Volvo Cars is in the still-early stages of a reinvention and a transformation.
It still startles me to think of where Volvo wants to go. Because for decades, Volvo sold you on the idea of being cuddled and cocooned in a Swedish box on wheels. The state of the environment wasn’t on the radar.
Today, Volvo is in the still-early stages of a repositioning of epic proportions. Volvo now sells itself as a champion of the fight against climate change caused by humans.
It’s a noble ambition to fight climate change, though it’s hard to forget that Volvo’s owner, Geely of China, comes from a country that is by far the worst polluter in the world. China’s CO2 emissions, according to Climate Trade, are twice that of the U.S., the world’s second-worst polluter.
Volvo, however, is going electric. Within 2.5 years, half of Volvo’s global sales should be fully electric, with 1 million electrified Volvo on the road. Everything with a Volvo badge should be battery-powered-only by the end of this decade. No gas or diesel, no hybrids. Volvo, the fully electric car company.
And so, what you see here, the C40 Recharge, is a peek at Volvo’s ambitious future.
Volvo bills the C40 Recharge as a four-door coupe version of the slightly larger, taller XC40 Recharge crossover. Whatever.
What’s you’re looking at here is a tallish sedan that offers the space and convenience of a small crossover. But this Volvo is a more interesting design than its sibling, the XC40. This is a look that catches your eye. The grille-less front end screams EV, the sloped roof and big wheels say “sporty,” and the rear spoiler details and vents suggest a car that’s fast and fun. This is a car you notice.
The cabin is stuffed with some of the most supportive and comfortable seats sold by any car company. Volvo’s environmental ambitions are reflected in two ways here: all that plastic – and there is a lot of it for a $72,600 luxury car – is made from recycled material. Leather upholstery is no longer offered. You are looking at a vegan Volvo.
The cabin is just a looker, and not merely because the backlit dashboard inlay design was inspired of by a map of a Swedish park. And it’s functional, too. For instance, there is a small removable trash bin located in front of the centre console box. Nice addition. On the subtraction front, there is no start button. Climb in, and the C40 comes alive.
But before you go anywhere, you need to figure out the infotainment system and also become accustomed to the lack of buttons for commonly used things like controlling the fan.
Volvo’s error on the side of streamlined simplicity and smartphone-like operation is a mistake. A little button/knob redundancy would help reduce the shocking number of taps and swooshes necessary to basic things. Google’s Android operating system is not difficult to use and there is a ‘home” button. But running absolutely everything through that single screen – and not a particularly big one — is a mistake.
By the way, the back seats are roomy and also well-made, and with them folded, the cargo hold is almost as generous as the XC40. The small divided trunk is useful for odds and ends and underneath is a hidden tire repair kit.
Now to the heart of the matter. Here’s the question: Is Volvo on the right track with it’s EVs?
Start with range anxiety. Google Maps will find you charging stations, and you can narrow your choices down to best options based on charging speed, availability, and price. There are also available in the display important range calculations and such to help you plan your trips.
You can charge up from 0-80% in 40 minutes on a DC fast-charger (43-50kW), or overnight using a Level 2 charger. Kia and Hyundai EVs can take a faster charge using a 150kW rapid charger.
Whichever route you take, I think you’ll be impressed by the performance. This all-wheel-drive C40 has an electric motor on each axle. Power, of course, arrives instantly and there is a mountain of it: 450 hp and 486 lb-ft of torque. Your 0-100 km/h time comes in at 4.7 seconds.
The C40 Recharge has a posted range of 360 km. The standard now for many EVs is 420-500 km or more. As for energy economy, Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) rates the C40 at a combined 2.7 litres equivalent of fuel per 100 km.
Boy, do I like driving this rig. The ride is smooth, quiet and balanced on all but the worst road surfaces. The C40 feels robust and durable, well-made and safe – which it is, given all the safety features and basic structure proven in crash tests. The C40 feels substantial, not flimsy like a Tesla.
In corners, the C40 sits down nicely, with little roll or instability. The steering is sure and precise, but lacks feel and delivers zero feedback. Full one-pedal driving makes city commuting easier and controls stops with the electric motors, rather than the brakes – while also charging the battery, modestly.
I very much like the C40 and if looking for an EV, it’s a contender. I’d cross-shop the Volvo against at least these two competitors: Kia’s EV6 ($44,995-$57,995) and Hyundai’s Ionic 5 ($47,550-$54,550). Both offer more range, good power, lots of features, interesting styling and cool technology at impressive pricing.
