2023 Volvo XC40 Recharge SUV

　　

2023 Volvo XC40 Recharge Review

byAlex NishimotoCorrespondent

　　Alex Nishimoto has worked in the automotive industry since 2007. He was a staff writer for MotorTrend for 10 years and since then has contributed to CNET, PRI, AutoWise and other publications.

　　, rating written byAlex NishimotoDirector, Vehicle Testing

　　Jonathan Elfalan has worked in the automotive industry since 2005. As a director of vehicle testing at zzdcar, Jonathan has tested and reviewed thousands of cars and written thousands of car-related articles over the course of his career. Jonathan got his start testing cars for Road & Track magazine as a newly minted mechanical engineer grad from University of California, Irvine, and has also contributed to Motor Trend and the Associated Press. He likes to say he learned to drive a manual transmission in a rear-wheel-drive mid-engine vehicle but often omits it was his family's 1991 Toyota Previa minivan.

　　The 2023 Volvo XC40 Recharge is an all-electric SUV based on the conventionally powered standard XC40 small crossover. It's part of a growing class of premium electric SUVs such as the Audi e-tron, Ford Mustang Mach-E, Hyundai Ioniq 5, Jaguar I-Pace and Tesla Model Y. The XC40 Recharge is Volvo's first EV, but with the introduction of the C40 Recharge, it's no longer the automaker's only battery-electric offering. The two are quite similar — the main difference is the C40's sleeker roofline.

　　Continue reading zzdcar Expert Rating below

　　

Volvo XC40 Recharge EV Insights

Trim:XC40 Recharge Core

　　Core 4dr SUV AWD (electric DD) - $53,550 MSRPPlus 4dr SUV AWD (electric DD) - $56,250 MSRPUltimate 4dr SUV AWD (electric DD) (Most Popular) - $59,500 MSRP

　　

Range

　　223 miles

　　EPA Estimated Range

　　EV batteries lose 1-2% of range per year. Est. range for this car is 190 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

　　8 yrs or 100,000 milesThe federal government requires that EV batteries be warrantied for a minimum of eight years or 100,000 miles. The EV battery warranty includes replacement if your battery capacity drops below a certain percentage of the original capacity.

　　

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

　　$84/mo

　　XC40 Recharge

　　vs

　　$167/mo

　　SUV 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.

　　For 2023, the XC40 Recharge gets revised front and rear bumpers to bring its styling more in line with its raked-roofline sibling. It also receives updated headlights with pixel LED technology and a new Tailored Wool Blend upholstery option, which Volvo pitches as a more sustainable alternative to its faux leather.

　　Many electric SUVs give you a few different options for power or battery size, but Volvo does a one-size-fits-all approach. Every Volvo XC40 Recharge comes equipped with a dual-motor electric drivetrain that's good for 402 horsepower and 486 lb-ft of torque. It's plenty powerful, but range on a full charge is a little underwhelming. How much of a concern is that? Learn more about the XC40 by reading our test team's full Expert Rating below.

　　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

　　7.9

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

8.0/10

　　How does the XC40 Recharge drive? The best thing about the XC40 Recharge is how it drives. Beneath its unassuming wrapper is easy and instant thrust. 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 decent amount of traction and control out of the corners that makes this little SUV pretty fun to whip around.

　　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.

　　And speaking of modes, there is an off-road mode that helps with steeper hill descents should you encounter such a situation. But considering the Recharge's marginal ground clearance, we wouldn't venture very far off the pavement.

　　

Comfort

8.0/10

　　How comfortable is the XC40 Recharge? For a small, sporty SUV, the XC40 Recharge is fairly comfortable. The biggest differences between this all-electric version and its gas-powered counterpart? The Recharge is much quieter and its climate control turns on faster. We found the regular XC40's engine to be a big contributor to noise, and its slow-booting onboard systems meant delays in turning on the climate system via the touchscreen controls. The Recharge starts up and is ready to drive the moment you open the door, and its electric motors produce very little noise.

　　The Recharge's ride is more firm than comfortable, likely because of its extra weight and its bias toward sporty handling. The front seats are a mix of suede and leather, and they are fairly comfortable and have a decent number of adjustments. As in the other XC40s, the headrests have an odd forward angle to them, which may be uncomfortable for people with longer torsos.

　　Continue reading zzdcar Expert Rating below