Like most European cars, in a straight line, the C40 Recharge feels very stable. It’s so planted that you won’t realise how fast you are going.
Driving the C40 Recharge
The C40 Recharge is built on Volvo’s CMA platform which is shared with the XC40 and XC40 Recharge. However, unlike the XC40, there will be no IC engine version of it.
Like the XC40 Recharge, it comes with a 78 kWh lithium-ion battery pack mounted on the floor of the car. Powering the C40 are 2 electric motors – one mounted at the front and one at the rear – that together deliver up to 402 BHP (and 660 Nm). While the motor at the front sends ~160 BHP (and 330 Nm) to the front wheels, the rear motor sends ~242 BHP (and 330 Nm) to the rear wheels giving the car an all-wheel drive configuration.
The first thing you notice when you want to start the car is that there is no start/stop button. To bring the electric motors to life, you need to press the brake and put the gear shifter in “D” mode. There is a sensor that detects if someone is present in the driver’s seat. Only then do the car’s motors start.
Step on the accelerator and the car moves forward gently. There are no jerks from gearshifts and no sound from the engine sound means it is an extremely refined experience. What’s great is that the car comes with a one-pedal drive feature which can be activated through the touchscreen head unit. This allows the C40 Recharge to be driven by just using the accelerator and without using the brakes in bumper-to-bumper traffic. Driving the C40 in city traffic is a breeze. While the front visibility is good, and side visibility is average. However, the coupe-like styling and thick C-Pillars severely hamper the visibility through the rear windshield. Thankfully, a 360-degree camera system has been provided.
On the open road, the C40 Recharge provides instant acceleration when you step on the accelerator. Volvo claims a 0-100 km/h sprint time of 4.7 seconds and we do not doubt that. Floor the A-pedal and you’ll be pushed hard back into the seats. Be sure that nothing is kept on the dashboard or it will come flying at you. This sort of acceleration puts the C40 Recharge in sportscar territory. It will see you leaving most ICE cars in the dust.
The C40 Recharge can easily cruise at triple-digit speeds on the highway and when you need to overtake a slower vehicle quickly, just floor the A-pedal and fly past the vehicle. However, the harder you drive, the faster the range drops. This is also why you will see EVs that are driving longer distances sticking to the middle lane and cruising at 80-100 km/h (which is the best cruising speed for the current lots of EVs).
Off-road Mode
The car comes with an Off-road drive mode that can be activated through the touchscreen. It is only available at speeds up to 40 km/h. It provides enhanced engine braking, which makes it possible to increase or reduce the speed of the car on steep hills by using only the accelerator pedal, without using the foot brake.
Regenerative Braking
Unlike other EVs, the C40 Recharge does not get adjustable regenerative braking. Instead, as mentioned earlier, it comes with a one-pedal drive feature. The car will start shedding speed the moment you lift your foot off the accelerator and come to a stop. The ADAS makes sure that it stops well behind the vehicle in front. Engine-braking lovers will appreciate driving with this feature activated.
Noise, Vibration & Harshness (NVH)
Like most EVs, the C40 Recharge is super quiet. There’s no engine or gearbox to make any noise, so the overall driving experience is silent. At slow speeds, no one will hear you coming and you might need to use the horn to warn others of your presence.
Cabin insulation is top class and wind noise and tyre / road noise are well controlled. Overall, the cabin is a quiet and comfortable place to be in.
Range
The Volvo C40 Recharge has an ICAT-certified range of 683 km or a WLTP-certified range of 530 km. In real-world driving conditions, you can expect a range of ~400 km. Given the rising demand for EVs, there are plenty of charging stations popping up everywhere, which ought to take care of range anxiety as well.
Charging
Volvo provides an 11 kW charger as standard with the C40 Recharge. The car can also be charged using a 150 kW fast charger. The company claims that this can charge the battery from 10% to 80% in just 27 minutes.
Suspension
Ride Comfort
The Volvo C40 Recharge gets a MacPherson strut suspension at the front and a multi-link suspension at the rear. The suspension is on the stiffer side and the car rides on 19-inch wheels. This makes the low-speed ride firm. Every crack and bump on the road is felt. While the ride is not uncomfortable, it is far from plush. As we have seen in the case with most stiff suspension setups, the ride quality improves with speed. The recommended tyre pressure is a rather high 41 PSI. Dropping the pressure might help improve the ride.
Handling & Dynamics
Like most European cars, in a straight line, the C40 Recharge feels very stable. It’s so planted that you won’t realise how fast you are going. Undulations on the road are dispatched with aplomb. In the corners, the body roll is very well-controlled. We threw the car around some corners at pretty good speeds and it handled them like a pro. Mid-corner bumps were easily dealt with and the car didn’t lose its composure. The low centre of gravity and stiff suspension help matters when the car is driven hard. The Pirelli tyres provide excellent grip as well.
Steering
The electric power steering is a nice unit and easy to operate as well. It is light at city speeds which makes it very user-friendly. The steering weighs up well at highway speeds. Further, it can be given some more weight by activating a mode through the touchscreen. Overall, the steering feels connected and inspires confidence.
Braking
The C40 Recharge has 18-inch discs at the front and rear. These give the car great stopping power. In our short test drive, the car stopped without any drama when the brakes were slammed.
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Keyword: Volvo C40 Recharge : Our observations after a day of driving