Summary
The Volvo XC40 Recharge is Volvo’s first full-electric car and as its name suggests, an electric version of the Swedish brand’s mid-sized crossover. However underneath, its electric drivetrain is similar to that of the Polestar 2 from the Volvo spin-off brand.
The initial model on sale is the range-topper – this uses two 204hp electric motors, one on each axle to give it full all-wheel-drive capability, and a 78kWh battery pack. Front-wheel-drive variants will be added to the line-up later in 2021.
It’s a fast EV this one, hitting 62mph from rest in under five seconds. Official WLTP range is close to 250 miles, and using a 150kWh fast charger the battery can be replenished to 80% capacity in 40 minutes.
For now you can only buy a top-spec First Edition model with a whopping price tag of around £60,000, so no plug-in Government grant to lessen the pain. The range-topping status does mean an excellent safety package, a core feature of Volvos – a wide range of active safety features come fitted as standard.
General equipment levels are extensive too, which they should be for the price. Most of the Volvo options list is supplied on the car including a powered tailgate, panoramic sunroof, a 360-degree camera and wireless phone chargers.
The XC40 Recharge also debuts Volvo’s new Android-based infotainment system which makes use of such apps as Google maps – reviewers are split on the system’s effectiveness compared to conventional rivals.
Most reviews suggest the electric XC40 will be more attractive once the range expands to include cheaper, lower-spec versions.
The Volvo XC40 Recharge has an Expert Rating of 67%, based on 22 reviews. This score is dragged down by a poor review from the Telegraph, which only gave it two stars. As the range expands, it’s likely that this score will improve to draw closer to the regular XC40’s score of 75%.
- Volvo XC40 (petrol, diesel, plug-in hybrid versions) – Expert Rating
- More Volvo ratings, reviews, news and features
XC40 Recharge highlights
- Fast acceleration and good range
- Silent operation
- Good quality cabin finish
- Extensive equipment
XC40 Recharge lowlights
- Initial models too expensive
- Soft suspension
- Android infotainment system not as good as rivals
- Some loss of boot space + cable take up a lot of room
Key specifications
Body style: Compact SUV/crossover
Powertrain: electric motor, battery-powered
Price: From £49,950 on-road
Launched: Winter 2020/21
Last updated: N/A
Replacement due: TBA
Image gallery
Media reviews
Reviews, road test and comparisons from across the UK automotive media. Click any of the boxes to view.
Auto Express
Model reviewed: Single Motor
Score: 7 / 10
“There’s no aspect of the XC40 which is terribly bad, but at this price it should have a better range and more accomplished driving dynamics. The XC40 remains a good option in internal-combustion engine form, but so far it’s struggling to make the transition to full electrification.”
Read review
Score: 8 / 10
“The Volvo XC40 EV is a beautifully engineered creation with excellent performance, decent range, exceptional refinement and no compromise on practicality compared with regular versions. But, if anything, the P8 feels a little too potent and pricey for this size of vehicle.”
Read review
Auto Trader
Model reviewed:
Score: 9 / 10
“The XC40 Recharge Twin is Volvo’s first fully electric car. The standard XC40 comes with petrol and diesel powertrains. There’s also an XC40 Recharge plug-in hybrid model, but the Recharge Twin badge denotes pure electric power.”
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Autocar
Model reviewed: Single motor Recharge Plus
Score: 7 / 10
“This Volvo XC40 easily copes with getting up to 70mph on a really short slip road, so I can’t see why you would need the extra power of the Twin. Where it’s not so impressive is the range. I wasn’t driving like a loon yet still struggled to average more than 2.0mpkW, while the predicted range was less than 200 miles.” (Piers Ward)
Read review
Model reviewed:
Score: 7 / 10
“The Swedish manufacturer’s first fully electric production model is effectively a Polestar 2 in an XC40-shaped frock; and in P8 guise – currently the only variant of this new Volvo that’s available in the UK – the two cars are extremely close when it comes to on-paper specification.”
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Business Car
Model reviewed: P8 First Edition
Score: 6 / 10
“Perhaps the XC40 is a car more for Volvo’s early adopters and tech lovers. The C40, announced recently and due in showrooms by the end of the year, will be more affordable. Sadly, it will still have the Google infotainment platform, but perhaps we will have got used to it by then.”
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Car
Model reviewed:
Score: 8 / 10
“This is a very accomplished EV debut, achieving Volvo’s aim of making the transition simple and painless. It’s clearly aimed at early adopters, and it should do a good marketing job, in that the first XC40 P8 that anyone sees will be a quick, well equipped one, driven by someone smart and wealthy.” (Colin Overland)
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Carbuyer
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8.2 / 10
“The Volvo XC40 Recharge is a comfortable and spacious electric SUV, although rivals offer better range” (Ben Custard)
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Company Car Today
Model reviewed:
“Very rapid yet very sensible in every other way, it’s just a shame that we have to wait for the more affordable versions of Volvo’s pricey but otherwise very impressive first electric vehicle.”
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Daily Mail
Model reviewed: P8 First Edition
“As is the sweeping generalisation about Scandinavian folk, the XC40 P8 is very polite and charming, though a little reserved at first. But then once you get comfortable and have spent a bit of time together, you suddenly discover a rather fun-loving and raucous side as the ‘inner Viking’ emerges.”
Read review
Daily Mirror
Model reviewed: First Edition
Score: 8 / 10
“This Volvo is one of the finest electric cars on the market but in First Edition spec it’s simply too expensive, unless you really do want all that performance. I suspect that the less powerful models which will be sold at a more reasonable price will be extremely popular.”
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Discover EV
Model reviewed: Twin Pro
Score: 8 / 10
“The Volvo XC40 Recharge isn’t cheap for a small SUV but it does offer a dynamic drive, fairly decent range and beautiful design.”
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Green Car Guide
Model reviewed:
Score: 9 / 10
“The Volvo XC40 Recharge Twin AWD looks like an SUV, however under this boxy exterior lies a party trick: an all-electric powertrain with very rapid acceleration.”
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Heycar
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“Volvo has made headlines for its drive to have a purely electric car range and the XC40 Recharge Pure Electric is the first step. However, it’s very expensive even when compared to other electric cars, some with better ranges.”
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Honest John
Model reviewed:
“The electric XC40 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.”
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Parkers
Model reviewed:
Score: 8.6 / 10
“Volvo’s first EV sets a new standard in ease of use.”
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The Sun
Model reviewed: First Edition
“The Volvo XC40 Recharge First Edition is the same as its petrol twin, but way too expensive.”
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The Sunday Times
Model reviewed:
Score: 9 / 10
“The Volvo XC40 Pure Electric P8 is undeniably a fabulous machine. It’s great to look at, sit in and drive, and the creature comforts (even rear passengers get heated seats) and technology are really first-rate. Still, you can’t ignore the high price of the First Edition.”
Read review
The Telegraph
Model reviewed: 78kWh
Score: 4 / 10
“There’s lots to like about this battery-electric Volvo SUV; it’s fast, refined, comfortable and quirky, and also quite nice to drive once learned. But it’s too heavy and that means its efficiency at 3.46 miles per kWh is poor. It’s also, in this form, staggeringly expensive.”
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Top Gear
Model reviewed:
Score: 8 / 10
“What we have here is nothing less than the most dynamically capable Volvo ever. Seriously.”
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What Car?
Model reviewed:
Score: 8 / 10
“The Volvo XC40 Recharge Pure Electric has an appealing interior, a decent electric range, rapid performance and impressive safety credentials. It’s expensive next to many rivals, but the lower-spec models stack up fairly well next to similarly premium alternatives.”
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Which?
Model reviewed:
“Volvo’s first EV is a triumph. It adds a serious turn of performance and the potential for very low running costs to what was already a hugely desirable and practical small SUV. Overall the XC40 Recharge is a deserved Which? Best Buy.”
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Safety rating
No safety rating
As of November 2022, the Volvo XC40 Recharge has not been assigned a safety rating by Euro NCAP. The regular petrol and diesel XC40 was awarded a five-star rating back in 2018, however this rating does not currently apply to the electric version.
Based on every other Volvo in the current range – as well as the related Polestar 2 – it is highly likely that the XC40 Recharge will score highly when it is assessed.
Once the XC40 Recharge has been put through its paces by Euro NCAP, we will publish the results here.
- Thatcham Research rated the Volvo XC40 as one of its ten safest new cars of 2019.
Eco rating
No eco rating
As of November 2022, the Volvo XC40 Recharge has not been lab tested by Green NCAP.
The Green NCAP programme measures exhaust pollution (which is zero for an electric car) and energy efficiency. Electric cars are much more energy-efficient than combustion cars, so the XC40 Recharge is likely to score very highly in Green NCAP testing whenever it ever takes place. Check back again soon.
Reliability rating
As of November 2022, we don’t have enough reliability data on the Volvo XC40 Recharge to generate a reliability rating.
The Car Expert’s reliability information is provided exclusive from extended warranty data from our partner, MotorEasy. As soon as MotorEasy has sufficient data on the XC40 Recharge, we’ll publish the score here.
Similar cars
If you’re looking at the Volvo XC40 Recharge, you might also be interested in these alternatives
Audi Q4 e-tron | Citroën ë-C4 | DS 3 Crossback E-Tense | Hyundai Ioniq 5 | Kia e-Niro | Kia EV6 | Lexus UX Electric | Mazda MX-30 | Mercedes-Benz EQA | MG ZS EV | Peugeot e-2008 | Polestar 2 | Skoda Enyaq | Vauxhall Mokka-e | Volkswagen ID.4
- Volvo XC40 (petrol, diesel, plug-in hybrid versions) – Expert Rating
- More Volvo ratings, reviews, news and features
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