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Volvo has chosen a crossover coupe as its first pure electric vehicle. And shoots pleasantly over the target.
How do you convince E-car-skeptic? With performance, the Swedish car manufacturer has Volvo apparently thought of it and packed a lot of it under the sheet metal of his first pure Stromer Volvo C40. Strictly speaking, a good half of them are superfluous - but you don't want to do without them.
Double the power
Comfortable, robust and safe - at first glance, the classic Volvo attributes do not really fit 300 kW/408 hp and a 100 km/h sprint time of 4,7 seconds. With the C40, however, these values are not purely an end in themselves, but the result of the drive concept: The compact coupé crossover has an electric motor on the front and rear axles, which with their 150 kW/204 hp alone would easily be enough to drive the 2,2nd .XNUMX ton Swede reasonably quickly in motion.
Together they ensure all-wheel drive and the aforementioned sports car performance. These can be called up above all when starting at traffic lights or during intermediate sprints when overtaking - which in the second case is a safety gain and in the first case a considerable gain in fun. The C40 also drives quickly and willingly on winding roads, but the weight and high body quickly catch larger sporty ambitions at the steering wheel.
After all, the C40 also looks sleek on the outside. At least in comparison with its model brother XC40, which dispenses with coupé bonds and comes along as a classic boxy SUV, but can be had with the same drive if desired. The C40 sets itself apart from it visually, above all through the hatchback, and also does without a combustion engine option. The dual-motor variant is currently the only one, but from the summer there will be a version with only one of the two engines.
Consumption depending on driving style
A weaker base should mitigate the C40's key weakness: its high fuel consumption. The Volvo needed at least 25 kWh per 100 kilometers when the temperatures were not quite spring-like. If you push hard, you can get by with a little less electricity, but the “2” in front always stays where it is, and if you’re in a hurry, a “3” sometimes appears. The 20,7 kWh from the standard consumption data sheet move at best in good conditions in the city or on the country road in the area of the possible, on the highway the high and less streamlined Volvo does not come close.
Combined with a 75 kWh battery, this is enough in practice for a range of around 300 kilometers (standard value: 444 km). Volvo compensates for the now rather mediocre value with reasonably suitable charging performance. The C40 draws 11 kilowatts from the AC column and up to 150 kilowatts from the fast DC variant, but only up to about half the capacity. After that, the speed drops significantly.
Nevertheless, the range and charging capacity are usually sufficient for everyday use and longer weekend trips. The C40 supports a trusting and optimistic view, because it does not even indicate the remaining kilometers on the cockpit screen. Instead, the driver sees a percentage, and the infotainment system then provides more precise data on request via voice control. Volvo uses Google's Android as the software basis, which means that not only the voice assistant, but also navigation and streaming work better than many of its competitors.
Other electric cars have more space
The compact Swede can also score points with the interior, which is still very valuable. Although the central screen known from the XC40 now seems a bit small compared to other new electric vehicles, a clear interior styling, careful workmanship and tastefully selected and partly recycled materials make the crossover stand out from the crowd. The amount of space is typical for this class, but not as generous as in cars on pure e-platforms.
Especially in the rear you notice that the C40 has taken over the architecture of a combustion engine. In principle, the trunk is also big enough, but the sloping rear window gets in the way if the load is particularly bulky. A price that, given the current flood of SUV coupes, many customers are apparently willing to pay. The same applies to the severely restricted view to the rear.
One motor is cheaper than 2
Financially, on the other hand, the crossover coupé does not require too many concessions from its owner, at least if you stay in the Volvo universe. The prices for the twin-engine model currently start at 57.650 euros and are therefore only 1.500 euros higher than the XC40. Those who make do with one engine pay 48.850 euros. In both cases, almost 10.000 euros in funding will be lost. The basic equipment offers everything that can be expected in this price range, from the two-zone automatic climate control to the sound system.
More than 400 hp are not necessary in an SUV, especially in a relaxed Volvo. But they give the C40 a shot of extra spice, which also suits the slightly sleeker lines of the crossover.
Technical data
Five-door, five-seat SUV in the compact class; Length: 4,43 meters, width: 1,85 meters (2,04 meters including exterior mirrors), height: 1,58 meters, wheelbase: 2,70 meters, trunk volume: 414 to 1.205 liters, front 31 liters
Power Type: two electric motors, front axle 150 kW/204 hp, rear axle 150 kW/204 hp, total output 300 kW/408 hp, max. torque: 660 Nm, all-wheel drive, single-speed gearbox, charging power 11 kW AC, 150 kW DC, battery capacity net 75 kWh , 0-100 km/h: 4,7 s, Vmax: 180 km/h (limited), standard consumption (WLTP): 20,7 kWh/100 kilometers (WLTP), max. range 444 km, Price: Euro 57.650.
Brief description:
Why: because it is the nicer XC40
Why not: because it is the less practical XC40
What else: VW ID. 5, Skoda Enyaq Coupe, Tesla Model Y