Review – Volvo C40 (2023) – Greater range, faster charging

The news a nutshell

Volvo mostly tinkered “under the hood. Indeed, under the hood there is no engine at all. The updated XC40 and C40 now have their electric motors in the rear. It’s safe to call that special, since Volvo hasn’t made a rear-wheel-drive car for 25 years. But there is more news. Both models now get farther on a battery charge, have more power and are full sooner on a quick charger.

Volvo C40

Just for the record. The C40 is basically the coupe version of the XC40 and has been on the market since 2021. Technically, they are identical, although you can also get the XC40 powered by gasoline, while the C40 is powered exclusively by electricity. Almost all of the specifications we mention in this article apply to both models. Here we go!

More power

From now on, the base version of the C40 will have a 238-horsepower engine – that is, in the rear – but the Extended Range version we are driving has 252 horsepower. It takes over seven seconds for a 0-100 sprint, but it feels faster. The readily available torque is responsible for that.

You clearly notice that the power has now been moved to the rear. Electro torque at the front wheels creates turmoil in almost every way. In the steering, the body, when braking. With the forces going to the rear, there is significantly more stability in short turns. The C40 now offers the comfortable driving experience you expect from a Volvo. If you have a hurried life, choose the Twin Motor version. That has a dual engine configuration and therefore boasts 408 hp, resulting in 0-100 km/h acceleration in just 4.7 seconds.

Range

There are two battery options: a 69 kWh battery that provides 477 kilometers (WLTP), and a new 82 kWh Extended Range battery that is good for a whopping 581 kilometers on paper. A significant improvement over the outgoing model. Of course, you will never achieve this value in practice, but assume a minimum range of 400 kilometers with the largest battery variant. Charging has also been improved. The C40 can now fast charge up to 205 kW, which means you can go from 10 to 80% charging in half an hour. Home charging is possible with a power of 11 kW.

Scandinavian design

Inside the C40, you encounter a typically minimalist Scandinavian design. Materials feel high quality and add to the luxurious atmosphere. Everything you touch feels soft. The wool chair upholstery creates a homey atmosphere. The vertical infotainment screen runs Android Automotive. This Google system features a number of useful Google apps, such as Google Maps. It works nice and smooth and is extremely clear. We’ll just say it: there is no better infotainment system than this. Volvo is not the only automaker to realize this. Brands such as Renault are now also using Google’s services for their infotainment system.

Remarkably spacious

As for the rear seat, the C40 offers a surprising amount of head and legroom. Kids don’t have to fight for a charging point in the back, there are two USB-C ports available. The luggage compartment offers 419 liters of space. More impressive is the towing capacity of the compact electro-SUV: up to 1,500 kilograms. There is a “frunk” with a 30-liter capacity, but access to it is somewhat cumbersome. You have to open the hood the old-fashioned way via a lever in the footwell. So in practice, you are more likely to throw charging cables into the back of the car quickly.

Prices Volvo C40

The updated Volvo C40 comes from 50,995 euros. You then get the 238-hp Single Motor version. As mentioned, the Single Motor Extended Range we are testing features 252 hp and an 82 kWh battery pack. For this version, Volvo is asking a minimum of 52,995 euros. Just 2,000 euros more, then, for 100 kilometers of additional range. We would not have to think long about that. For the 408-horsepower Twin Engine, you have to put down a minimum of 61,495 euros. A less attractive offer. In the video below, we tell you all about the updated C40.