Words Tommaso Mogge / Photos Andy Williams

Why is no one talking about the C40? Why aren’t the streets literally invaded by this Volvo? I feel like I’m the only one staunchly defending a model that actually doesn’t need any crusaders to support its qualities, because it’s a very, very interesting car. The C40 is first and foremost the first fully electric Volvo ever produced. When it was presented, a couple of years ago, it was nothing more than a sort of evolution of the small XC40 crossover, with which it also shares the platform. From here, the path towards the electrification of the Swedish brand would be marked, first with a full-electric XC40 and then with an entire range that places the letter “E” in front in such a way as to best distinguish the most environmentally friendly Volvos.

And if an electric car is no longer a big hit at the news, the task of making itself more attractive than the competition is an increasingly difficult goal to achieve. The way the C40 Recharge tries to attract attention is by presenting itself with a more tapered body than its XC sister, with a raised tail that gives it a coupe look, perfectly accomplished. Under the floor we find a 75 kWh battery pack and in the case of our test the top of the range equipped with two engines, one at the front and one at the back, each of which takes care of providing traction to its own axle. All-wheel drive therefore and a good 408 horsepower, which in perfect electric style are delivered immediately.

As you well know, Volvo’s policy is extremely clear and consistent with itself and therefore we have a series of features that will make the C40 a fast family car and not a small sports car. Starting from a top speed limited to 180 kph (which is also useful for not resetting the overall range in just five minutes), Volvo provides a unique and rather soft driving mode, with the only possibility of setting maximum regeneration in “one pedal drive”, up to using the brake pedal only for the most significant stops. Large batteries also mean a decent autonomy and in this case we have about 444 km declared, which obviously vary depending on the driving style and the use of on-board comforts, such as dual-zone climate control, rather than heated seats and steering wheel.

The passenger compartment is substantially similar to that of the XC40, with the only exception of interesting profiles that run along the dashboard and that once illuminated give life to a topographic pattern that represents a mountainous area of ​​Sweden. Patriotic pride recalled with the flags sewn to the seats, always very comfortable and this time “animal free”. Driving it is relaxing as you would expect from an electric car, but at the same time satisfying as well, given that at the slightest need you just have to press the throttle with a little more vigor and the 408 horsepower and 660 Nm of torque will literally make you shoot forward, entrusting the four-wheel drive with the task of biting the asphalt properly. I repeat, we are not talking about sports performance, because after all the feedback is very filtered and a weight of 2,185 kg (about +500 compared to a normal XC40) is felt, especially in the most sudden direction changes.

What makes the C40 the ideal springboard that Volvo had set for its zero-emission future is the sum of its parts. It is a crossover with compact dimensions, with ample space on board, a roomy trunk and a small compartment created under the front hood. There is a lot of safety on board, an impeccable navigation system that uses Google Maps and is capable of calculating complex itineraries including the best charging stops and the ability to clear an intersection by shooting from 0 to 100 kph in just 4.7 seconds. Yep, not your typical Volvo. Prices are substantially in line with those of the competition, starting at around €53,800 for the entry level with a single engine and 238 horsepower, while for the model like the one we tested you need at least 10 thousand Euro more, but in this case you do not only take home very respectable performance, but also a range that allowed us to travel something like 400 km before returning to the charger for a quick fill-up from the CCS2 socket. It is very likely that next time we will no longer talk about the C40, given that the SUV variant has taken the form of the EX40 and the one with a coupe body is called EC40. Regardless, I expect to see more and more of ‘em, because it is truly one of the most complete electric cars available on the market.

VOLVO C40 RECHARGE TWIN MOTOR

Engine Electric with 74 kWh batteries Power 408 hp Torque 660 Nm

Traction All-Wheel-Drive Transmission Single Speed Automatic Gearbox Weight 2.185 kg

0-100 kph 4,7 sec Top Speed 180 kph Price from €63.260 Range ca. 444 km (declared by the brand)