With 408 hp, 660 Nm of torque and 0 to 100 km / h in 4.9 s (!), The new Volvo XC40 Recharge Twin becomes the most efficient 100% electric compact SUV on the market. But, no need to remind you of the fable of the hare and the tortoise … He knows how to go fast, but does he know how to go far?
Test car: Volvo XC40 Twin Recharge
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From€ 58,490
€ 3,000 bonus
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The Swedish manufacturer assures us: in 2025, every second new Volvo will be powered by a 100% electric motor. An ambitious goal in the short term, since the “zero emission” range for the time being comes down to this unique XC40 Recharge Twin, whose positioning is in no way very democratic. Starting price ? 58,490 € for finishing a Pro call, then 62,490 € for higher level Plus. Power ? 408 hp, supplied by two electric motors each located on an axle. As for the lithium-ion battery, it “cube” at 75 kWh useful, brings the weight of the XC40 to nearly 2.2 t and promises 400 to 418 km of autonomy on the WLTP certification cycle. Since September 2021, the catalog includes a version with a single 231 hp engine powered by a 69 kW battery which allows the entry ticket to be lowered to € 46,800.
But Volvo has not lost its mind. Its XC40 Recharge Twin simply recovered the powertrain of the Polestar 2, not yet distributed in France and built on the same platform. This premium sedan has also just presented a version with one engine instead of two, which lowers the power from 408 to 231 hp but increases the range from 480 to 540 km. A path that will certainly take our XC40, today called for a trip on our test course for electric cars.
On the program: 109 km of motorway between Marne-la-Vallée and Reims, then 140 km of secondary roads to identify the different ranges of action in real conditions (see all the electric models already tested on this course). Not to mention the refueling at the Ionity fast terminal to verify Volvo’s promises in terms of speed of recharging. At 150 kW of power tolerated in direct current, the 100% electric XC40 claims to recover 80% of energy in 40 minutes. Lets go see…
What autonomy on the motorway?
Easy. This is the first adjective that comes to mind when driving the Volvo electric SUV. Far from the complexity imposed by certain high-end electric cars, the XC40 starts with a flick on the gear lever, the start button having disappeared. It integrates an intuitive Android interface on its beautiful central touch screen (navigation via Google Maps, voice control via Google assistant) and does not misplace its rider in countless driving modes. The motorway invites to engage the semi-autonomous driving system, the reactive adaptive cruise control and the centering in the effective lane despite a direction which “shears” sometimes in a slight curve. And if the air and rolling noises could be more discreet, the suspension, however unmanned, effectively erases each road junction.
The whipped cream on the cherry arrives just a little later, at the first toll departure point. By crushing the right pedal, the XC40 leaps without inertia despite its respectable weight and leaves all the large turbo-diesel sedans in place, even some patented sports cars (4.9 s from 0 to 100 km / h, that’s two tenths less than a Porsche 718 Cayman). What a breath! Thanks to both engines, which provide punch and flawless traction … but which logically sip their electrons: at real 130 km / h (i.e. 133 km / h on the odometer), consumption exceeds 32 kWh / 100 km and limits the range of action to just over 230 km. The 10 ° C in the air and the very light headwind certainly did not help, but with a battery of the same capacity the Volkswagen ID.4 SUV had exceeded 310 km on the same course.
| Highway route | Departure | Arrival |
| Battery level | 87% | 40% |
| Mileage traveled | 109 km | |
| Conso. estimated at 100 km * | 32.3 kWh | |
| Estimated autonomy * | 232 km | |
Values calculated according to the percentage of battery consumed (here 47%) and its useful capacity (75 kWh).
What autonomy on the road?After recharging at a fast terminal (see below ), our electric XC40 sets off again for a less demanding journey. Fluid village crossings and long straight lines limited to 80 km / h should reduce fuel consumption. But when driving, you have to apply yourself to respect the speed limits with so much torque under your right foot! On the more winding and degraded portions of the Champagne network, the Volvo SUV continues its charming number, displaying rather easy to dose braking (more than the T5 plug-in hybrid version of the XC40), decent cornering agility despite the weight. important and always effective damping. Not to mention its more precise and informative direction once the assistance is strengthened via
With an ambient temperature of 10 ° C, it is difficult to achieve approved autonomy, even on the road at a leisurely pace.
In the adjustment menus, we also discover the “one pedal” mode, which clearly reinforces the recovery of energy during deceleration (absent in the opposite case) and even dispenses with the need to use the brake pedal on the road as in town. A mode again well managed by operating a slightly declining braking just before stopping. And consumption in all of this? It is obviously lower than that recorded on the motorway, with 20.4 kWh / 100 km, which is equivalent to nearly 370 km of autonomy on this type of route.
| However, the gap remains with the sober Volkswagen ID.4, which was content with 13.8 kWh and could therefore reach 560 km with a single charge. But with half the power… and half the fun. | Route route | Departure |
| Arrival | Battery level | 85% |
| 47% | Mileage traveled | |
| 140 km | Conso. estimated at 100 km * | |
| 20.4 kWh | Estimated autonomy * | |
368 km
Values calculated according to the percentage of battery consumed (here 38%) and its useful capacity (75 kWh).
Ionity recharge price
On Ionity fast terminal, recharging is billed at 0.79 € / min. Taking into account consumption at 130 km / h, a motorway trip therefore costs almost € 30 per 100 km! To be used only for troubleshooting … On a public terminal or a three-phase 11 kW Wallbox (maximum power tolerated in alternating current), Volvo announces a wait of 7:30 for a full charge. No duration is communicated
on a classic domestic socket, but this should exceed 40 hours
considering the battery capacity. The installation of a Wallbox at home is therefore imperative. And if the latter is no longer supported by Volvo (the subsidy was € 1,149 for any order placed before the end of 2020), the brand now offers warranty, maintenance and insurance for 36 months. Not insignificant.
Find the results of the test, the equipment prices and the technical sheet on the next page …
