With a considerably longer driving vary than its predecessor, Volvo’s 2024 C40 Recharge electrical crossover (beginning at $53,600) goals to get the model again on observe. We’re followers of its modern exterior, complete infotainment system that helps each Apple and Google companies, and well-organized inside. It is finally a advantageous choice for commuting, however the Tesla Mannequin Y (beginning at $44,990) stays our Editors’ Alternative winner due to its cheaper price, barely higher battery vary, and considerably bigger cargo area.Value and Choices: Considerably CostlyThe 2024 Volvo C40 Recharge is offered in three trims: Core (beginning at $53,600), Plus (beginning at $55,400), and Final (beginning at $58,800). All come normal with a single motor for rear-wheel drive (RWD), although you may pay $1,750 additional for a twin-motor all-wheel drive (AWD) system. The Tesla Mannequin Y prices a lot much less throughout the board, with the Lengthy Vary RWD and top-end Efficiency AWD fashions respectively beginning at $44,990 and $51,490. One other level in favor of the Mannequin Y is its eligibility for the total $7,500 federal EV tax credit score. C40 Recharge patrons cannot reap the benefits of this, however some Volvo sellers would possibly be capable of move via associated financial savings by way of a lease.
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Customary exterior options on the Core mannequin embody 19-inch wheels, all-season tires, a set panoramic roof, and tinted rear home windows. Contained in the cabin, you get accent lighting, a charcoal-color headliner, heated entrance seats with four-way energy lumbar assist, an influence driver seat with reminiscence, a sport steering wheel, topography-inspired decor, and a two-zone local weather system. Infotainment highlights embody an eight-speaker audio system, a 9-inch heart show, a 12-inch instrument panel, Apple CarPlay, Bluetooth, Google Companies (however not Android Auto), HD Radio and SiriusXM Satellite tv for pc Radio, and wi-fi cellphone charging. Volvo equips quite a lot of efficiency and security options, too, together with adaptive energy steering, cross-traffic alert, cruise management, lane holding, hill descent management, slippery street alert, rear collision mitigation, and rear park help.
Stepping as much as the Plus trim will get you a 360-degree-view digital camera to assist with parking, an air purification system, fog lights, entrance and aspect parking help, an influence passenger seat, and suede seat panels. The Final model I examined gives a 13-inch Harman Kardon audio system, 20-inch wheels, adaptive cruise management, heated rear seats, a heated steering wheel, LED headlights, and the Pilot Help characteristic that helps you mechanically preserve a secure distance from the car in entrance of you. With a vacation spot cost of $1,295, the ultimate sticker value of my take a look at mannequin is $60,095. Word that the obtainable options and their related prices would possibly differ relying on the place you buy your car.Design: An Inherent Sense of StyleNot a lot concerning the C40 Recharge’s exterior or inside offers away that it is an electrical car. It is an inherently sporty car with a modern, aerodynamic profile and air scoops that bridge the hole from the roof to the again window. If ever there was a super mix of a sedan and an SUV, the C40 Recharge is it. Suffice it to say, I am a giant fan of the crossover’s slick fashion.
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I additionally appreciated the look of the grey, wool textile upholstery seats with white stitching on my take a look at car. I discovered them snug, too, although others who examined the car thought the fabric was on the scratchy aspect. The C40 Recharge’s cabin strikes a pleasant stability between the previous and future due to an intuitive mixture of bodily buttons and touch-screen controls. The Tesla Mannequin Y makes use of fewer bodily controls, for reference.
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The 2024 C40 Recharge doesn’t have an abundance of inside area. Seating two adults and three youngsters is amenable, although the 15 cubic toes of cargo area with all of the seats in place does not go away a ton of room for baggage. Though the trunk has a false ground, eradicating it will get you only some additional uneven inches of room. (The tire jack additionally takes up area right here.) With the second row folded, the car gives 49 cubic toes of whole area. The frunk provides simply 1.1 cubic toes, but it surely at the least suits the included dwelling charging cable. The Tesla Mannequin Y has the benefit on all fronts: 30.2 cubic toes with the rear seats in place, 72.1 cubic toes with the rear seats folded, and 4.1 cubic toes within the frunk.
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Efficiency: Largely Constant With CompetitorsThe RWD variations of the C40 Recharge get 248 horsepower (hp) and 310lb-ft of torque, whereas the AWD fashions present 402hp and 494lb-ft of torque. The previous trims go from 0 to 60 miles per hour (mph) in 6.9 seconds, whereas the latter get there in 4.5 seconds. These are roughly consistent with the Lengthy Vary RWD and AWD Tesla Mannequin Y fashions, although the Efficiency AWD rockets from 0 to 60mph in 3.5 seconds.I drove the single-motor Final mannequin, and its acceleration was peppy however not thrilling. In any other case, I loved its clean dealing with, responsive really feel, and comfy suspension. If you happen to drive off the tarmac, an Off-Highway driving mode is offered for speeds underneath 25mph. The expertise is on par with different fashions on this value phase. These new to driving an EV ought to respect the power to toggle one-pedal driving (regenerative braking). Battery and Charging: Good Vary and Quick ChargingAll of the RWD fashions have an 82kWh battery that gives an EPA-estimated 297 miles per cost and a mixed MPGe of 107. In the meantime, the AWD variations use a smaller 78kWh battery that gives a much less spectacular 257 miles of vary and a mixed MPGe of 99. For comparability, the AWD Lengthy Vary Tesla Mannequin Y comes out forward of each, with a variety of 310 miles and a mixed MPGe of 117. If you’re on the lookout for an AWD car, the Tesla clearly has the benefit when it comes to battery efficiency.
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I respect that the Volvo C40 helps dissipate vary anxiousness by displaying the remaining miles in increments of 10 fairly than on a per-mile foundation. The numbers it reported additionally appeared fairly conservative. With an 80% battery degree, as an illustration, I noticed 220 miles remaining as an alternative of a extra exact 237. Volvo’s infotainment system additionally lets you understand how your driving, the local weather, and different elements will affect the anticipated mileage. You possibly can even push a button to optimize your settings in a single fell swoop. This in-car charging data isn’t fairly on the degree of Tesla’s graphs, but it surely was nonetheless useful.The car has a Mixed Charging System (CCS2) port that helps DC quick charging at as much as 250kW. I might have most well-liked a North American Charging Customary (NACS) port, however Volvo at the least plans to offer adapters to house owners of the C40 Recharge that can allow them to entry Tesla’s Supercharger community. The corporate is about to totally undertake the NACS normal beginning in 2025.
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Volvo says the RWD variations of the C40 Recharge can go from 10% to 80% in 28 minutes should you plug right into a DC quick charging station. In the meantime, it takes 8 hours for them to go from 10% to 90% with a Degree 2 dwelling charger working at 11kW. The AWD model requires a barely longer 34 minutes to go from 10% to 80% at a DC charger. The few instances a DC quick charging station was obtainable in my space, I confirmed that my recharging speeds carefully matched these marketed by the corporate.Infotainment: Apple and Google Companies Are on BoardThe C40 Recharge depends closely on Google for its expertise system. You get Google Assistant, Google Maps, and apps like YouTube from the Google Play Retailer. These options are useful should you want them, however drivers who don’t can simply ignore them. Apple CarPlay can also be an choice for connectivity when you have an iPhone.
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A 12.3-inch contact display gives sufficient room to view maps, however its vertical orientation is not ideally suited for content material from the obtainable video streaming companies. Disney+, Hulu, Netflix, and different key choices are lacking, although Amazon Prime Video is an choice. After all, you may all the time simply obtain YouTube to move the time if you are parked.
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You possibly can prepare apps nevertheless you need throughout the 4 sections of the interface; swipe gestures navigate amongst them. With simply the essential apps and audio companies, the interface is sensible and handy. Drivers who obtain a lot of apps from the Play Retailer would possibly discover that the system will get a bit unwieldy, nevertheless.
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If you wish to remotely management the car, you should obtain Volvo’s cell app (obtainable for Android and iOS). I did not get an opportunity to check this performance, nevertheless, because it wasn’t approved for my loaner C40 Recharge. This limitation did not inhibit the expertise or any of the comfort options.Security and Extras: Sturdy Options, However Some Visibility IssuesThe car’s security options largely did their jobs with little fanfare. I particularly appreciated the cross-traffic warning indicators that fired off once I backed out of a parking spot in a crowded buying heart; the Tesla Mannequin Y lacks that audible cue.
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The 360-degree digital camera view on the C40 mannequin I examined is useful for all types of parking areas. In the meantime, I needed to depend on the rearview mirror’s built-in show in mild of the car’s restricted rear visibility. It takes a while to get used to not having a conventional mirror should you select to make use of this, but it surely’s easy to modify again to the usual kind. In any other case, I discovered the C40 Recharge’s reverse digital camera disappointing attributable to its slender and distorted view. I typically needed to squint on the display longer than I wished to when checking my environment.Verdict: An Upscale Crossover With a Few FlawsThe 2024 Volvo C40 Recharge is a worthy year-over-year replace due to its much-improved vary, and we like its speedy charging and assured on-road efficiency. It is best suited for individuals who do loads of in-city journey or who merely have to commute to and from work or household actions. (Its below-average cargo area and rear-visibility points considerably restrict its practicality as a street tripper.) Extra importantly, the C40 prices $9,000 greater than the Tesla Mannequin Y, which has extra cupboard space and goes a bit farther per cost, that means the Tesla retains our Editors’ Alternative award for midrange electrical crossovers.
Execs
Practically 300 miles of vary
Complete tech options
Clean and responsive street really feel
Elegant design
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The Backside Line
The 2024 Volvo C40 Recharge electrical crossover gives aggressive driving vary, good security options, and an intuitive infotainment system, however the rear window and backup digital camera may stand enchancment.
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About Tyler Hayes
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Tyler Hayes is an early adopter and tech author primarily based in California. He has contributed to Quick Firm, BuzzFeed, and Billboard, amongst different retailers.
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