Volvo XC40 Recharge (2022) on test: great car, electric car in need of improvement

The Volvo XC40 Recharge is one of two fully electric Volvos and the manufacturer's only electric SUV. For two weeks I was able to find out how this works in everyday life.

But before I tell you about my experiences, I want to clarify which equipment I was allowed to drive. I got the all-electric Volvo XC40 Recharge Twin Pro provided with "All Wheel Driving" and 408 horsepower. There were also 20-inch rims in a double-spoke sports design. For almost two weeks I drove through (almost) all of Austria and now I want to clarify what my impression is after more than 3.200 kilometers.

Design

As you can see, the Volvo XC40 Recharge is an SUV. Of course, this is also available in several colors. You have the choice between a fairly inconspicuous green and blue, between several shades of gray and black.

At the back, the car looks like an ordinary Volvo. We have a Volvo lettering there, the model name and the elongated taillights on the two sides. The sides of the car are largely inconspicuous, only the "Recharge" lettering on the C-pillar catches the eye on closer inspection. Furthermore, you can see a small notch in all four door handles, in which there is a touch-sensitive sensor. The car can be locked and unlocked using this when the key is nearby. You only have to grab the handle to unlock it, to close it you stroke the door handle.

Unlike the hybrid and mild hybrid variants of the XC40, on the all-electric Volvo XC40 Recharge we have a cover in the color of the vehicle instead of the grille. Next to that there are the front lights, more on that later.

Interior

First row

Let's get into the front of the car. In the middle there is a large compartment for storing all sorts of things. I had a sunglass case, a house key, a money bag and a small bag for shopping with me prounblemished space. Right next to it we have a can for rubbish and two drink holders. The center console also offers several options for charging smartphones and other devices. There are two USB-C ports, a cigarette lighter and a wireless charging slot. Unfortunately, the latter doesn't work that quickly. In addition, you have to position the smartphone very precisely and it is rather superfluous for iPhone users because of the wired CarPlay.

This is what it looks like from the driver's perspective. (Picture: TechnikNews)

The steering wheel still has a classic T-shape. It lies very comfortably in the hand and can also be heated in winter if desired. For me, symbols on the steering wheel buttons were a bit incomprehensible at first. It was not immediately clear to me that the buttons on the left are for cruise control or that the volume is controlled using the arrow buttons on the right. In addition, I was desperately looking for a back button at the beginning when I wanted to exit the driving statistics window for the first time. That's what the button under the voice assistant button is for, as I found out shortly after.

Some design choices in the front of the interior don't appeal to me. I don't like the piano lacquer look on the fans, the center console and around the display. The layout of the buttons below the display is also rather questionable. The button for the alarm flasher is very small and the position on the far left is very unusual for me. In contrast, the button for play and pause is huge. Good music is important to me in the car, but then again not so important. I also find it strange that there are only buttons for the ventilation of the windshield and rear window. The other adjustment options for the climate can only be found in a menu on the display. Why not accommodate everything somehow? Or nothing at all if there is not enough space for all the controls?

Back row

While most of the fun happens in the front row, of course, there are some things worth noting in the back as well. A small bowl has been embedded on the right and left, in which small objects can be placed. In the middle there is a cigarette lighter for charging a smartphone. And if you fold down the center backrest, you get access to two holders for drinks.

Picture: TechnikNews

Space and storage space

Sitting in the front is very comfortable. Even a tall passenger and a person in the seat behind have enough space. The leather seats are generally very comfortable. Alternatively, two different textile covers can be selected for the seats when configuring the vehicle. There is definitely enough space for two people on the back seat, but it gets a bit too cuddly for three, as several companions confirmed to me. But the legroom is very good.

With the backrest folded down, the trunk has a capacity of 419 liters. The flap opens and closes automatically and can be controlled at the push of a button, with the car key or via a sensor under the car. Thanks to this sensor, all you have to do is place your foot under the XC40 Recharge and the flap will open and close. This is especially useful when your hands are full. The only requirement is that the car key is nearby. Incidentally, the trunk is equipped with a double floor so that small items can be easily stowed away without taking up much space.

The frunk, i.e. the trunk under the front flap, is perfect for transporting the charging cable. This is additionally protected by a plastic cover. Although this makes a high-quality impression, the closure is not particularly well made. So it is not so easy to close it by simply pressing it shut.

infotainment

main display

The main display in the middle is nine inches and runs Android Automotive. This is not Android Auto, where you connect your smartphone, but an operating system based on Android, which manufacturers can adapt to their models as they please – this is also known from the smartphone world. With Android Automotive, you can log in with your Google account, download certain apps from the Play Store and ask the Google Assistant questions. However, I don't like Volvo's user interface that much, as the icons in the app overview are quite small and the font could also be larger in many places.

Since Android Automotive is installed on the infotainment, Google Maps is the standard solution for navigation. What I liked was that the predictions for the remaining charge level at the destination are very accurate. Traffic jams (higher consumption due to stop-and-go) and gradients (less consumption due to recuperation) are also taken into account. A disadvantage is that the entire route is always visible when navigating, which is really stupid, especially over longer distances. I couldn't find a corresponding setting, I just always showed the navigation on the driver's display.

CarPlay has also been available since a recent update from Android Automotive. Here it is even adapted to the aspect ratio of the screen by default, which is the case, for example, with Ford Mustang Mach E is not the case. You can only use CarPlay with a cable, whereby the iPhone charges at the same time. Perhaps wireless CarPlay is still to come, considering that this feature is still fairly new in the Volvo.

driver display

The driver has his own display, which measures 12,3 inches diagonally. On it you can see the speed, the level of acceleration and recuperation, incoming calls (with a Bluetooth connection) and, depending on the setting, the navigation system (i.e. a map section) or the signposts (the next step on the route to the entered destination).

I would have liked the remaining range and information about the current media playback to be visible somewhere on the screen. You can only see the remaining range if you start the car with a battery level below 20 Procent starts. Or you ask the Google Assistant with the phrase "How far can I get?". You really have to ask this question that way, otherwise the language assistant will not understand it.

sound system

Music, podcasts and radio broadcasts come from Harman/Kardon speakers. I like the sound a lot, if you want you can also adjust the equalizer settings. In my opinion, however, the surround mode sounds more dull than good, so I didn't use it.

range and charging

The WLTP range of the Volvo XC40 Recharge is 436 kilometers and the consumption according to the manufacturer is 23,8 kilowatt hours pro 100 kilometers. That is already quite high and the WLTP range is only average. In addition, you will never reach the WLTP range anyway. When the battery reaches 100 Procently charged, the XC40 Recharge can be extrapolated to cover 350 kilometers. With a charge level of 80 Procent you can get about 280 kilometers to 300 kilometers far.

As is well known, the battery status of an electric car should be checked between 10 Procent and 80 Promove cent. This protects the battery and in this area the battery also recharges the fastest, in 28 minutes according to Volvo, provided you charge with CCS2 at a charging station with 150 kilowatts. In my experience, that's not a good thing, you should rather plan 35 minutes for the charging process - but not more. I also charged once with 11 kilowatts from 20 Procents to 100 Procent in around five hours and with 50 kilowatts from 20 Procents to 100 Procenter in about three hours. Unfortunately, more than 150 kilowatts are not supported.

driving experience

The Volvo XC40 Recharge glides comfortably over the streets. Slight bumps are hardly noticeable and when driving faster on winding mountain roads, the car does not start to "jump" in the bends. The steering is very direct, which I like. There is an option to activate the sporty steering in the car settings, but I can't tell a big difference compared to the normal mode. Of course, there is also one-pedal driving with the help of recuperation. This brings the car to a standstill on the flat and I was able to charge the battery once at six on the downhill Procharge cent. A shortcoming is that the recuperation cannot be continuously adjusted.

I had trouble changing gears a few times. To change, you have to step on the brake and use the selector lever to engage the desired gear - if you don't press the brake hard enough, the gear will not change. You get a small warning, but I think it could be a bit clearer.

A few more words about the lights. The car is able to automatically select the appropriate light level, which in reality works very reliably (but is no longer a big surprise for newer cars in 2022). Everything is well lit even in total darkness, although the cornering lights are a nice gimmick. A high beam automatic is also on board. In oncoming traffic, the Volvo always dimmed immediately, but was always a bit hesitant to fade in. Masking cars doesn't work because the lights aren't matrix LEDs.

assistance systems

As is usual for a current vehicle, the Volvo XC40 Recharge also comes with a few assistants. Let's take a closer look at these.

Probably the most exciting is the autopilot with cruise control. The car steers itself, maintains its speed and adjusts it if necessary. Works quite well on country roads and the motorway, in the city he is often indecisive and often acts jerkily and incorrectly. If you don't want the autopilot and would like to have a "speed limiter" instead, you can define that in the settings. However, the point is nested a little deeper. My colleague David Wurm was then able to enjoy the Volvo for a few days and was able to tell me a funny story about the autopilot. If the autopilot accidentally steered him into the opposite lane, the lane departure warning system – more on that in a moment – ​​got upset.

The parking camera with bird's eye view helps you when parking. Especially in the city and in narrow multi-storey car parks, this makes the parking process much easier. In combination with the parking sensors, you can even get into narrow gaps quite safely. The camera activates automatically when obstacles approach or when you want to reverse, so it's always there when you need it. There are also separate wide-angle perspectives for the front, back, and sides. This enabled me to check the street in both directions at my house entrance without having to drive far.

Bird's-eye view parking camera is a good help when parking. (Picture: TechnikNews)

There is also a lane departure warning system. If you leave your lane unintentionally, the steering wheel vibrates and the Volvo corrects the error. In addition, the Volvo XC40 Recharge can countersteer when changing lanes if an accident is imminent. The lane departure warning system also reports more frequently at construction sites on a motorway or in other similar situations, but this one ProOther cars have problems too.

Then some accident prevention systems were integrated:

• The "Cross Traffic Alert" reports if you fail to see crossing traffic when parking out. I couldn't test this.
• The vehicle comes to a standstill automatically before you start somewhere. However, I find this braking intervention to be a bit too cautious. The Volvo XC40 Recharge once made an emergency stop in my driveway due to the small distance to the wall on the left side of the car. And that, although the distance did not decrease any further. Since I didn't see it coming, I thought I had hit something - a really bad feeling.
• Last but not least, there is crash detection. As a result, the car reports when it thinks an accident is imminent, brakes slightly and steers against it. This system is also a bit overcautious for me. The XC40 Recharge once classified a car parked in a bend at a bus stop as a danger.

The XC40 Recharge can also recognize traffic signs, i.e. speed limits, no overtaking and other signs. It works surprisingly well, but it's not perfect either. In fact, several panels were displayed that simply did not appear anywhere, such as a sign with a speed limit of 90 kilometers pro hour (which I would never have noticed in Austria). Therefore, the cruise control mode, which adjusts the speed to the currently applicable limit, is not recommended.

Prices

The Volvo XC40 Recharge Twin AWD with the Plus package is available from a price of 59.410 euros.

Volvo XC40 Recharge: Conclusion

The Volvo XC40 Recharge is an excellent car. The driving experience is great, the background noise while driving is pleasant and there are many practical smart features that you would expect in 2022. In addition, the design of the vehicle is modern and simple and there is enough storage space. But the XC40 Recharge is only a semi-good electric car. As described, the range and charging could be improved, but the recuperation and the route and charging stop planning with Google Maps work phenomenally.

Picture: TechnikNews

Apart from that, some of my criticisms include the wired CarPlay, the slow charging pad, the customization of the assistants and parts of the design inside.

The Volvo XC40 Recharge is therefore well suited if you move within a 100-kilometer radius in everyday life. Otherwise, you should look for a model with lower consumption and a longer range.

Thank you for providing the Volvo XC40 Recharge. Another thank you goes to my girlfriend, who accompanied me for most of the 3.200 kilometers.

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