miles on a full charge. 

Just like the standard XC40, the XC40 Recharge is smooth and settled, cruising quietly at speeds. Expect a bit more tyre roar on versions with the largest alloy wheels - something to think about if you're looking at the Twin Pro and its 20-inch alloys, but it doesn't detract from the overall refinement of the car. 

Perhaps a little weirdly for a premium SUV, the XC40 Recharge didn't have adaptive suspension. Despite this, we've found it to be one of the more comfortable electric SUVs on the market, even handling uneven town roads and rough country lanes without too much fuss.

Volvo is a byword when it comes to car safety, so it's no surprise to see the Volvo XC40 Recharge Pure Electric is excellent in this area.

The Volvo XC40 was awarded a top-scoring five-stars by Euro NCAP for crash safety back in 2018, with adult occupant protection rated at a near-perfect 97%. Child occupant protection is also very good, too,  at 87%. While the Volvo XC40 Recharge wasn't tested separately, Volvo claimed the electric version to be just as safe as its combustion engine stablemates. 

As you'd expect, the XC40 Recharge comes with a heap of standard safety equipment. This includes a full set of airbags, including a driver’s knee airbag and full-length curtain airbags, ISOFIX child seat mounting points for the outer two rear seats (it’s optional for the front passenger seat), an airbag cut-off switch and a seatbelt reminder for all five seats. The front seats also have Volvo’s WHIPS whiplash protection system.

There's also a ton of active safety features as standard on the Volvo XC40 Recharge. You'll find automatic emergency braking (known as AEB and referred to by Volvo as City Safety autonomous emergency braking). This detects cyclists and pedestrians as well as other cars and large animals. There's also Oncoming Lane Mitigation that helps stop the Volvo XC40 Recharge driving over the road's centre line and into danger. 

Volvo also offered blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert as part of it's IntelliSafe Surround package. The XC40 Recharge was also the first Volvo to feature a new version of Pilot Assist, driver-assist tech which supports steering, acceleration and braking. There was also a new Emergency Stop Assist function included, meaning that if the driver is not holding the steering wheel while Pilot Assist is activated, the driver will be warned in different stages until the vehicle is brought to a safe stop.

The Volvo XC40 Recharge is is proving to be extremely reliable. The standard XC40 achieved an impressive reliability score of 9.82 in the latest HonestJohn.co.uk Satisfaction Index. 

The Volvo XC40 Recharge comes with a 3 year/60,000 warranty, while the battery has an 8 year/100,000 warranty, which is reassuring for used buyers.

While standard Volvo XC40 starts in insurance group 18 for the entry-level T2 model, it's quite a bit more to insure the fully electric model.

Insurance for the Volvo XC40 Recharge starts in insurance group 35 for the single-motor Core model, with the twin-motor version in Group 41. Pricier trims will see the insurance group increase. As always, it's worth shopping around when it comes to car insurance.

Because there are no tailpipe CO2 emissions from the Volvo XC40 Recharge, you'll pay nothing in road tax each year. Even with a list price of more than £40,000, the XC40 Recharge was exempt from the premium car tax when new and now as a used option. That means you could save more than £500 a year in tax compared to a petrol or diesel alternative.

Volvo's streamlined its range in the final year of the XC40 Recharge, providing a choice of Core, Plus and Ultimate models. 

The XC40 Recharge in Core trim comes with 19-inch alloy wheels, heated front seats, active LED headlamps, rear parking sensors and a electrically operated tailgate all as standard. Move inside and the Core trim enjoys a large 12.3-inch digital dash and 9-inch infotainment system, while there's also wireless phone charging and dual-zone climate control. 

Next up is the Plus model that adds front parking sensors and a rear parking camera. There's also some more creature comforts inside, with electric seat adjustment, a heated steering wheel and heated rear seats.

The top-of-the-range XC40 Recharge is the Ultimate. This sees 20-inch alloy wheels as standard, a panoramic roof, auto-dimming door mirrors and a useful 360-degree parking camera. There's also plenty of semi-automomous driving tech as standard, including Pilot Assist.