Volvo Electric: XC40 Recharge vs C40 Recharge

The combustion engine version of the Volvo XC40 has been discontinued in India. But, this SUV has an electric version available in our country, the XC40 Recharge. It also has a sibling in a different body type, called the C40 Recharge.

Further, the C40 Recharge is positioned above the XC40 Recharge. That said, the former has a starting price of Rs 62.95 lakh, while the latter has a starting price of Rs 54.95 lakh. Both are ex-showroom figures.

So, let’s see how these two cars are different from each other. 

Dimensions

As for the shape, these two SUVs have more or less the same shape, but the C40 has a more coupe-SUV-like look, while the XC40 has a conventional crossover SUV appearance. 

Both SUVs have a length of 4440mm and have a wheelbase of 2702mm. However, the XC40 Recharge has a width of 1863mm, a height of 1647mm, and a ground clearance of 175mm. In contrast, the C40 Recharge is wider (1873mm) but shorter (1591mm), with a slightly lower ground clearance of 171mm. 

As for the boot space, the electric XC40 has a capacity of 419 litres, while its counterpart has a capacity of 413 litres. 

Features

In this department, both Swedish SUVs are well equipped, be it comfort, convenience or safety. But there are some differences in their offerings. 

The Volvo XC40 Recharge and C40 Recharge both incorporate sustainable materials inside. Both have recycled materials used in the door panels and floor carpet. Interestingly, the electric C40 is the first Volvo car to have a leather-free upholstery. 

Further, they both have a 9-inch touchscreen infotainment unit with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. They also have ambient lighting, dual-zone HVAC, air purifier, 12V charging socket, type-C USB ports, height adjustable front seatbelts, electrically adjustable seats, etc. 

Other common offerings include electric ORVMs, a panoramic sunroof, LED lights (front and rear), an illuminated sun visor (both sides), a tyre pressure monitor, a 360-degree camera, a wireless phone charger, and a Harman Kardon surround sound audio system. Additionally, these two SUVs have a manually adjustable steering wheel. Volvo states the manually adjustable steering wheel is safer than the electrically adjustable version.  

These two SUVs also have LED headlamps with LED DRLs and LED rear lights. However, the Volvo XC40 Recharge has LED foglamps, while the Volvo C40 Recharge has halogen foglamps. Both have a headlight height adjuster. 

For added convenience, both SUVs have automatic headlamps, rain-sensing wipers, rear defogger, one-touch up/down (all windows), a driver armrest with storage and light, and 60:40 split seats, which can increase the boot space. 

On the safety front, Volvo is known for making robust and highly secure vehicles. One of the reasons behind the strong build quality of the Volvo cars is the usage of boron steel, which is why there are fewer casualties among the Volvo owners. 

Speaking of safety, both these Volvo SUVs are equipped with an ADAS suite. The features comprise lane departure warning, adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, rear cross-traffic assist, blind spot detection, and lane departure warning. 

Other features are seven airbags, child-seat anchorages, hill-hold control, hill-descent control, traction control, brake assist, disc brakes, and ABS with EBD. 

Specifications 

The Volvo XC40 Recharge has two variants: E60 Plus and E80 Ultimate AWD. The former has a 69kWh battery pack, which pumps out 238bhp and 420Nm of torque, while the latter has a 78kWh battery pack, delivering 402bhp and 660Nm of peak torque. The base variant has a rear-wheel drive and the top variant has an all-wheel drive system. 

In parallel, the Volvo C40 Recharge has one full-loaded variant, called the E80. This Volvo EV also has a 78kWh battery pack, which releases 408bhp and 660Nm of torque. The power is delivered to all four wheels. 

As for the range, the XC40 Recharge’s base and top variants have a range of 475km and 418km, respectively. Meanwhile, the Volvo C40 Recharge has a range of 530km. Please note that these are claimed range figures. 

The batteries of these two SUVs can be replenished from 10% to 80% in under 30 minutes via a 150kW DC fast charger.

The XC40 Recharge’s base variant can do 0-100kmph in 7.3 seconds, while its top variant can do it in 4.9 seconds. The C40 Recharge is even faster as it can do 100kmph from a standstill in 4.7 seconds.  

Both vehicles, however, have a top speed of 180km/h. 

Pricing

The Volvo XC40 Recharge has a starting price of Rs 54.95 lakh and goes up to Rs 57.90 lakh, while the C40 Recharge carries a price tag of Rs 62.95 lakh. These are ex-showroom figures, as of July 2024. In terms of pricing, these two Volvo cars can rival the Hyundai IONIQ 5 and Kia EV6.