Review - Volvo C40

The Volvo C40 is the company’s answer to cars like the Tesla Model 3, Mercedes-Benz EQA, and the Audi Q4 e-tron that give buyers a familiar compact crossover SUV package that benefits from the best of current-generation electric powertrains.  

Just how good is the Volvo C40, then, and how does it stand up against the demands of the Australian buying public? Let’s find out. 

Starting Price: $74,990

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Volvo C40 (RECHARGE TWIN PURE ELECTRIC) Specifications

For more details and other variants, check Volvo C40 car page.

How Much Does It Cost?

Prices for the Volvo C40 kick off from $74,990 for the entry-level C40 Recharge, with prices rising to $82,490 for the range-topping C40 Recharge Twin. 

Keep in mind that these prices are subject to change, and do not include on-road costs. 

How Much Can OnlineAuto Save You? 

Using OnlineAuto’s car buying service, you could save by sourcing one of our car specialists to help you find the best value model for you. 

What Features Does the Volvo C40 Have?

The Volvo C40 Recharge comes riding on a set of 19-inch alloys, and receives LED headlights, a powered boot lift, keyless entry & start, a panoramic roof, heated front & rear seats, adaptive cruise control, wireless smartphone charging, a rear-view camera with parking sensors and a 9.0-inch infotainment system with Android Auto. 

Upgrading to the C40 Recharge Twin adds a set of 20-inch alloys, a surround-view camera, an all-wheel-drive system and an upgraded Harman Kardon sound system. 

Range Features: 

• 19-inch alloys

• LED headlights

• Adaptive cruise control 

• Panoramic roof 

• Heated front & rear seats 

• Wireless smartphone charging 

• 9.0-inch infotainment system with Android Auto 

• 20-inch alloys (Recharge Twin) 

• Surround-view camera (Recharge Twin) 

• All-wheel drive system (Recharge Twin) 

• Harman Kardon sound system (Recharge Twin)

Volvo C40 Colours 

The Volvo C40 range is available in a choice of eight colours, including Crystal White, Silver Dawn, Fusion Red, Sage Green, Onyx Black, Thunder Grey, Fjord Blue and Black Stone. 

Is it Comfortable to Drive? 

While it might be a recent addition to Volvo’s lineup, the C40 feels and drives like a very established member of the family. 

Underneath you’ll find a single electric motor producing 170kW of power and 330Nm of torque in the base C40 Recharge, while the Recharge Twin receives a dual-motor setup producing a massive 300kW of power and 660Nm of torque. 

The end result is a very impressive amount of acceleration in the base model, with the step-up C40 Twin offering some seriously sports car-like acceleration. 

Better still, Volvo’s typically-high attention to detail when it comes to ride comfort has been very much carried over into its all-electric lineup, with the C40 gaining a nice suspension system that handles both the added weight from the battery pack and dynamic cornering. 

Around town, the C40 is a pleasure to drive thanks to its clever regenerative braking system and lightweight steering rack, while instantly picking up speed when needed, with the added bonus of some ride height from the crossover SUV platform. 

How Far Can You Drive the Volvo C40 on a Single Charge? 

Electric driving ranges for the Volvo C40 depend on which battery you’re opting for, with the 69kWh lithium-ion pack offering a driving range up to 434km on a single charge. 

The dual-motor C40 Recharge with its 78kWh battery pack is rated up to 420km on a single charge; both of which have been tested on the WLTP cycle. 

How Long Does it Take to Charge? 

The Volvo C40’s lithium-ion battery pack can be DC fast-charged up to 150kW, which results in a 32-minute charge from 10 to 80 per cent in the base 69kWh variant, while it takes 40-minutes to charge the 78kWh pack from 10 to 80 per cent with a fast-charger. 

Using an 11kW AC power outlet takes around seven hours to fully charge the battery pack. 

Is it Practical and Spacious? 

For years now, Volvo has been one of the market leaders when it comes to stylish and practical interior cabins, and the C40 is no different. 

Stepping inside the C40 greets you with a cabin very similar to that of the XC40, which is a great thing considering just how well the XC40 strikes a blend of premium, minimalist-styled and impressively practical features and designs that are very family-friendly. 

There’s no issues when it comes to headroom in the front of the cabin, which offers an uncrowded design for the dash, headlined by the 9.0-inch vertically-mounted infotainment system that helps to clean things up inside. 

Practical elements in the front of the cabin include some storage and a wireless charger behind the gear lever with an in-built smartphone mount, storage inside the folding arm rest, a pair of cupholders and a set of door bins on either side of the cabin. 

Move to the rear of the C40’s cabin and you’ll find a comfortable bench seat with in-built ISOFIX anchors, with easy access into the second row for those mounting child seats. 

Those seated in the second row of the C40 are treated to acres of legroom, although headroom can be somewhat limited for tall adults due to the sloping roofline design. 

In terms of boot space, the compact front boot can swallow up 31L, which is enough for your charging cables and some loose items, while the rear boot is rated at 413L. 

Is it Safe? 

The Volvo C40 is yet to be awarded an official ANCAP safety rating, although its close relative, the XC40 has been awarded a five-star safety rating. 

To help win over buyers, Volvo is including a heap of safety gear as standard with the C40. 

The long list includes forward and reverse autonomous emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alerts, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assistance, a rear-view camera with front and rear parking sensors and a Pilot Assist highway assistant as standard. 

Our Verdict: Is the Volvo C40 Worth it?

All up, the C40 is an impressive urban commuter and a very promising sign of what’s to come from Volvo’s evolving lineup of battery-electric vehicles moving forward. 

The C40 ticks all the important boxes of driving comfort - with some extreme performance in the higher-spec variant - as well as benefitting from a generous safety and entertainment features list that buyers will love. 

As a result, we highly recommend you add the C40 to your shortlist if you’re looking at your best battery-electric crossover options. 

On that note, if you’re in the market for a new car, you can get a free quote and see how much OnlineAuto can save you on your next car, or call us on 1300 719 925

Five Specs You Need to Know

1. Five-year/unlimited KM warranty 
2. Eight-year battery warranty
3. Single motor for base model, dual-motor for C40 Recharge Twin 
4. Range figures of 434km for single motor and 424km for Twin 
5. Battery can be fast-charged from 10-80% in 32-minutes 

Pros 

• Smooth and powerful electric motor 
• Sleek, stylish and practical interior design 
• Generous safety package as standard 

Cons

• No official ANCAP safety rating 
• Sloping roofline limits rear headroom for tall passengers 

OnlineAuto Rating: 9/10

Volvo C40 Competition