Volvo XC40 Recharge electric performance, motor & drive

The XC40 Recharge’s fantastic refinement makes it a very relaxing motorway cruiser. While it isn’t as quiet as an Audi e-tron, it’s not far off. There’s very little whine from the motor and wind and road noise are kept in check, too. Plus, for a relatively small car, it can certainly shift.

Volvo XC40 Recharge electric 0-62mph, top speed and acceleration

The XC40 Recharge was initially only available with the dual-motor powertrain that uses two electric motors and produces a total of 402bhp. With that much power on tap, this compact family SUV can go from 0-62mph in just 4.9 seconds. That shove is available instantly, too – just put your foot down and the XC40 takes off. 

The entry-level single-motor version pumps out a less potent 227bhp, all of which is sent to the front wheels. That means 0-62mph takes 7.4 seconds. We’ve yet to test this model, so we can’t say what it’s like on the road for sure, but in terms of performance, it can sprint to 62mph faster than most versions of the Volkswagen ID.4 and Audi Q4 e-tron, so it should suffice for a zero-emissions family-hauler.

There are two levels of regenerative braking: a coasting mode and a setting to choose how much regenerative braking you want when you lift off the throttle, so one-pedal driving as in the Honda e or Nissan Leaf is also possible.

Handling

The suspension of the XC40 Recharge has been tuned for comfort, so more often than not you just sit back and relax, making it a fantastic commuter and motorway cruiser. But off the motorway, you notice that the XC40 isn’t as sharp to drive as a Jaguar I-Pace or even its sister model the Polestar 2, so you don’t feel compelled to exploit all 402bhp you have on tap if you’re driving the all-wheel-drive version.