EV Review: 2020-2021 Volvo XC40 Recharge

Photo Credits: Volvocars.com

A seamless electric driving experience

Overview

Performance: Electric Motor, 408 horsepower

Mileage estimate: Up to 208 electric miles

Price estimate: From $53,990

—

Warranty: 4 years / 50,000 miles

Powertrain Warranty: 4 years / 50,000 miles

Roadside Assistance: 12 years / unlimited

Battery Warranty: 8 years / 100,000 miles

2020-2021 Volvo XC40 Recharge Review

Intro

Apparently, Volvo wasn’t just posturing when it announced a company-wide shift toward electrification.

In mid-October 2019, Volvo unveiled its plans for its first full all-electric vehicle (EV), a remake of the XC40 that was introduced in 2019. The first Volvo EV will be the 2020 XC40 Recharge, a compact crossover sport utility vehicle that seats five.

The XC40 Recharge, slated to come out late in 2020, will cost approximately $50,000 – $48,000 with rebates – and have some enviable qualities. It will reportedly go roughly 200 miles before a charge is required. And the XC40 Recharge will get you there in a hurry, because it’s capable of going 0-60 mph in a Tesla-like 4.7 seconds. That’s pretty darn quick considering the EV model has a curb weight of 4,840 pounds, about 1,000 pounds more than the gas-powered XC40.

Exterior Style

From an exterior standpoint, the EV model will look exactly like the gas-powered XC40, minus an unnecessary front grille (there’s no engine to cool down). But the interior makeup will be quite different.

Interior and Technology

For starters, the XC40 EV will be supported by Google technology. A new Android-based infotainment system will use Google Assistant, Google Maps, and Google Play store. The EV model will also have carpets made from recycled materials.

The Recharge will be the first Volvo capable of getting software and operating system updates over the air, something that Tesla popularized. And like Tesla, Volvo says the Recharge will get better as time moves on, benefitting greatly from the regular updates.

The battery of the XC40 Recharge resides under the floor of the small SUV and is smartly protected by a “safety cage” made of aluminum. This allows the vehicle to have its own crumple zone around the battery.

The Recharge will also come equipped with a new Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS), a sensor system that features a variety of radar, cameras, and ultrasonic sensors. The ultimate goal is for the Recharge to deliver autonomous driving.

Performance and Battery

Perhaps in a nod to Tesla, Volvo equipped the XC40 EV with impressive performance. It has a 78-kilowatt-hour battery and gets its speed from an electric powertrain that produces 408 horsepower and 442 pound-feet of torque.

Volvo claims the XC40 EV can be charged up to 80-percent in roughly 40 minutes when utilizing a fast-charging system, and 7½ hours when charged up at home. And to entice car buyers, Volvo will provide free electricity for one year through a reimbursement program based on the average electricity usage.

Conclusion

Recharge is a brand name that Volvo will use for all of its chargeable vehicles with a fully electric and plug-in hybrid powertrain. Volvo says every Volvo model in the company’s lineup will eventually have a Recharge model.

In the upcoming decade, the Swedish automaker expects to launch a new EV every year and wants half its lineup fully-electric by 2025, am ambitious goal as it starts to phase out gas-powered vehicles.

— J.W.