Single-motor Volvo XC40 Recharge review, first drive - the sensible luxury EV?

While it's not alone, Volvo has been especially vocal about its commitment to electric mobility. It has some of the more ambitious EV plans, hoping to go fully electric in India much before its 2030 global deadline. It's been a good start, the company sells as many of its XC40 and C40 EVs as it can. But now, there's more choice in the mix with this new single-motor Volvo XC40 Recharge E60.

Single-motor Volvo XC40 Recharge battery, range, charging

This version of the XC40 Recharge uses a smaller 69 kWh battery pack. That being said, WLTP range hasn't seen an especially big drop, given that it's drawing much less power. So you have a rated 475 km. We couldn't put this EV through our full real-world test although we did see an indicated 350 km range at 81 per cent charge, so over 400 km on a full charge can be easily expected in regular driving.

Charging speeds are also good, although not the best in the segment. The XC40 Recharge will DC fast charge at 150 kW which gets it from 10 to 80 per cent charge in 34 minutes. Through an 11 kW AC charger, the battery tops up in 8 hours.

Single-motor Volvo XC40 Recharge driving impressions

At first, the 238PS and 420 Nm that this rear-driven XC40 Recharge makes seem a big step down from the heavy outputs of the dual-motor version. You get the same sense from the 0 to 100 kmph time of 7.3s. But start driving this EV, and your impression changes quickly enough.

You immediately sense that this car feels more agile and lighter on its feet given the lesser weight and rear-driven setup. There's a touch more directness in the front which is especially useful in treading this car through traffic. Also helping here is the good visibility and the well-judged steering. As with these new Volvos, there are no drive modes as such. Just a firm steering option. But this just adds an artificial layer of heft. The default mode is good enough, it feels reasonably direct and also weighs up naturally as speeds rise.

The ride and handling character also tie in with this. The usual EV traits of the low-sling weight and the even weight distribution mean that the XC40 feels fluid and planted on the move. There's good stability at all times and you don't notice it lean too much around bends. So there's always a clean confident air to the entire experience.

But most owners will be more impressed by the well-judged ride. It's not especially firm, yes you do hear the suspension working hard over bumps, but a lot of it is filtered away. So you have a firm edge to it at low speeds, but not more so than in the ICE XC40. Expectedly, this smoothens out as you gain speed where it's again a pliant, comfortable experience.

The performance in isolation is also enough for most needs. It starts in much the same way as the dual-motor version, with a soft linear pull that's manageable in traffic. But unlike the big boost in performance, there's a growing swell that again goes with the soft demeanour of the car. You still have enough grunt for most situations and helpfully, the performance doesn't seem to fade away as you pass triple-digit speeds.

A great boon is the auto regen function, aside from the quite strong one-pedal driving option. The former can be a touch aggressive but the auto function makes life much simpler. It uses the ADAS sensors to judge traffic and constantly tweaks the regen level to find the best balance between recuperation and driving. It works well in most situations and you get used to it quickly enough. Drive the XC40 Recharge long enough and you barely need to use the friction brakes in this mode.

Single-motor Volvo XC40 Recharge interiors, styling

There's no real differentiation between this and the cabin of the top-tier XC40 Recharge. So you still get that simple, functional but still classy theme inside. The XC40 has been around a while and it's commendable how the interiors still feel contemporary among the modern themes of its rivals. Yes, the all-black theme and some of the infotainment buttons and plastic trim around the centre console now feel a touch too plasticky but otherwise, it's all high-quality.

The backlit contours on the dash are especially tasteful and the recycled materials in the seats and carpets are also a unique touch. Aside from the soft surfaces you expect in a car of this price. As before, there's great practicality although not as much as in a born EV. The front seats have just the right cushioning and support, helped by extendable squabs. There are big door pockets, a deep cubbyhole with a removable garbage bin and a thoughtfully arranged centre console.

The 9-inch central touchscreen now feels a touch too small, not helped by the portrait orientation, but the Google integration is still great. Iphone users may have some trouble but you get Apple Carplay to tide over this. The 12.3-inch is minimalist and clean, although a few more layout options would have been nice.

The rear seat is also good enough. Yes, there is some compromise in the way the backrest seems a tad too upright and there could be more thigh support but it's not uncomfortable. Either way, there's a good deal of knee room and leg room, although taller adults might find headroom a touch tight with the raised rear seat and panoramic sunroof. There's also a central tunnel carried over from the ICE version that can get in the way of the middle passenger.

On the outside, look very closely and you notice that you don't get foglamps or pixel LED lighting with this version. But otherwise, you have that smart, restrained Volvo look. The front works well with the blanked-out grille, slim vents and clamshell bonnet. The wide haunches, lowered ride height and proportionate glass house make for an appealing look that carries over to the rear. The efficiency-focused 19-inch wheels fit in well too.

Single-motor Volvo XC40 Recharge features and safety

With this lesser version, you lose out on features like pixel LED headlamps, fog lamps, a 360-deg camera and a Harman Kardon sound system. That being said, the E60 variant gets features such as an 8-speaker sound system, two-zone climate control, a 12.3-inch digital driver's display, a 9-inch infotainment unit, TPMS, park assist, 19-inch alloy wheels, panoramic sunroof, powered front seats and wireless phone charging.

As you would expect from a Volvo, safety isn't compromised. You still get a full suite of ADAS functions with rear collision support, hill-descent control and seven airbags.

Single-motor Volvo XC40 Recharge price, verdict

Priced at Rs 54.95 lakh, the Volvo XC40 Recharge E60 is only Rs 2.95 lakh less than the AWD E80 variant. We think this is to narrow the gap between the two versions, which will push most buyers to the top trim. If this single motor variant were to be priced at around Rs 50 lakh, it would make for an enticing package with the ambience and equipment it offers, along with the impressive efficiency and driving character.

Also read,

New Volvo XC40 Recharge RWD variant launched at Rs 54.95 lakh

2022 Volvo XC40 Recharge first drive review

2023 Volvo C40 Recharge review, first drive â€" Makes EVs easy