2022 Volvo XC40 Recharge
For this week’s review we’ve gotten our hands on the 2022 Volvo XC40 Recharge. Volvo has promised to go all electric by 2025! They are moving to fully electrifying their entire line up by starting with the XC40. From the very beginning the XC40 was designed to accommodate an electric drivetrain.
Disclosure: Volvo Canada provided me with the 2022 Volvo XC40 Recharge for a week to test drive, and photograph. All photos in this blog post was taken by me. #VolvoXC40Recharge
ACCELERATION: 9.25/10
201 HP / 243 lb-ft per motor
Has identical Dual motors producing 402 HP output
0-100km in 4.3 seconds
BRAKING: 8.5/10
118ft to stop from 100 km to 0
It stops faster than the XC40 T5 R which surprised me because it’s 1000 lbs heavier. The wider rear tires must be helping a lot
HANDLING: 8.5/10
It feels more balanced than the Turbocharged model
RIDE: 8/10
Suspension absorbs imperfections nicely
ECONOMY: 7.5/10
223 Mile Range - Doesn’t have as much range as other modern EVs but it’s more than enough for most people
CABIN NOISE: 9/10
Very quiet thanks to the electric system. The battery pack under the car helps block out additional road noise too
EXTERIOR: 9/10
Looks similar to the regular XC40 but a closed grill
Rear tires are wider than the front. Probably due to the battery pack being at the back
Kept the same height for the roof, but since there’s a battery pack under the car, you’ll have slightly less ground clearance from the gasoline version
INTERIOR FOR DRIVER: 8.5/10
To start the vehicle, switch the drive mode out of Park. There is no Start button. To turn off the vehicle, switch the drive mode to Park and exit car.
The camera system doesn’t allow for dual views to be seen at one time. I would have liked to see the 360 and rear view at the same time. Hopefully this feature can be added in a software update.
I wish there were paddles to control the strength of regen braking. There is no regen braking when driving normally unless switching to 1-pedal mode. The XC40 uses a blended braking system and does a really good job at implementing this.
I really like how it drives like a regular car. I always found the whining sound EV cars make when driving at low speeds or reversing incredibly annoying but this doesn’t make that.
Tilt/telescopic column with a good range of motion
4-way lumbar support
2-position seat memory
Extending thigh support
Uses an Android Infotainment system instead of Volvo’s version. The Google Map system is very handy and gives an estimate of how much battery charge you’ll have when reaching the destination
INTERIOR FOR PASSENGERS: 8/10
Front passenger seat has same range of motion as the driver’s seat
Rear seats fold in a 60/40 fashion
Has a centre arm rest with 2 cup holders and a ski pass through
Combined Legroom:
82.3 - Model Y
79.5 - XC60
79.0 - GLA
78.9 - Q5
77.0 - XC40
77.0 - X2
76.1 - Q3
76.1 - Polestar 2
75.9 - I-Pace
Rear Headroom:
39.8 - Polestar 2
39.3 - Q5
39.1 - XC40
38.1 - I-Pace
38.0 - XC60
38.0 - GLA
37.7 - Model Y
37.6 - Q3
37.1 - X2
INTERIOR STORAGE: 7.5/10
20.4 Cu Ft of trunk cargo space
If we lift up the load floor we get an extra 2.2 Cu. Ft.
Front trunk also has 1.1 Cu. Ft
Power lift trunk
OVERALL IMPRESSION OF THE 2022 Volvo XC40 Recharge:
The XC40 Recharge is my favourite option in the electric market. It looks, handles and drives like a normal vehicle. It’s the perfect size for a smaller family and drive in the city. If you put it in a corner and punch it you'll get a very balanced power delivery since it has matching motors in the front and rear. It’s a lot of fun!
At the moment there are no direct competitors to the XC40 recharge. This is in a smaller category to something like the I-Pace, Model Y and Mustang Mach-E. Bottom line, I love it. If you’re looking a solid luxury crossover you’ll want to take a look at this.