2024 VOLVO C40 EV SHOWS PLENTY OF PROMISE

By NITISH S. RELE – motoringflorida@gmail.com

It can go almost 297 miles on a full electric charge of its 82-kWh lithium-ion battery. And fast charge is possible at up to 80 percent in just 28 minutes or you can plug into a 110 or 220 volt at home. Here’s introducing the 2024 Volvo C40 Recharge, this one a rear-wheel drive with a single rear electric motor (or opt for the twin electric motor C40 version).

The five-passenger compact SUV packs 248 horsepower and 310 pounds-feet of torque, which is plenty to propel the ride toward its destination in style and oodles of comfort. After all it’s a Volvo! A single-speed transmission shifts gears seamlessly. Suspension is handled adeptly by a strut up front and a multilink rear with coil springs so road noise is kept to a minimum. The electric power steering is razor sharp with a substantial on-center experience.

The C40 portrays a sleek look, especially the sloping roofline, creating an almost coupe-like rake. LED headlights flank a body-colored grille hosting the familiar iron mark emblem while the vertical tail lamps carry the distinct Volvo appearance. Take a seat behind the manual tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel and you find yourself staring at a 12.3-inch digital display decked in shimmer graphite aluminum inlays. Volvo Sensus infotainment, with a distinct vertical 9-inch display touch screen, is essentially made up of four tiles: navigation, media, phone and user-defined. Activate one and watch it expand while keeping the other tiles visible for future use. Leather seats may spoil you but every once in a while, it’s cool to relax on tailored wool blend upholstery! And the Google built-in Assistant, Maps and Play store if of immense practical use. Standard goodies include dual auto a/c, fixed panoramic moon roof, 13-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, power tail gate, 10-way power front seats and 60/40 fold second-row bench.

The Chinese-owned but Swedish-made car company is renowned for safety. Continuing the tradition, the C40 gets dual front and side airbags, side curtain airbag, driver knee airbag, lane departure/keep aid, blind spot information, cross traffic alert, rear park assist and sensors, adaptive cruise control, four-wheel antilock brakes, three-point seatbelts for all, side impact protection, dynamic stability and traction control, 360-degree camera, hill start assist and descent control,

As Volvo heads toward an EV/plug-in hybrid transition, the nearly 300-mile-on-charge single-motor C40 shows lots of potential. The good-looking and entertaining SUV delivers a comfortably compliant ride backed by a well-crafted, clean and attractive cabin. A $7,500 federal tax credit rebate and a $1,000 Volvo loyalty bonus (purchase) makes it a real sweet deal!

C40 RECHARGE (ULTIMATE)

Tires: 235/45HR20 front, 255/40HR20

Wheelbase: 106.4 inches

Length: 174.8 inches

Width: 75.2 inches

Height: 62.8 inches

Weight: 4,780 pounds

MPGe: 118 city, 96 hwy, 107 combined

Base price: $58,800

Price as tested: $59,995

Web site: www.volvo.com