Volvo XC40 Recharge P8 is one of the most awaited pure electric SUVs for 2021. Here we brought you a first drive experience with the specs.
Battery and Charging
The electric XC40 features a big 78 kWh battery, returning an electric driving range of around 249 miles on a single charge. Volvo says a top-up from an 11 kW home charger will take less than 8 hours to fully charge the battery. while a 0-80% charge from 150 kW, CCS rapid charger should take around 40 minutes.
Motor Performance
An electric motor on each axle providing 4-wheel drive. the Volvo XC40 Recharge P8 motor produces a sizeable 402 BHP (brake horsepower), and 660 Nm of torque. acceleration from 0-62 mph takes 4.9 seconds. and like all Volvos, top speed is limited to 112 mph.
The new XC40 P8 is a truly quiet car. it makes almost nothing in noise. The pure electric SUVs like the Audi E-Tron set a new benchmark for refinement, and the Volvo very nearly keeps pace. performance is plentiful. put your foot down and you’ll find acceleration is instant. the XC40 P8 takes off and grips well too, thanks to its effective all-wheel-drive system.
Comfort
It’s certainly not as sharp as a Jaguar I-Pace. nor is it as fun to drive as a Polestar 2. but you have few complaints about comfort. the new Volvo XC40 Recharge P8 is an exceptional cruiser. and a car that thanks to its decent real-world range, should fit seamlessly into your life without so much the flicker of range anxiety.
Infotainment
There is one major difference inside and it’s all hidden away in this central infotainment screen. the 2021 Volvo XC40 Recharge P8 is running a Google-powered infotainment system. similar to that you find in the polestar 2. albeit on a dashboard and a screen that is unchanged from the conventional XC40. you get a full suite of google automotive services including Google Assistant and Google Maps, and you get 4 years of data included too.
Cargo Space
The fact the interior is so similar to the conventional XC40 is no bad thing. it’s built to a fantastic standard and there’s loads of space for the family. the boot is a good size. and there’s a 30 l storage space under the bonnet. perfect for storing the car’s charge cables. standard equipment in addition to that central screen. includes a 12.3-inch driver’s display, keyless entry, and start. plus a 3-pin charging cable. you’ll need to pay extra if you want to utilize the greater power of a home wall box or an untethered public charge point.
Exterior
Buyers get 19-inch wheels as standard as well as a choice of 8 exterior color options. including a unique sage green shade and an optional black contrasting roof.
Now styling wise, there’s very little to tell this electric version of the XC40 apart from its petrol or diesel siblings. at the front, you’ve got an empty (a plain) grille. but down the side, it’s business as usual. there are a few little details though. there are these recharge badges on the c-pillar. there’s another badge on the boot lid and of course, there are no exhaust pipes.
Safety
Of course, being a Volvo owner, safety is paramount. the maker says it’s one of the safest cars it has ever built. completely redesigning the front end to cope with the absence of an internal combustion engine. whilst also devising an aluminum cage to protect the car’s battery in the event of a collision. it’s also the first Volvo to benefit from the firm’s advanced drive resistance systems featuring several radars, cameras, and ultrasonic sensors.
Pricing
If Volvo’s recharge plug-in high models are anything to go buy. this its first all-electric model should be a great sales success. demand for EVs is growing by the day. and on this brief first encounter. the new electric XC40 P8 feels as accomplished as anything in this area of the market.
But its biggest problem comes from within. the super cool pulse R2 dips in under that all-important $50,000 of price barrier. but with cheaper models on the horizon this new XC40 Recharge with its fashionable SUV body, its decent real-world range, and its excellent refinement. all these factors should ensure this model’s long-term success.
Takeaways
Over the last few years, Volvo has been busy electrifying its entire product range. You can now buy a plug-in hybrid version of every model in the lineup. in some cases, there’s more than one to choose from. but what about pure electric. we’ve seen the Audi, Mercedes and even Jaguar zero-emissions models just take off. boss Volvo has sat back and watched well.
