Volvo C40 Recharge

The cabin of the 2024 Volvo C40 Recharge is again largely similar to the XC40 Recharge. The seating position is high, and there’s no conventional leather in the cabin. The C40 Recharge is Volvo’s first car to be made of entirely vegan-friendly materials and fabrics. The backlit trim panels on the dashboard are unique and reveal an abstract representation of a topographic map. A 9.0-inch vertical touchscreen infotainment unit, flanked by slim and tall vents dominates the dashboard. It looks futuristic but isn’t entirely user-friendly. The 12.3-inch instrument panel shows sharp graphics but lacks customisation. The car gets 413 litres of cargo space. There’s also a 31-litre frunk which is rather unique.

Volvo seems to have chopped off the roof of the all-electric XC40 Recharge SUV to come up with the more stylish C40 Recharge. From the front, the car looks strikingly similar to the XC40 Recharge with the familiar Thor’s hammer headlights that come with the new pixel technology for better illumination, particularly in bad weather. The bumper gets a more chiselled look. The housings of the fog lights have been reshaped. There’s a lot of plastic cladding on the lower sides that enhances the car’s SUV character. It also raises the window line. The stooped roofline forges a coupe-like look that seamlessly integrates into a rear spoiler. It’s flanked by segmented taillights that follow the car’s edges. The car runs on 19-inch alloy wheels. 

The cabin of the 2024 Volvo C40 Recharge is decently spacious. The fixed sunroof means there’s no sliding mechanism that usually eats into headroom. While the two front seats enjoy the maximum space, the rear seat gets limited headroom, courtesy the swooping roof line. Tall passengers may find their heads brushing the ceiling. Legroom is decent on the rear seat though it’s not very comfortable because of short under-thigh support. It’s the result of a high floor with an upright backrest. But still, the car is decently comfortable for long trips. Ride quality is pretty good notwithstanding the relatively low-profile tyres. The suspension system of the 2024 Volvo C40 Recharge rounds off uneven roads and bumps quite well. The sharp edges sometimes give the jitters. Thanks to the quiet engine, the cabin is noiseless. Body roll also is negligible. 

The 2024 Volvo C40 Recharge is equipped with two 17.4kWh permanent magnet motors that produce a combined output of 408PS/600Nm. The motors are powered by a liquid-cooled 79.0 kWh lithium-ion battery. The car comes with an 11kW onboard charger. The C40 Recharge returns a claimed mileage of 530km. The car is extremely quick. The massive power and torque output are addictive. The pickup is blazing fast. The car’s true potential can be realized on the highway. The one-pedal braking cranks up the regeneration level to the maximum. The multifunction steering is nicely balanced and the car turns corners sans any fuss.

Though rear visibility of the 2024 Volvo C40 Recharge suffers because of the roofline, there are plenty of sensors and cameras that erases almost all blind spots. The C40 Recharge is a tech-rich car in terms of safety equipment. It even gets a collision avoidance system. Other features include multiple airbags, automated emergency braking, and lane-keep assistance.  

At a starting price of ₱4.19 million, the 2024 Volvo C40 Recharge is among the most expensive all-electric crossover SUVs out there. The C40 Recharge is not the most spacious car in its segment but is super-quick and looks handsome. Handling is easy and the mileage is the best among rivals. It offers long-term reliability is worthy of its price.