Volvo XC40 Recharge Review

The Recharge Twin model has lots of grip thanks to its all-wheel drive system. Handling is aided by the battery providing a lower centre of gravity than the petrol model, but this still a high-riding car with relatively soft suspension that weighs 2,113 kg – so it’s no sports car.

On the motorway the XC40 Recharge is as quiet and refined as you would expect a premium electric SUV to be.

One thing to be aware of is that the XC40 Recharge doesn’t display a figure for the electric driving range. Apart from the Volvo C40, we’re not aware of another EV that doesn’t provide this figure. It shows a battery percentage, and it shows the range when you get down to 25% battery charge, but if you want to find out the range above that figure you have to ask the in-car Google assistant.

Along with most new cars, the majority of car controls are accessed via the central touchscreen. There’s a home button at the bottom, pressing this gives you four boxes on the screen for items such as satnav, radio/media and phone, and the climate controls are permanently at the bottom of the screen (Tesla-like).

The XC40 Recharge also has a (braked) towing weight of 1,500kg, or 1,800kg for the Recharge Twin.

The Volvo XC40 Recharge has an official combined WLTP driving range of 258-264 miles, or 256-259 miles in the case of the Recharge Twin.

The XC40 Recharge can rapid charge at up to 150 kW, which means that a 10-80% charge at a 150kW DC charger should take 32 minutes, or 37 minutes for the Recharge Twin. You can recharge the XC40 Recharge Twin in around eight hours using the on-board 11kW (AC) charger.

The Volvo XC40 Recharge is an SUV, so it offers space and practicality, and it’s electric, so it’s quiet and refined. It also offers a comfortable ride, and, especially in the case of the Recharge Twin, lots of performance, which it can transfer to roads in all weathers thanks to its all-wheel drive system. The XC40 Recharge also offers a premium feel - although its price reflects that.