Volvo XC 40 Recharge Launched: Price, Specs & Rivals

Volvo has entered the electric vehicle market in India with the launch of the new XC40 Recharge. Priced at Rs 55.90 lakh (ex-showroom), the XC40 Recharge arrives over a year after it made its India debut with the SUV in the intervening period getting a mid-lifecycle update. The model was initially set to arrive in 2021 though the launch was pushed back to 2022 with the car now arriving as a locally assembled model. The electric SUV is available in a single fully loaded variant and with a 402 bhp all-wheel drive electric powertrain.  

Here’s what you need to know about the new XC40.

Design & Platform

The XC40 Recharge isn’t a ground-up new electric vehicle, with the SUV sitting on the same CMA platform as its conventional internal combustion engine sibling. In terms of styling, the biggest difference between the current XC40 and the new Recharge is the front fascia. The standard XC40 on sale in India is still the pre-facelift model while the Recharge arrives as the facelifted model that debuted recently in international markets. The most notable changes are in the new front bumper that makes the car appear sleeker and redesigned LED headlamps. The new headlamps are more angular as compared to the rectangular units of the standard XC40 but continue to feature the trademark Thor’s Hammer LED DRLS.

Also read: 2022 Volvo XC40 Recharge Electric Launched In India; Priced At Rs. 55.90 Lakh

In profile little has changed from the standard XC40 while at the rear two the differences are imperceptible. 

Cabin & Features

Open the doors and you will be treated to a familiar Volvo interior design common with its other siblings. The smartly turned-out cabin follows a minimalist design theme with the large central touchscreen the focus point of almost all controls typically mounted in the centre console. A screen sits in the instrument binnacle as well. Additionally, going with its environment friendly nature, Volvo doesn’t offer leather upholstery with the carpets too made from recycled materials.

In terms of equipment, we’re only getting one P8 variant and Volvo’s not holding back on equipment. Standard equipment includes adaptive LED headlamps, dual zone climate control, air purifier, panoramic sunroof, powered front seats, driver seat memory function, 9.0-inch touchscreen with Google software and in-built Google Assistant, Harman Kardon sound system, wireless smartphone integration and more. Also included are connected services with a 4-year subscription included in the SUV’s launch price.

Safety Kit

In typical Volvo fashion, there is a lot of safety tech on board. You will get 7 airbags, ABS, traction and stability control, a tyre pressure monitor system, 360-degree camera, hill descent control and a suit of Advanced Driver Aids. ADAS functions include adaptive cruise control, front and rear collision mitigation, lane keep assist, blind spot monitoring and rear cross traffic alert.

Also read: Volvo XC40 Recharge Launched In India: Highlights

Powertrain

The XC40 Recharge is available with a twin-motor all-wheel drive set-up as standard, and the two motors, with one on each axle. Total system output is rated at 402 bhp and 660 Nm of torque with Volvo claiming a 0-100 kph time of just 4.9 seconds. Volvo though does not offer drive modes as part of the package though you can adjust the weight of the steering via the setting on the central touchscreen and there’s a one pedal mode too that sets regen braking to maximum.

Range

One of the most important factors for buying an EV also comes down to its range. The XC40 Recharge will come with an underfloor mounted 79 kWh battery pack as standard. Volvo claims a range of around 418 km on a full charge. Volvo says the battery pack supports fast charging and can be filled from 10-80 percent in as little as 28 minutes. Volvo says all XC40 Recharge units will come with an 11kW wall box charger.

Pricing, Bookings and Rivals

Volvo has launched the XC40 Recharge at Rs 55.90 lakh (ex-showroom) with bookings set to open from July 27. The booking amount is set at Rs 50,000. The carmaker had briefly opened bookings for the SUV last year though they were deferred when the carmaker pushed back the launch to 2022. Volvo has said that deliveries will commence from October this year though there is no word on the number of units that are being allocated to India yet. 

In terms of rivals the XC40’s pricing places it between the Mini Cooper SE and the Kia EV6 in the Indian market. The former is priced at Rs 50.90 lakh with the latter sitting at Rs 59.95 lakh (ex-showroom).