Volvo C40 Recharge vs Volvo XC40

In Volvo speak, “40” denotes an entry-level model. While the Swedish automaker no longer rosters the S40 sedan or V40 wagon in North America, the XC40 subcompact crossover remains to compete with the likes of the Audi Q3, the BMW X1, the Lexus UX, and the Mercedes-Benz GLA for aspiring luxury-car owners’ dollars.

The XC40 was unveiled in 2017, arriving as a 2019 model, and it hasn’t undergone a redesign since. An all-electric Volvo XC40 Recharge variant joined the lineup as a 2021 model. Volvo’s other current EV, the C40 Recharge, is also broadly similar to the XC40 models, but with a coupe-like body style.

For 2023, Volvo gave the XC40 several notable updates, including new mild-hybrid powertrains, revised styling, and the Android-based infotainment system previously seen on the XC40 Recharge and other Volvo models.

The mild-hybrid lineup includes base Core, mid-level Plus, and top Ultimate trim levels, with standard B5 all-wheel drive (AWD) drivetrains (the B4 front-wheel drive, or FWD, version offered in the US is not available in Canada). This Volvo XC40 review is based on the Ultimate trim in B5 AWD spec.

It’s an exciting time for EV enthusiasts. Many established automakers are launching their first electric cars, each putting a different spin on the concept of zero-emission transportation. Some are taking this opportunity to reinvent brand images with radical designs, but not Volvo. The 2022 Volvo C40 Recharge—the Swedish automaker’s first mass-produced pure electric model without a gasoline counterpart—takes a conservative approach that’s rooted more in today than tomorrow.

The Volvo C40 Recharge is billed as a new car, but it’s more like a second body style of the Volvo XC40 Recharge crossover SUV, which in turn is an electric version of the Volvo XC40. Both models share a platform, powertrains, tech features, interior fittings, and a good amount of sheet metal. The main differences between the two are the C40 Recharge’s sleeker roofline and different equipment and trim-level structures.

Unlike the XC40 Recharge, the C40 Recharge is offered in a single trim level that incorporates the standard and optional equipment from the XC40 Recharge. We spent our test drive in this well-equipped EV around Palm Springs, California, to see how it compares to its sibling, and how it stacks up against EVs from other automakers.