This time of the year. This place. Of course, it was pouring and visibility was rather poor. Thankfully, the Sensus safety suite of highly advanced driver assistant systems in the Volvo C40 means everything—from the Pilot Assist, Lane-keep Assist, Blind-spot Information System, Adaptive Cruise Control, Collision Warning and Distance Alert, and Autonomous Emergency Braking that is now smarter and more progressive than ever—is armed and ready, day or night, rain or shine. The C40 uses a suite of five cameras, three radars, and a dozen ultrasonic sensors that each do an admirable job. It’s quite incredible how far they’ve gotten from the City Safety system with autonomous braking in the 2010 XC60. As I made my way around through the drenched narrow streets, it seemed like an uncrashable car. The addition of one-pedal driving—including multiple levels of automatic regeneration—made the experience far easier and a lot more convenient than it would have been, not just in a normal car but even in a luxury car twice its price. The intuitive nature and the essential simplicity of comfort and the right things in the right place add to the luxury experience several-fold.
The powertrain, too, belies the small car dimensions of the Volvo C40. The twin 150-kW (204-hp) motors front and rear in the XC40 Recharge have given way to a 120-kW (163-hp) front and 180-kW (245-hp) rear. Still the same 300-kW (408-hp) peak output, but the bias is clearly more towards the rear (40:60). Remember, there are no differentials or prop-shafts, just a pair of motors, windings, and magnetism working their magic. Instant gratification comes from the use of the right foot with zero delay and zero tail-pipe emission. The Volvo C40 Recharge Twin can do zero to 100 km/h in 4.7 seconds and get up to a limited top speed of 180 km/h. The claimed range is 530 km on the WLTP cycle, and a more lenient 683 km from ICAT. It weighs 2,185 kilograms, three kilos less than the XC40 Recharge Twin. Thanks to smart design and a reasonably high ground clearance of 171 mm, it can handle more than its fair share of the rough stuff, but prefers to spend time on paved surfaces with appropriate road markings.
The Volvo C40 Recharge is quite a peppy performer—what with performance equivalent to a 6.0-litre V8 petrol engine—and is well-calibrated for all sorts of weather conditions. The ride is par excellence and the combination of Volvo’s touring chassis and compliant suspension soaks up any undulations and road surface inconsistencies with ease and makes for a planted and reassuringly sure-footed feel, even on the dirt. The power delivery isn’t the on-off kind either and it can be used in a nicely linear manner with instantaneous responses across the usable band. The steering feel is appreciably light and makes it easy to manoeuvre at both low and high speed. Overall, full marks for performance.
Volvo tell us their EV line has managed to capture a significant portion of the luxury EV market share; commendable considering what the competition have as well, but also testimony to the commitment to quality and well-being that Volvo have and which is evident in the cars they deliver. The feeling of being safe in one’s space is unmatched and that is exactly what Volvo have specialised in over the years.
Like the XC90, XC60, XC40, and even the V90 XC offered earlier, the C40 Recharge has the sort of aura that makes one feel damn near invincible. After all, there’s more to life than a Volvo and that’s precisely why you drive one.
Also read: Volvo XC60 Drive Review
Need to Know – Volvo C40 Recharge Twin
Price: Rs 60-65 lakh (estimated)
Battery Pack: 78 kWh, 400-volt, lithium-ion
Electric Motor (F): 120 kW (163 hp), NA Nm
Electric Motor (R): 180 kW (245 hp), NA Nm
Peak Combined Output: 300 kW (408 hp), 660 Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic front and rear, all-wheel drive
Suspension: MacPherson strut front, multi-link rear
Weight: 2,185 kg
Max Charge Capacity: 150 kW DC
Range: 530 km (WLTP), 683 km (ICAT)
