Volvo C40 recharging review: in pictures

Volvo is among a select few automakers that have set themselves some strong ambitions when it comes to electric cars. The company aims to have a fully electric production line by 2030, and wants to convert at least 50 percent of its fleet to electric vehicles by the middle of this decade. The automaker has already launched its first electric car, the XC40 Recharger, in India, and recently arrived the second – the Volvo C40 Recharge, which is the automaker’s first electric car that does not have a combustion engine counterpart. I spent a little time with an electric car at some point and shared my experience on the Cars & Bikes website. If you haven’t read that already, here’s a quick review of the Volvo C40 Recharge, with pictures.

Also Read: Volvo C40 Recharge electric SUV launched in India, priced at Rs 61.25 lakh

The Volvo C40 Recharge is built on the same platform as the XC40 Recharge, but here you get a crossover coupe design that gives a sporty look.

While the face is very similar to the XC40 Recharge, the EV also comes with new pixel headlights with adaptive lights, which are exclusive to the C40 Recharge. Featured Thor’s Hammer LED daytime running lights are also available.

Read also: Volvo C40 Recharge review: Is it Volvo’s best electric car?

As for the most distinctive element of the C40 Recharge’s design, it is the taillights. Volvo calls it the “Hello” and “Goodbye” feature where every time you unlock or lock the car, the taillights turn on or off in a unique sequential pattern. And it looks really cool.

The dashboard design and layout remain identical, except for the fact that now on the dashboard and on the doors, you get a new design element, a backlit topographical decor representing the northern Scandinavian mountains.

Volvo also opted for a leather-free interior, so the seats are upholstered in a mix of suede and Microtech fabric materials. Meanwhile, floor mats and door trims are made using recycled plastics and forests. Fit and finish are top notch.

The C40 Recharge also comes with a new panoramic glass roof that fully enhances the luxury of the cabin. Unfortunately, you don’t get ventilated seats, which is something you’d expect in this class.

As for backseat comfort, even someone of my stature would have enough knee and legroom, and despite the sloping roofline, I had no complaints about headroom either. Yes, the under-thigh support could have been better, and the back seat is perfect for just two adults.

The C40 Recharge also offers a generous 413 litres of boot space, which is expandable. However, a large portion of it is consumed by the spare wheel.

The middle section inside the cabin is taken up by a 9-inch vertical touchscreen, which has Google built-in, meaning you can access a range of Google and Android-supported apps. The touchscreen is very intuitive, and it supports Apple CarPlay as well as a host of connected car technologies.

The C40 Recharge is equipped with 7 airbags, seat belt reminders for all occupants, 360-degree view cameras, along with hill start assist and descent control, ISOFIX mounts and rain sensing wipers.

The C40 Recharge also comes with Level 3 ADAS functionality, which includes up to 5 cameras, 3 radar units and 12 ultrasonic sensors. Together they form a highly advanced system that adapts to your driving style and road and traffic conditions.

The sloping, coupe-like roof, along with twin spoilers at the rear, reduced the drag coefficient, which in turn helped Volvo achieve faster acceleration and greater range.

Powered by a 78 kWh battery, the C40 Recharge delivers 402 hp and 660 Nm of peak torque, both identical to the XC40 Recharge. Despite having the same setup, the C40 Recharge is 0.2 seconds quicker from 0-100km/h, at 4.7 seconds.

The C40 Recharge is the right step in the right direction for Volvo to realize its electric ambitions. There were a lot of things I liked about the XC40 Recharge and with the C40 Recharge, Volvo has taken all of those things and made them even better.

Read the full review for more details.