After a long delay, Volvo has launched its first electric car in India, the XC40 Recharge, at Rs 55.90 lakh (ex-showroom, India). This makes it Rs 11.40 lakh more expensive than the petrol-powered XC40.
- XC40 Recharge gets a 78kWh battery pack
- Costs Rs 11.40 lakh more than the petrol XC40
- Can charge at speeds of up to 150kW
The EV SUV will be assembled at Volvo’s facility in Hoskote near Bengaluru, making it India's first luxury EV to be locally assembled. The XC40 Recharge is available exclusively on Volvo's website and buyers will be able to place orders from July 27 for a token amount of Rs 50,000.
The XC40 Recharge will come with one 11kW wall-box charger; a three-year warranty is being offered on the car and an eight-year warranty on the batteries.
Volvo XC40 Recharge: battery, range and performance
The Volvo XC40 Recharge gets a 78kWh battery capable of 150kW DC fast charging that can top the car from 10 to 80 percent in a claimed 33 minutes. On a more easily accessible 50kW fast charger, Volvo says the XC40 Recharge can charge 100 percent in about 2.5 hours.
With a claimed range of 418km on the WLTP cycle, the XC40 Recharge is available in India in the higher-spec “Twin” version, which has two electric motors – one on each axle producing 408hp and 660Nm of torque. This makes it almost twice as powerful as the petrol-powered XC40 and comparable to the larger and more expensive Audi e-tron 55 Quattro. All that power gives the XC40 Recharge a brisk 0-100 time of 4.9 seconds, however, the EV is 400kg heavier than the petrol model, weighing in at 2,188kg.
We drove the XC40 Recharge a few months back, and you can read or watch our review.
Volvo XC40 Recharge: exterior design and dimensions
The XC40 Recharge that has come to India is essentially the facelifted version, with minor cosmetic changes like a new iteration of the ‘Thor’s Hammer’ DRL and restyled bumpers. Compared to the petrol-powered XC40, the Recharge is 15mm longer, but has a slightly lower ground clearance of 175mm due to the battery pack. It features a blanked-out grille and new dual-tone 19-inch alloy wheels, and the boot space is now 452 litres, with an additional 31-litre boot under the bonnet.
Volvo XC40 Recharge: features
In terms of features, the XC40 Recharge borrows infotainment and telematics from the facelifted XC60, and that means a sharper new set of digital dials and the new Android-based infotainment system. The driver gets direct access to Google Maps and Assistant, and a number of apps from the PlayStore with the help of an onboard e-SIM.
The XC40 Recharge also gets a panoramic sunroof, wireless phone charging, a full suite of sensor-based ADAS tech with Level 2 Autonomous driving, connected car tech, powered front seats with driver-side memory and a premium Harman Kardon sound system.
Volvo XC40 Recharge: how it compares with other EVs
Priced at Rs 55.90 lakh, the XC40 Recharge sits between another luxury EVs like the Mini Cooper SE on one hand and the BMW i4 and the Kia EV6 on the other. The XC40 Recharge will also take on the Hyundai Ioniq 5, which will be launched next year and will also be locally assembled.
Update: Volvo India had allotted 150 units of the XC40 Recharge for 2022, with a plan to deliver them by December. All units were sold out within two hours of the bookings opening.
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