Oliver Keohane spends a week behind the wheel of the Volvo C40, an elegantly styled electric SUV with power outputs that somewhat defy its graceful exterior.
“Volvo is conservative”. Yes, I suppose there are no exaggerated design cues or monstrous engines – especially now given Volvo’s push towards electric motoring. And yes, Volvo’s are safe. It is easy to take safety, modest design, and an absence of six-cylinder petrol engines and paint Volvo with one broad brush; conservative. But it really would be overlooking the stunning contemporary design elements, and quite frankly the eyewatering levels of performance that the Swedish automakers have been honed in recent vehicles. There is no better example than the Volvo C40 Recharge Twin Motor.
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Coated in what Volvo calls “Fjord Blue”, boasting 20-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels and sporting a minimalist interior that contrasts charcoal suede textiles with Microtech fabrics in the same Fjord Blue, the Volvo C40 demands attention from the outside, and holds your gaze inside. It is a beautiful vehicle, with such a simple but effective design language.
The way the C40 looks is the way it feels. It promises comfort and class, and it delivers. What one may not expect upon initial review of the SUV’s genteel appearance are twin electric motors that push out 300 kW of power and 660 N.m of torque. Those are some serious numbers, and to contextualise them, let’s take a look at vehicles that sit in a similar segment to the C40 Recharge.
Volvo’s coupe-style electric SUV has carved out a bit of a niche of its own, with similar vehicles like the Tesla Model Y, Audi Q4 e-tron and Kia EV6 unavailable in South Africa, while the Mustang Mach-E will only hit local roads in 2025. Nevertheless, BMW’s iX1 xDrive30 M Sport and the Mercedes-Benz EQA250 AMG-Line come close in price and performance. Both are slightly cheaper, both are significantly less powerful, with the BMW producing 220 kW, and the Merc just 140 kW.
The C40’s competitive power outputs are not reserved for the electric market though, as the instant access to 300kW and 660 N.M outdoes many petrol and diesel-powered SUV contemporaries in the same bracket. For example, Mercedes-Benz’s latest, top-sepc, GLC 300d Coupé comes in at R1 447 350 and offers 198 kW plus 17 kW of electric power.
Anyway, the C40 is very fast and very powerful, and as with any electric vehicle, being able to call upon the power instantly is quite an experience. It makes overtaking a dream and allows you to weave your way through mild traffic comfortably. The regenerative braking is very responsive and can be hard to get used to at first. There is an option to turn it off, but the single-pedal driving is nice once you get the hang of it, and it saves range as the battery repowers.
Speaking of range, Volvo claims you will be safe for 444km before needing to recharge, but specifies that this number is reached according to WLTP and EPA driving cycles, and that real-world range may vary (as would be the case with claimed consumption for diesel and petrol cars and the correlation to driving behaviour). The C40 comes equipped with a home-charging wall box as well as a charging cable for use at public charging stations.
The C40 Recharge comes with a host of features that add to the SUV’s luxury credentials. Most welcome, for me, the epic Harmon Kardon Premium Soundsytem, controlled by a nice, big manual volume dial in the centre console (big ups for not giving into digital volume control!). Other features include a wireless charging pad, Apple CarPlay & Android Auto, Volvo on Call and a Google-integrated infotainment system which utilises voice control to respond to a number of questions or commands.
“Hey Google, how do I soften the Volvo’s safety system?” This is among my only qualms with an otherwise stunning SUV. The C40’s Intellisafe system – which includes City Safety with pedestrian, cyclist and large animal detection and front and rear collision warning with full auto-braking – is over sensitive and can be rather jarring. In my experience, this was predominantly an issue with the rear collision auto braking response, which on a number of occasions brought the vehicle to a very abrupt halt because the driveway dips onto the road and the rear bumper comes close to the tar. Luckily, that can be turned off. Stupidly, I kept forgetting to turn it off. The ride could be softened a bit, and the absence of a cover for the panoramic sunroof is an interesting choice. It looks cool, but the sunlight could prove frustrating in sunnier weather.
Issues with the C40 remain minor issues. Bold but subtle contemporary styling and fine-tuned, formidable performance are the key characteristics of the C40 Recharge, and overall Volvo’s innovatively-designed coupé SUV presents a unique and refreshing choice for buyers in both the electric and SUV market.
Volvo C40 Recharge Twin Motor at a glance:
- Price: R1 324 000
- Engine: 78 kW/h high voltage battery, dual-electric motors
- Power: 300 kW
- Torque: 600 N.m
- Driven wheels: All
- 0-100 km/h: 4,7 seconds
- Top speed: 180 km/h
- Range: 444 km (WLTP)
Images by Peet Mocke, follow him on Instagram @peetmocke_
Follow Oliver Keohane on Instagram @oliver_driven