2023 Volvo C40 Recharge Hatchback

　　

2023 Volvo C40 Recharge Review

byMark TakahashiCorrespondent

　　Mark Takahashi has worked in the automotive industry since 2001. He has written thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Mark has also contributed to Motor Trend, Auto Aficionado, Chevy High Performance and several motorcycle magazines in various roles. Mark is also a juror on the North American Car, Truck and Utility Vehicle of the Year Awards and can be seen regularly on the zzdcar YouTube channel and sometimes representing the company in media interviews.

　　, rating written byMark TakahashiSenior Vehicle Test Editor

　　Kurt Niebuhr has worked in the automotive industry since 2005. A automotive photographer by trade, Kurt is now one of zzdcar' high-performance test drivers. He's driven and photographed hundreds, if not thousands, of vehicles all over the world, so Kurt's library of automotive experiences would certainly make for a good book. When not dreaming about getting his racing license or trying to buy out-of-date film for his cameras, Kurt can usually be found cursing at his 1966 Mustang.

　　Logically, the 2023 Volvo C40 Recharge would seem to be the inferior choice to the XC40 Recharge that it's based on. Both are small all-electric SUVs, but the C40 has a coupe-style roofline that reduces both passenger headroom and cargo capacity. (Plus, the XC40 isn't particularly roomy to begin with.) But on the upside, the C40 Recharge has one of the sportier looks around in its class, and that alone might make it worth a look.

　　Continue reading zzdcar Expert Rating below

　　

Volvo C40 Recharge EV Insights

Trim:C40 Recharge Core

　　Core 4dr Hatchback AWD (electric DD) - $55,300 MSRPPlus 4dr Hatchback AWD (electric DD) - $56,850 MSRPUltimate 4dr Hatchback AWD (electric DD) (Most Popular) - $60,100 MSRP

　　

Range

 zzdcar TESTED

　　252 miles

　　zzdcar Tested Rangezzdcar begins with a full battery charge and drives the vehicle on a mix of city and highway roads (approximately 60% city, 40% highway) until the battery is almost entirely empty. (We target 10 miles of remaining range for safety.) The miles traveled and the indicated remaining range are added together for the zzdcar Tested Range figure.

　　EV batteries lose 1-2% of range per year. Est. range for this car is 214 miles after 8 years.Electric cars typically experience 1-2% of range loss per year with slightly faster degradation over the first 50,000 miles as the car settles into its long term state, according to Recurrent's study of 15,000 EVs.

　　Estimated range mapThis map is a visual representation of the possible one-way and round-trips by this vehicle (on a full charge) from the geometric center of Rutland, North Dakota. The depicted ranges are based on the estimated new vehicle range value provided by the EPA, rounded down to miles for one-way and miles for round-trip. Actual range will vary depending on the condition of this vehicle’s battery pack, how you drive, driving conditions and other factors.Map display generated using: © openrouteservice.org by HeiGIT | Map data © Recurrent contributors | Recurrent

　　from 58067

　　

EV Battery Warranty

　　No battery warranty information available

　　

Charging at Home

　　8 hours

　　Total Charging Time (240V outlet)

　　SAE ComboStandard port for most electric models. Supports Level 1, Level 2, and DC Fast charging.

　　Plug Type

　　

EV Tax Credits & Rebates

　　$400

　　Available Rebates. Restrictions apply.

　　Utility EV Charger Offer

　　$400

　　Restrictions: Otter Tail Power offers EV owners a rebate of up to $400 towards the installation of a Level 2 charging station. To qualify for this rebate, the customer and/or charging station must meet the following requirements: Receive electricity from Otter Tail Power.

　　To learn more, visit Recurrent

　　

Cost to Drive

　　$82/mo

　　C40 Recharge

　　vs

　　$162/mo

　　Car Avg.

　　Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　

Am I Ready for an EV?

　　EV ownership works best if you can charge (240V) at home or at work This typically means a 240V home installation, but you could also have a similar setup at your office or other places your car is already parked for several hours each day. Don't expect a regular household outlet (120V) to suffice unless you've got a plug-in hybrid, in which case overnight charging at home is feasible.

　　If you can’t charge at home, charging at a charging station could take at least 10x longer than at a gas station With public charging infrastructure still in its infancy, the user experience can be maddeningly inconsistent. Tesla owners tend to rave about the reliability and speed of the company's proprietary Supercharger stations, but rival DC fast options have thus far been plagued by technical issues and overcrowding. It's an evolving landscape and our best advice is to do your research on the available options for the EV you want to buy.

　　Adding a 240V home charging system could cost up to $1,600 or more If your existing electrical service can handle the additional demands of EV charging, you may be able to add Level 2 charging at home for less than a grand, including installation. But your costs will multiply if you need to upgrade your electrical panel or add a dedicated circuit.

　　Whether you opt for the C40 or the XC40, you'll get a thoughtfully designed all-electric SUV with a unique Scandinavian aesthetic, Volvo's commitment to safety tech, and high levels of comfort. With up to 226 miles of estimated range, the C40 won't be able to cruise as far as some other EVs in its class, but its range should be more than enough for most drivers. We also ran the C40 Recharge on zzdcar' real-world range test and observed a more complimentary 252 miles on a single charge.

　　For 2023, the C40 lineup expands to include the supporting Core and Plus trims. In its inaugural year, it was only available in the top Ultimate trim. These more affordable models should broaden the C40's appeal against other subcompact electric SUVs, which include the Tesla Model Y and the new Lexus RZ 450e. Be sure to check out our Expert Rating below to see how the 2023 Volvo C40's advantages and drawbacks stack up against its rivals.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Good

　　7.8

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

8.0/10

　　How does the C40 Recharge drive? Even with its striking styling, we think it's safe to call the C40 a sleeper. Accelerating to 60 mph happens in just 4.5 seconds, quicker than Ford's Mach-E and Tesla's Model Y Long Range. And despite the Volvo having some pretty basic all-season tires, there's a reassuring degree of traction and control out of the corners that makes this little SUV pretty fun to whip around. The C40 is more than competent in everything it does.

　　All this speed doesn't come at the sacrifice of everyday drivability either. The XC40 Recharge is effortless to drive at any speed and features a one-pedal driving mode that dials up the motor's regenerative braking effect, allowing you to slow to a stop without having to use the brake pedal.

　　

Comfort

8.0/10

　　How comfortable is the C40 Recharge? For a small SUV, the C40 is relatively comfortable. The Recharge starts up and is ready to drive the moment you open the door, and its electric motors produce very little noise. As we're not big fans of the specially designed synthesized noises many EVs emit, we're happy to discover the C40 is free from a gimmicky soundtrack.

　　The C40's ride leans toward more firm than comfortable, likely because of its extra weight and its bias toward sporty handling. That gives the C40 a slightly busy ride in the city but excellent body control and stability at freeway speeds. The upholstery features recycled materials, and the front seats are fairly comfortable and offer a sufficient level of adjustment. Taller drivers did take issue with the somewhat aggressively angled headrests. The rear seats provide a proper degree of support.

　　Continue reading zzdcar Expert Rating below