2023 Volvo XC40 Recharge Review

Intro

The Swedish luxury car company Volvo is one of the early adopters of the EV trend. The brand wants to replace its entire lineup with pure EVs by 2030.​​​​​​​​ The XC40 Recharge is the company's first effort. It offers a stylish design, a powerful motor, a practical interior, and most importantly, a big enough battery to eliminate range anxiety for most drivers. For the 2023 model, the XC40 Recharge offers more range and standard features to stay competitive in the growingly crowded EV SUV space.

Thanks to Volvo Canada, I had the chance to test drive the 2023 XC40 Recharge for one week. Below is my unbiased review.

Exterior

The 2023 Volvo XC40 Recharge has a chic exterior that combines boxy design with sleek lines. The front fascia features a revised bumper and grille that give it a more aggressive look than the regular XC40. The LED headlamps are also more angular and sharp, resembling those of the fastback C40 Recharge model. The front bumper also has a different design, with larger air intakes and LED fog lights.

The side profile showcases the futuristic looking 20-inch wheels that come standard, as well as the contrasting floating roof with a subtle Recharge logo on the C pillar. The rear end has a distinctive LED taillight design that wraps around the tailgate, as well as a unique diffuser with no tailpipes.

Interior

The 2023 Volvo XC40 Recharge has a spacious interior that is minimalistic and futuristic. The use of eco-friendly materials such as vegan-friendly vinyl upholstery, tailed wood blend upholstery, and recycled plastic linings showcases the brand's effort to be more environmentally friendly. The topography inspired translucent back-lit decor gives the cabin a contemporary vibe at night.

The front seats are supportive and fully adjustable with standard heating functions. Due to its boxy design, both front and rear seats provide generous legroom and headroom. Rear passengers also enjoy a massive panoramic sunroof as well as dedicated climate controls.

Infotainment

The infotainment system of the 2023 Volvo XC40 Recharge is based on the same Google based Android system. It offers a smartphone-like user experience that is intuitive for the most part. Some car specific functions do require you to dig into the menu further than necessary. On the display’s lower section are buttons for instant access to commonly used features such as park assist camera views and in-car apps. But the car can benefit from more dedicated climate control buttons.

The 9-inch touchscreen responds quickly to inputs and supports swipe and pinch gestures. The infotainment system of the 2023 Volvo XC40 Recharge also benefits from the integration of Google's services, which make it easy to access navigation, voice control, and entertainment options. Google Maps provides real-time traffic information and charging station locations, while Google Assistant allows you to use natural language commands to control various functions of the car. Google Play Store lets you download apps such as Spotify, YouTube Music, and Audible to enhance your driving experience. The system also supports wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

There are two audio system options: a standard 8 speakers, 7 channels 250w high performance audio system, and a Harman Kardon premium stereo system that comes with 13 speakers and a subwoofer.

Driving

The 2023 Volvo XC40 Recharge delivers an impressive driving performance, thanks to its dual-motor powertrain that produces 402 horsepower and 670 Nm of torque. It pushes the car from 0-100km/h in 4.8 seconds. The instant acceleration provided by electric motors still puts a smile on my face every time I step hard on the accelerator. The top speed of the XC40 is electronically limited to 180 km/h, but that shouldn't bother too many drivers. The driving range of the 2023 Volvo XC40 Recharge is estimated at 409km, which is more than enough for most people. Moreover, the Volvo can recharge quickly using a 200kW DC fast charger, reaching 80% of its battery capacity from 10% in just 34 minutes. At home, the 11kW onboard charger takes 8hr to charge the car from zero to 100 percent with a 240VAC plug. The battery pack has a capacity of 78 kWh and is covered by an eight-year or 150,000km warranty. The handling of the 2023 Volvo XC40 Recharge is luxurious and smooth, with a compliant ride and a refined cruising demeanor. The steering is light and accurate, and the regenerative braking allows for one-pedal driving. To activate one-pedal driving, it requires you to dig into the menu. Once again, a dedicated button to turn this function on and off would be appreciated. The XC40 is fairly steady in corners, but you can definitely feel the weight of the car if you take the corner too fast. 

Safety and Driver Assistance

The 2023 Volvo XC40 Recharge comes with a comprehensive list of safety and driver assistance features that make it one of the safest cars on the road. Some of the standard features include:

• Forward collision warning
• Automatic emergency braking
• Lane departure warning
• Blind spot monitoring
• Rear cross traffic alert
• Semi-autonomous driving mode
• Parking sensors
• Rearview camera

Stepping up to the Ultimate trim, the XC40 gets additional features such as:

• hands-on lane-centering 
• adaptive cruise control
• 360° parking view
• Front, rear, and side Park assist

Cargo Space & Storage

The 2023 Volvo XC40 Recharge is a very practical SUV, with plenty of room for your belongings. The cargo area behind the rear seats measures 452L, which is average in the class. The rear seats can be folded down in a 60/40 split, expanding the cargo space to 1328L. There is also a small front trunk that can hold smaller items such as a charging cable or a duffle bag.

The cabin of the 2023 Volvo XC40 Recharge also has many clever storage solutions, such as a large bin under the center armrest, a removable trash bin in the center console, and a wireless charging pad in front of the shifter. There are also plenty of cupholders, deep door pockets, and seatback pockets to store loose items.

Conclusion

The 2023 Volvo XC40 Recharge is an attractive and capable electric compact SUV that offers a stylish design, a premium and practical interior, a powerful drivetrain, and good driving range. It also comes with a long list of features and technology that make it comfortable, convenient, and safe to drive. The only drawbacks are its relatively high sticker price. The Recharge starts at just above $60k for the base trim. Stepping up the trims, the price can go as high as $76k for the Ultimate trim. At this price there are a few options that offer better range and are better equipped. Still, the 2023 Volvo XC40 Recharge is a great choice for buyers who want an eco-friendly SUV and enjoy the iconic Scandinavian design.