2023 Volvo XC40 Recharge Review and Test Drive
Volvo makes subtle updates to its small electric SUV a year before dramatic drivetrain changes.
Christian Wardlaw
QuickTakes:
Volvo embraced an aggressive climate-neutral business plan more than five years ago when it announced its plans to electrify all its models. Since then, Volvo has steadily converted facilities, modified sourcing methods, and altered business practices to meet its goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2040.
As part of the automaker's plans, it expects to sell only electric vehicles (EVs) by 2030. The Volvo XC40 Recharge was the first of many, arriving in 2021 with an unimpressive range of 208 miles and efficiency measuring 43 kilowatt-hours per 100 miles (43 kWh/100 mi). Range and efficiency improved in 2022, and the 2023 Volvo XC40 Recharge received updated styling, new upholstery choices, and fresh paint colors.
Christian Wardlaw
2023 Volvo XC40 Prices Are Remarkably Reasonable
The 2023 Volvo XC40 Recharge comes in Core, Plus, and Ultimate trim levels, and base prices range from the mid-$50,000s to the low $60,000s, including the destination charge to ship the SUV from the Ghent, Belgium, factory that builds it to your local dealership. It is ineligible for a federal income tax credit but may qualify for state and local incentives and rebates.
For this XC40 Recharge review, I test-drove the Ultimate in Southern California. It came with extra-cost paint and pixel LED headlights, bringing the manufacturer's suggested retail price to $61,890, including the $1,095 destination charge. Volvo provided the vehicle for this XC40 Recharge review.
Christian Wardlaw
Subtle Styling Updates Reflect Scandinavian Sensibilities
Volvo updates the XC40 Recharge's styling this year to better align it to the similar C40 Recharge. It gets a restyled front end with revised headlights, new wheel designs, and fresh paint colors. Headlights with pixel LED illumination technology are newly optional.
I like the Volvo XC40's look. Thanks to its role as an entry-level SUV, the XC40 has a cheery and expressive personality that other Volvos don't. Boxy proportions, chunky forms, and chiseled details give it a less formal appearance entirely appropriate for the segment.
Inside, Volvo's Scandinavian minimalism reigns supreme. Still, the XC40's dashboard trim and available contrast-color lower door panels add some emotion. For 2023, Volvo canceled the leather upholstery, offering the XC40 Recharge with artificial leather, simulated suede, or wood blend seat coverings. My test car had the latter in light gray.
Quality is impressive, from the materials to how they're assembled. Vertical air vents with metallic accents, robust door handles, and an Orrefors crystal shift lever bring a quiet elegance to the cabin. Minimal controls with simple markings become second nature with practice, and the Google-based touchscreen infotainment system is easy to understand and use.
Christian Wardlaw
Comfortable in the Front, but Not in the Back
Equipped with an air-purifying dual-zone climate control system and a panoramic sunroof with a brilliant one-swipe open and close function, my XC40 Recharge Ultimate was undeniably inviting. I stepped in, and the Volvo, sensing the key fob's presence, was already on and ready to drive.
The power-adjustable and heated front seats and a heated steering wheel made things cozy and comfortable on chilly fall mornings, enhanced by the soft fabric on the seat cushions. Unfortunately, the low and flat back seat lacks support, so it's dissatisfying. There are rear air-conditioning vents and, with Ultimate trim, heated rear seat cushions, but I wouldn't want to spend more than a few minutes riding back there.
When you exit, you don't turn the XC40 Recharge off. Just get out, walk away, and it shuts down. I don't like this. I prefer to confirm that I've turned the vehicle off.
Christian Wardlaw
Got Stuff? It Might Just Fit
Volvo ensures the XC40's interior can accommodate whatever you bring for the drive.
Designers successfully include plenty of in-cabin storage space without ruining the SUV's minimalist vibe. Similarly, the cargo area offers storage wells, grocery bag hooks, and a pass-through to the rear seat for carrying skis and such. All storage areas offer decent space and practical shapes.
Under the hood, there is a small 0.7 cubic-feet front trunk (frunk). The rear cargo space measures 21.7 cu-ft behind the back seat and 57.5 cu-ft with the 60/40-split rear seat folded down. Those numbers are competitive with other small luxury SUVs.
Christian Wardlaw
Google Built-in Infotainment System Pairs Speed and Robust Voice Commands
Volvo equips the XC40 Recharge with a Google-based infotainment system with a 9.0-inch touchscreen display mounted in portrait orientation.
Highlights include Google Built-in with Google Maps and Google Assistant, and during testing the voice recognition system quickly interpreted spoken commands and provided rapid, accurate responses. Volvo provides a four-year complimentary trial subscription to its Digital Services package, enabling the effortlessly simple technology.
Unfortunately, the infotainment system still requires a USB cable to use Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. However, there is a wireless smartphone charger. The Ultimate trim level's Harman Kardon audio system delivered impressive sound.
Christian Wardlaw
Practical Applications of Technology
Located in front of the driver, a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation screen with Calm and Navi (navigation) modes conveys critical information. It has a competitive size, but the plain graphics and limited data display failed to wow me.
You can access a Range Assistant function through the center 9.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system. It provides a remaining-range estimate to 10-mile increments, with best-case maximum and worst-case minimum range scenarios. In addition, it has an Energy Usage rating based on vehicle speed, driving style, and climate system use. You can also select a Range Optimizer that automatically calibrates the SUV to travel as far as possible on the remaining battery power.
In addition, Ultimate trim includes front and rear parking sensors and a surround-view camera system. Since the XC40 Recharge's rear roof pillars are so thick, this technology is helpful when reversing from driveways and parking spaces.
Christian Wardlaw
2023 Volvo XC40 Recharge Pilot Assist
Volvo equips the XC40 Recharge with a long list of standard driving-assistance systems. They include an active blind-spot monitoring system that steers to help you avoid an unsafe lane change, a run-off-road protection system, and a rear automatic braking system that made it almost impossible for me to reverse out of my driveway without bringing the Volvo to an instantaneous stop while slamming my head into the headrest.
Fortunately, you can turn that feature off, and it will stay off for all future trips until you decide to turn it back on.
Upgrade to the Ultimate trim level, and the electric SUV includes Pilot Assist. Pilot Assist pairs an adaptive cruise control system with lane-centering assist to create a hands-on semi-autonomous driving assistance system. It's no fun to use.
On California's Pacific Coast Highway north of Malibu, Pilot Assist proved twitchy in curves, struggled to navigate a construction zone, and tried to steer me off the road and into a beach parking lot. The tech behaves indecisively but is firmly decisive about its indecision — if that makes any sense. The result is the driver constantly wrestles with the unwanted steering inputs.
Pilot Assist would not engage on a stretch of rural two-lane road with faint lane markings and long shadows across the pavement. That's not surprising. What surprised me was when the car ahead slowed and moved into a left turn lane at an intersection. When that vehicle cleared, the Volvo accelerated instead of noticing that another car was stopped for the red light directly ahead. I had to take immediate action to avoid a collision.
When driving on Ventura County freeways, Pilot Assist attempted to steer me onto an exit I didn't signal for. When I counter-steered, it gave me an inaccurate lane-departure warning vibration through the steering wheel.
Traveling up the Conejo Grade on the 101 freeway, the steering struggled with the curves, and the adaptive cruise control braked too dramatically in response to a vehicle cutting into the gap ahead. The Volvo's braking caused a chain-reaction braking event behind the XC40. Pilot Assist needs to react to changing traffic conditions in a smoother, calmer way.
Not long after, when I signaled to take the state Route 23 ramp at an interchange, Pilot Assist attempted to veer the SUV left to stay on Route 101.
Overall, I found Pilot Assist almost always annoying and, at times, immensely frustrating. The tech did not meet expectations.
Christian Wardlaw
Last Call for Old Technology
In 2023, the XC40 Recharge has a standard dual-motor electric drive system including 150-kW motors at each axle and a 78-kWh battery. The motors produce 402 horsepower and 486 pound-feet of torque, and Volvo claims the electric SUV accelerates to 60 mph in 4.7 seconds.
The official driving range estimate is 223 miles, and the XC40 Recharge consumes 39 kWh of electricity for every 100 miles traveled. One-pedal driving helps to conserve energy and adds some fun to the driving experience.
Recharge the SUV using a 150-kW DC fast charger, and it should take about 32 minutes to bring the battery from a 10% charge to 80%. Every Volvo XC40 Recharge includes 250 kWh of complimentary charging at Electrify America stations, which isn't a generous perk. Install a 240-volt, 32-amp home charger, and the task will take 12 hours.
The 2024 version of the XC40 Recharge gets a new single-motor rear-wheel drive variant with an upgraded 82-kWh battery pack newly compatible with quicker 200-kW DC fast charging. This new version of the SUV won't be as powerful, but it will provide more range, up to 293 miles.
The dual-motor all-wheel-drive system is also set to receive some engineering love in 2024, boasting new electric motors that allow for more efficient front-wheel-drive operation when maximum traction is unnecessary. The dual-motor AWD will be estimated to provide up to 254 miles of range.
Christian Wardlaw
Quick and Ready for Curves, but a Busy Ride on Bad Pavement
On testing day, I started my evaluation drive with an 85% battery charge and 190 miles of indicated range. At the end of the trip, I'd traveled 71.3 miles, with 110 miles of remaining range and 52% of the battery charge left. Energy consumption measured 33.7 kWh per 100 miles, bettering the official estimate of 39 kWh per 100 miles.
The XC40 Recharge is quick, providing satisfying acceleration, effortless merging onto highways, and easy climbs of mountain passes. In town, the one-pedal-driving function is predictable and effective, and the SUV feels structurally robust when driving over speed humps and bumps. This Volvo provides a nice ride in the city, with a good feel for the road. However, there is more road noise than expected on highways.
When driving in the Santa Monica Mountains, the XC40 Recharge Ultimate's 20-inch wheels and 255/40 Pirelli Scorpion Zero tires supplied excellent grip without any mid-corner squealing. With the battery and electric motor weight snugged low in the chassis, the SUV hugged the road and provided predictable handling characteristics.
Christian Wardlaw
However, this tall SUV has a short wheelbase and a relatively narrow track, so it can feel a bit bouncy and soft on imperfect surfaces. Lateral body motions are particularly evident in this Volvo, causing a phenomenon known as head toss.
In addition, more compliance is dialed into the XC40 Recharge's suspension compared to the sportier (and firmer) C40 Recharge. Even when you've chosen the firm setting for the steering, it feels light, a little slow, and somewhat disconnected from the road.
Despite feeling smoother and softer than its C40 sibling, the predictable XC40 Recharge is more enjoyable to hustle than expected, especially in a straight line.
Christian Wardlaw
Changes to the 2023 Volvo XC40 Recharge Arriving Just in Time
Several small electric SUVs are available, including the Audi Q4 e-tron, Genesis GV60, and Mercedes-Benz EQB. Each has its positive and negative traits; among them, the Volvo XC40 Recharge makes a strong case for your consideration.
Take note, though, that the small electric SUV is poised to get even better in 2024, thanks to an upgraded battery and new electric motors. The 2024 Volvo XC40 will be the most capable and efficient one yet, with the single-motor version traveling an estimated 293 miles at an efficiency level of 32 kWh/100 mi.
