Volvo EX40

Model reviewed: AWD Twin Ultimate (2023 facelift)
Score: 7 / 10
“It’s a shame you can’t option this car’s bigger battery with the single-motor powertrain. Few will regularly utilise the Twin’s sledgehammer straight-line speed, and while this version may offer a slightly longer range and faster charging, you’ll pay a hefty premium for the privilege. We’d still recommend the Volvo XC40 over the less practical C40, but a rear-driven Recharge is a better bet.”
Author: Richard Ingram
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Model reviewed: Single Motor
Score: 7 / 10
“There’s no aspect of the XC40 which is terribly bad, but at this price it should have a better range and more accomplished driving dynamics. The XC40 remains a good option in internal-combustion engine form, but so far it’s struggling to make the transition to full electrification.”
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Score: 8 / 10
“The Volvo XC40 EV is a beautifully engineered creation with excellent performance, decent range, exceptional refinement and no compromise on practicality compared with regular versions. But, if anything, the P8 feels a little too potent and pricey for this size of vehicle.”
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Model reviewed:
Score: 9 / 10
“The XC40 Recharge Twin is Volvo’s first fully electric car. The standard XC40 comes with petrol and diesel powertrains. There’s also an XC40 Recharge plug-in hybrid model, but the Recharge Twin badge denotes pure electric power.”
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Model reviewed:
Score: 8 / 10
“The Volvo XC40 Recharge is still not a class leader, but a longer range and faster charging were always going to be welcome.”
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Model reviewed: Single motor Recharge Plus
Score: 7 / 10
“This Volvo XC40 easily copes with getting up to 70mph on a really short slip road, so I can’t see why you would need the extra power of the Twin. Where it’s not so impressive is the range. I wasn’t driving like a loon yet still struggled to average more than 2.0mpkW, while the predicted range was less than 200 miles.” (Piers Ward)
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Model reviewed:
Score: 7 / 10
“The Swedish manufacturer’s first fully electric production model is effectively a Polestar 2 in an XC40-shaped frock; and in P8 guise – currently the only variant of this new Volvo that’s available in the UK – the two cars are extremely close when it comes to on-paper specification.”
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Model reviewed: P8 First Edition
Score: 6 / 10
“Perhaps the XC40 is a car more for Volvo’s early adopters and tech lovers. The C40, announced recently and due in showrooms by the end of the year, will be more affordable. Sadly, it will still have the Google infotainment platform, but perhaps we will have got used to it by then.”
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Model reviewed:
Score: 8 / 10
“This is a very accomplished EV debut, achieving Volvo’s aim of making the transition simple and painless. It’s clearly aimed at early adopters, and it should do a good marketing job, in that the first XC40 P8 that anyone sees will be a quick, well equipped one, driven by someone smart and wealthy.” (Colin Overland)
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Model reviewed:
Score: 8.4 / 10
“The Volvo XC40 Recharge is a comfortable and spacious electric SUV, although it’s quite a bit more expensive than the petrol model.” (Richard Ingram)
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Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8.4 / 10
“The Volvo XC40 Recharge is a comfortable and spacious electric SUV, although rivals offer better range” (Ben Custard)
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Model reviewed:
“Very rapid yet very sensible in every other way, it’s just a shame that we have to wait for the more affordable versions of Volvo’s pricey but otherwise very impressive first electric vehicle.”
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Model reviewed: P8 First Edition
“As is the sweeping generalisation about Scandinavian folk, the XC40 P8 is very polite and charming, though a little reserved at first. But then once you get comfortable and have spent a bit of time together, you suddenly discover a rather fun-loving and raucous side as the ‘inner Viking’ emerges.”
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Model reviewed: First Edition
Score: 8 / 10
“This Volvo is one of the finest electric cars on the market but in First Edition spec it’s simply too expensive, unless you really do want all that performance. I suspect that the less powerful models which will be sold at a more reasonable price will be extremely popular.”
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Model reviewed: Twin Pro
Score: 8 / 10
“The Volvo XC40 Recharge isn’t cheap for a small SUV but it does offer a dynamic drive, fairly decent range and beautiful design.”
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Model reviewed:
Score: 9 / 10
“The Volvo XC40 Recharge Twin AWD looks like an SUV, however under this boxy exterior lies a party trick: an all-electric powertrain with very rapid acceleration.”
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Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“Volvo has made headlines for its drive to have a purely electric car range and the XC40 Recharge Pure Electric is the first step. However, it’s very expensive even when compared to other electric cars, some with better ranges.”
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Model reviewed:
“The electric XC40 offers 413 litres of boot space, which is less than the 460 litres of the regular model. Although, due to the space saved by the absence of an engine, it gains a 31-litre ‘frunk’ storage area underneath the bonnet.”
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Model reviewed:
Score: 8 / 10
“With cool Scandinavian style, a spacious and luxurious interior and decent range, the classy Volvo XC40 Recharge mixes the everyday familiarity and premium appeal of the standard car with all the benefits of an EV. You’ll pay for the privilege though.” (James Disdale)
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Model reviewed:
Score: 8.6 / 10
“Volvo’s first EV sets a new standard in ease of use.”
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Model reviewed: First Edition
“The Volvo XC40 Recharge First Edition is the same as its petrol twin, but way too expensive.”
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Model reviewed:
Score: 9 / 10
“The Volvo XC40 Pure Electric P8 is undeniably a fabulous machine. It’s great to look at, sit in and drive, and the creature comforts (even rear passengers get heated seats) and technology are really first-rate. Still, you can’t ignore the high price of the First Edition.”
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Model reviewed: Twin Motor Ultimate
Score: 8 / 10
“It’s difficult to see why Volvo UK isn’t bringing the best example of this new EV to the UK, in high-output, rear-wheel drive form. It’s also sad to see the sheer charm and loveliness of the first-generation interior fading a little, but the XC40 is still a good car, and in battery-electric form (at least in 4×4 trim) it’s at the forefront of range and power in the class.” (Andrew English)
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Model reviewed: 78kWh
Score: 4 / 10
“There’s lots to like about this battery-electric Volvo SUV; it’s fast, refined, comfortable and quirky, and also quite nice to drive once learned. But it’s too heavy and that means its efficiency at 3.46 miles per kWh is poor. It’s also, in this form, staggeringly expensive.”
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Model reviewed:
Score: 8 / 10
“What we have here is nothing less than the most dynamically capable Volvo ever. Seriously.”
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Model reviewed:
Score: 8 / 10
“The Volvo XC40 Recharge Pure Electric has an appealing interior, a decent electric range, rapid performance and impressive safety credentials. It’s expensive next to many rivals, but the lower-spec models stack up fairly well next to similarly premium alternatives.”
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Model reviewed:
Score: 8.5 / 10
“The Volvo XC40 Recharge Twin AWD is not likely to be the volume seller of its cheaper petrol and diesel siblings, and it doesn’t match the Volkswagen ID.4 on value either, with middling range. However, it is effortlessly quick, supremely comfortable and, particularly in Pro form, comprehensively equipped. If you want a fully loaded, super-fast, well-constructed luxury electric SUV, the XC40 is a great choice.” (James Morris)
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