Volvo XC40 Recharge electric review: running costs & insurance

Insurance premiums are often higher for electric cars because of the expected costs if something were to go wrong. But with less components to go wrong in the first place – electric motors are inherently less complex than petrol or diesel engines – they often require less frequent maintenance. They're also exempt from the London Congestion Charge and road tax (VED) until 2025.

Volvo XC40 Recharge electric insurance group

The electric XC40's insurance rating depends on which trim level and powertrain you go for. For example, the entry-level single-motor model in base Core specification lands in group 35, while the top-of-the-range XC40 Twin in Ultimate trim sits in group 42, which is pretty high even for an electric SUV. A Tesla Model Y will likely be even more expensive to insure, however.

Warranty

The XC40 Recharge comes as standard with Volvo’s three-year/60,000-mile warranty, while the batteries are covered against degradation by an eight-year/100,000-mile guarantee. You can get an extended warranty for the XC40 Recharge with Volvo Cover Options, extending the cover by up to four years or an additional 60,000 or 80,000 miles.

Servicing

With few moving components, electric cars don’t need maintenance as often as combustion engined cars: this can be seen in the XC40 Recharge's two-year/18,000-mile recommended interval. If you purchase via the Care By Volvo subscription model, servicing – as well as things like insurance and even tyres – are included.

Road tax

Like all fully zero-emissions cars, the Volvo XC40 Recharge is liable for zero UK road tax (also known as Vehicle Excise Duty, or VED), but that will end in 2025. The same goes for EV's current exemption from the London Congestion Charge.