2021 Volvo XC40 Recharge Review

Name: 2021 Volvo XC40 Recharge Review
Brand: Volvo

Price Range: $27,325 - $30,590

2021 Volvo XC40 Recharge Pure Electric P8 4dr SUV Exterior

+94

The XC40 Recharge is small but packs a lot between its fenders, including a new operating system powered by Google and more than 400 horsepower. It's a bit pricey and a bit short on range compared to the rest of the field, but it could be an attractive choice if you're looking for a small and quick electric SUV.

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2021 Volvo XC40 Recharge Review

byRyan ZumMallen^{Contributor
Ryan ZumMallen has worked in the automotive industry since 2012. He has written thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Ryan has also contributed to Road & Track, Autoweek, Trucks.com and more. In 2019, Ryan published his first book, Slow Car Fast, on the millennial generation and its unique take on modern car culture.}

Pros

Quick acceleration
Easy and fun to drive
Practical SUV body style

Cons

Less range than rival EVs
Below-average energy efficiency
Small cargo area

What's new

New fully electric version of the XC40
402 horsepower
Estimated 208 miles of range
Based on the first-generation XC40 introduced for 2019

Overview

The 2021 Volvo XC40 Recharge is an all-electric version of the gasoline-powered XC40, which is Volvo's smallest SUV. It's Volvo's first EV and, on first impression, there really aren't any differences between the Recharge and the gas-powered model. It looks pretty much just like a regular XC40 on the outside, and there's plenty of room for passengers on the inside. If you want to go electric and not shout to the world that you're doing it, the XC40 is a good way to go.

Continue reading Edmunds Expert Rating below

2021 Volvo XC40 Recharge EV Insights

Trim:

XC40 Recharge Pure Electric P8

Estimated Range Based on Age

edmunds TESTED

227 miles^{The range for a used 2021 Volvo XC40 Recharge is estimated to be 227 miles because electric cars typically experience 1-2% of range loss per year, with slightly faster degradation over the first 50,000 miles as the car settles into its long term state, according to Recurrent's study of 15,000 EVs.}

EV batteries lose 1-2% of range per year. Est. range for this car is 227 miles.^{Electric cars typically experience 1-2% of range loss per year with slightly faster degradation over the first 50,000 miles as the car settles into its long term state, according to Recurrent's study of 15,000 EVs.}

Estimated range map^{This map is a visual representation of the possible one-way and round-trips by this vehicle (on a full charge) from the geometric center of Ashburn, Virginia. The depicted ranges are based on the estimated new vehicle range value provided by the EPA, rounded down to miles for one-way and miles for round-trip. Actual range will vary depending on the condition of this vehicle’s battery pack, how you drive, driving conditions and other factors.Map display generated using: © openrouteservice.org by HeiGIT | Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors | Leaflet} from

Charging

SAE Combo^{Standard port for most electric models. Supports Level 1, Level 2, and DC Fast charging.}

Plug Type

8 hrs

240V Home Charging^{Estimated total charging time when using a 240V outlet. This is either a 3-prong or 4-prong outlet used for appliances, for example a clothes dryer.}

EV batteries should be kept at 30-80% charged to extend battery life.

When can I use NACS/Tesla charging stations?

EV Battery Warranty

8 yrs or 100,000 miles^{The federal government requires that EV batteries be warrantied for a minimum of eight years or 100,000 miles. The EV battery warranty includes replacement if your battery capacity drops below a certain percentage of the original capacity.}

According to GeoTab’s data, if the observed degradation rates are maintained, the vast majority of batteries will outlast the usable life of the vehicle.

Estimated battery warranty remaining is 5 years or 58,000 miles for this car.^{Warranty remaining value is based on the vehicle year, and on driving 14,000 miles per year. Confirm exact warranty coverage for each vehicle with the dealers and the manufacturer before purchasing.}

EV Tax Credits & Rebates

$4,125

Available Rebates. Restrictions apply.

Restrictions:
Under the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) offers taxpayers a Used Clean Vehicle Tax Credit equal to 30% of the sale price up to a maximum credit of $4,000 for the purchase of a used plug-in electric or hydrogen fuel cell vehicle. Beginning January 1, 2024, Clean Vehicle Tax Credits may be initiated and approved at the point of sale at participating dealerships registered with the IRS. Dealers will be responsible for submitting Clean Vehicle Tax Credit information to the IRS. Buyers are advised to obtain a copy of an IRS "time of sale" report, confirming it was submitted successfully by the dealer.

For the vehicle to qualify:
- Price cannot exceed $25,000.
- Need to verify the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN).
- Must be at least two model years older than the current calendar year in which the vehicle was purchased.
- Must be sold through a dealership, private sales not permitted.
- Not have already been transferred after August 16, 2022, to a qualified buyer.
For individuals to qualify:
- Must meet income eligibility, depending on modified adjusted gross income (AGI) and tax filing status.
- Must not be the first owner of the qualifying vehicle.
- Has not been allowed a credit under this section for any sale during the 3-year period ending on the date of the sale of such vehicle.
- Purchased for personal use, not a business, corporation or for resale.
To learn more, visit https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/used-clean-vehicle-credit
Restrictions:
Dominion Energy offers EV owners a rebate of up to $125 towards the cost of a Level 2 charging station.
To qualify for this rebate, the customer and/or charging station must meet the following requirements:
- Receive electricity from Dominion Energy.
- Have an electric or plug-in hybrid vehicle.
- Networked/Smart charging capabilities to program the station to off-peak periods and respond to managed charging events
- You also earn a $40 e-gift card on the anniversary of your enrollment every year you remain enrolled.
To learn more, visit https://www.chargingrewards.com/faqs/dominion-ev/

See All EV incentives

Cost to Drive

$77/mo

XC40 Recharge

$157/mo

SUV Avg.

Monthly estimates based on costs in Virginia

Am I Ready for an EV?

EV ownership works best if you can charge at home (240V outlet) ^{This typically means a 240V home installation, or other places your car is parked for several hours each day. Don't expect a regular household outlet (120V) to suffice.}
Adding a home charging system is estimated to cost $1,616 in
^{This is an estimate for your area. Using your address and the answers you provide, Treehouse can provide a more accurate price.}
Edmunds is partnering with Treehouse, an independent provider of home EV installation services. Learn more ^{Edmunds customers receive a 10% installation discount and 4% smart charger discount. Discount excludes permit, hosted inspection, and load management devices. Valid for 30 days.}

Need to install a charger at home?

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See All EV Insights

According to the EPA, the XC40 Recharge offers 208 miles of range when fully charged. This is less than the range of most other EVs, including the rival Tesla Model Model Y, which can go an estimated 326 miles in its Long Range version, or the Ford Mustang Mach-E with up to 305 miles. But the XC40 Recharge is impressively quick — 0-60 mph comes up in just 4.5 seconds — and we've found that it can go farther than its EPA estimate in real-world driving.

With few drawbacks and several advantages compared to the traditional XC40, the Recharge is an impressive electric debut for Volvo. Check out our test team's Expert Rating to learn more about its comfort, efficiency and more.

Edmunds Expert Rating

Our Verdict^{The Edmunds Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.}

Good

7.9

out of 10

edmunds TESTED

Rated for you by America's best test team.

Performance

8/10

How does the XC40 Recharge drive? The best thing about the XC40 Recharge is how it drives. Beneath its unassuming wrapper is easy and instant thrust. Accelerating to 60 mph happens in just 4.5 seconds, quicker than Ford's Mach-E and Tesla's Model Y Long Range. And despite the Volvo having some pretty basic all-season tires, there's a decent amount of traction and control out of the corners that makes this little SUV pretty fun to whip around.

All this speed doesn't come at the sacrifice of everyday drivability either. The XC40 Recharge is effortless to drive at any speed and features a one-pedal driving mode that dials up the motor's regenerative braking effect, allowing you to slow to a stop without having to use the brake pedal.

And speaking of modes, there is an off-road mode that helps with steeper hill descents should you encounter such a situation. But considering the marginal ground clearance the Recharge has, we wouldn't venture very far off the pavement.

Comfort

8/10

How comfortable is the XC40 Recharge? For a small, sporty SUV, the XC40 Recharge is fairly comfortable. The biggest differences between this all-electric version and its gas-powered counterpart? The Recharge is much quieter and its climate control turns on faster. We found the regular XC40's engine to be a big contributor to noise, and its slow-booting onboard systems meant delays in turning on the climate system via the touchscreen controls. The Recharge starts up and is ready to drive the moment you open the door, and its electric motors produce very little noise.

The Recharge's ride is more firm than comfortable, likely because of its extra weight and its bias toward sporty handling. The front seats are a mix of suede and leather, and they are fairly comfortable and have a decent amount of adjustments. As in the other XC40s, the headrests have an odd forward angle to them, which may be uncomfortable for people with longer torsos.

Interior

8/10

How’s the interior? Volvo's typical user interface remains, and most controls are accessed through the touchscreen. But the Recharge inherits Google's new in-car operating system, which includes convenient apps such as Google Maps and Spotify built right into the car. The menus aren't quite as intuitive to navigate as in the related Polestar 2, but the functionality is just as good.

For such a compact SUV, the XC40 has a relatively roomy cabin that's a breeze to get into and out of. Tall drivers might not be able to find a comfortable seating position due to limited steering wheel adjustability and the protruding headrest design. Legroom in the back should suffice for anyone 6 feet or shorter. There's good visibility all around thanks to large windows, and an optional 360-degree camera makes maneuvering in tight spaces even easier.

Technology

8/10

How’s the tech? With the Google operating system onboard, there are some great and some not-so great features. We love being able to access apps like Google Maps inside the car, and having the Google Assistant as a voice recognition system makes it one of the easier ways to control things.

We don't like that a sudden loss of the data connection will render all the Google features useless until the connection is restored. Also, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration is still unavailable (Volvo says that software update is coming), and the Bluetooth connection is pretty limited. Four USB-C ports plus two 12-volt outlets and a wireless charger ensure there are ample options for keeping devices charged up. A full suite of advanced driver aids is optional, and a bit pricey, but we think it's worth getting since all the features work quite well.

Storage

7.5/10

How’s the storage? The XC40's Recharge has a smaller cargo area than its nearest competition, with a 20.4-cubic-foot trunk and 1-cubic-foot frunk, but it is nevertheless a pretty useful space. We like the 60/40-split folding rear seats, a pass-through and a foldable tray that doubles as a grocery holder. The cabin offers a variety of other storage spaces, including a clever little removable trash bin. Felt-lined doors keep items from rattling around.

Using your XC40 for kid duty? The child seat anchors are clearly located under flip-up doors, but they're buried a little deep for comfortable access. You might have the best chance of fitting a bulky rear-facing seat in this car compared to most other SUVs this size, but it'll still be a tight fit.

The Recharge can tow up to 2,000 pounds. That's the same as the Polestar 2, less than the Model Y (3,500 pounds) and more than the Mach-E, which is not rated for towing.

Range and Efficiency

7/10

How are the range and efficiency? The EPA estimates the XC40 Recharge has a maximum range of 208 miles and uses 43 kWh of electricity for every 100 miles of driving, making it one of the least efficient luxury EVs despite its small size. For comparison, the Tesla Model Y only uses 27 kWh/100 miles and even the three-row Model X is rated at 35 kWh/100 miles.

Thankfully in Edmunds' real-world testing the Volvo proved more efficient, using 35.4 kWh/100 miles and traveling 240 miles on a single charge. We should note that this was achieved on 100% battery charge — Volvo, like many other EV manufacturers, recommends a 90% charge for daily use.

As far as charging goes, the Recharge is relatively speedy. It should take about eight hours to charge from empty to full if you have a 240-volt power source that outputs 11 kW. On a 150-kW DC fast charger, the XC40 Recharge can charge from zero to 80% battery in about 40 minutes.

Value

7.5/10

Is the XC40 Recharge a good value? While the XC40 Recharge has some attractive qualities, we don't think it's one of the better values even if you consider the available $7,500 federal tax credit. It isn't any less expensive than its larger and more spacious competition — the Ford Mustang Mach-E and Tesla Model Y — and offers a lot less range than either. Also, while the XC40 Recharge feels like a solidly built car, the cabin materials aren't particularly luxurious.

Volvo's basic and powertrain warranties last for four years/50,000 miles, which aligns with most competitors. The battery warranty is covered for eight years/100,000 miles, and Volvo covers scheduled services at every 10K miles for up to three years/36,000 miles of ownership. Roadside assistance is included for four years with no mileage limit.

Wildcard

8/10

If we had to sum up the XC40 Recharge in a single thought, we'd say it's unassuming yet fun and effortless to drive. Speed is instantly accessible, and the lower center of gravity makes for a stable little SUV that's entertaining to toss around.

If you're looking for an EV that stands out in a crowd, the Recharge isn't it. But if you like a sleeper, something that packs a wallop of speed but flies well under the radar, then it could be right up your alley.

Which XC40 Recharge does Edmunds recommend?

In its debut year, Volvo is making the XC40 Recharge available only in the P8 eAWD trim — so that's the one you'll be getting. You can, however, choose from several enticing options. We would order the Harman Kardon premium sound system to elevate the audio experience, as well as the Advanced package to add more driver assistance aids to round out the safety features on board.

2021 Volvo XC40 Recharge models

The XC40 Recharge is a fully electric extra-small SUV with seating for up to five passengers. It comes in only one trim level: the P8 eAWD. It derives power from a 78-kWh battery located under the floor of the vehicle. Power goes to one electric motor on the front wheels and a second motor attached to the rear wheels, effectively giving the XC40 Recharge full-time all-wheel drive. The system creates a total output of 402 horsepower and 486 lb-ft of torque. Feature highlights include:

Pure
Standard features on the XC40 Recharge include:

LED headlights
19-inch wheels
Keyless entry and push-button start
Hands-free liftgate
Power-adjustable and heated front seats
12.3-inch center touchscreen
Four USB-C ports
Wireless charging pad
Leather upholstery
Dual-zone automatic climate control
Eight-speaker sound system

Standard safety features and driver aids include:

Blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert (warns you if a vehicle is in your blind spot during a lane change or while in reverse)
Lane keeping assist (steers the XC40 Recharge back into its lane if it begins to drift over the lane marker)
Forward collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios)

Since there is only one trim level, these options are important to note:

Advanced package

Automatic headlight cleaning
Wireless smartphone charging
Adaptive cruise control (adjusts speed to maintain a constant distance between the vehicle and the car in front)
Volvo Pilot Assist (provides steering assistance and combines with adaptive cruise control for additional layer of security)
360-degree camera system (gives you a top-down view of the XC40 Recharge and its surroundings for tight parking situations)

Climate package

Heated steering wheel
Heated rear seats
Heated windshield wiper blades

Harman Kardon premium sound system
Heat pump (heats the cabin more efficiently than normal heater)

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Consumer reviews

Read what other owners think about the Used 2021 Volvo XC40 Recharge.

5 (33%)

4 (20%)

3 (13%)

2 (7%)

1 (27%)

3.3

30 reviews

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Most helpful consumer reviews

Volvo XC40 Recharge - typical "Volvo Unreliable"

JohnK, 06/17/2021

2021 Volvo XC40 Recharge Pure Electric P8 4dr SUV AWD (electric DD)

My Volvo XC40 Recharge had multiple issues, just 2 days after taking delivery of the XC40 Recharge center console crashed and reset to factory default, and lost navigation display in driver side. Even after a few visits to Volvo dealer, issues are not fully resolved. After dealer fixed the driver navigation display issue, the car is stuck in the “guest profile”, I am unable to login to … Google account. At this point, your dealer is unable to fix the issue properly and whole is very frustrating that nothing really works properly. Volvo Mobile app on this car is simply terrible. If you click on the Demo mode on the mobile app you can't get out of that demo mode. And you can't simply reconnect either- simply awful. Looks like some high school dropout wrote the mobile app. And also, you have to set the privacy setting to fork over all car data to Google before anything works properly- Charge level won't show unless you set the privacy setting open to all your data to Google and Volvo. I heard about this about Volvo, but, good grief this very frustrating that your dealer can't properly fix the issues.This is my first Volvo and probably my last! I had similar frustrating experience my Tesla Model 3 with leaky tail lights and leaky roof, but at least Tesla actually fix the issue. Not the Volvo, can't seem to figure it what is wrong with the car. Update: At ~80 miles infotainment system got stuck in reloading screen and got reset to factory default and lost driver side navigation view. At~120 miles stuck in “Guest profile” and requires full reload of Software- dealer couldn’t even fix this repairs without help from Volvo USA. At ~580 miles AC stopped working in middle of 95 degree weather. At~640 miles, looks like June update happen to car and YouTube music and few other apps stop working. At ~720 miles, car reboot itself awhile driving to Volvo dealer to fix other issues. This cannot be safe to drive. More update: At ~1140 miles shut down and restarted in middle of driving again. At ~1500 miles shut down again. At ~1800 miles charging port stuck in Green. At ~2220 miles dealer finally replace IHU, AC issue is not fixed. Volvo think that replacing IHU will fix the Air Condition. At ~2250 miles same day that IHU was replaced infotainment system reboot again. Yes, Volvo is fully aware of Air Condition issues with compressor on Volvo XC 40 Recharge- they are not sure how to fix it and also part that required fix is out of stock for next 6 months.

Poor reliability and efficiency; worse support

E.H., 06/23/2021

2021 Volvo XC40 Recharge Pure Electric P8 4dr SUV AWD (electric DD)

I fell in love with this car when I test drove it. It's snappy and fun, it's quiet, and it looks great. Then I bought it, and everything went to hell. There were electrical problems every day I owned it. The glass spontaneously shattered (nothing hit it) and covered us in sharp fragments and nearly caused a deadly accident. Volvo's Roadside Assistance refused to respond (told me to call …

Take my Volvo, please

L C, 11/27/2021

2021 Volvo XC40 Recharge Pure Electric P8 4dr SUV AWD (electric DD)

Do your research! Do your research! Do your research! Same issue as review I just read, center console computer went out on my maiden voyage home from the dealership. Took almost 2 weeks to secure a loaner just to have it looked at. After 2 days I picked it up and the console went out on the way home and 3 more times before I could get back to the dealer the same day. They loaner I got …

86k and happy!

Jak, 11/08/2022

2021 Volvo XC40 Recharge Pure Electric P8 4dr SUV AWD (electric DD)

Figured we have a bunch of miles more than the average user so wanted to share that we’ve had a very good experience. Not to discount troubles others have had, we just have not had them and have over 86k miles in both warm summer and MN winter driving. Your experience may differ and a warranty may make sense. So far so good here, and love driving this car! As an update we changed tires …

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2021 XC40 Recharge Highlights

Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee	$53,990
EV Tax Credits & Rebates	$4,125 Based on income
Engine Type	Electric
Edmunds Tested Electric Range	240 miles vs EPA Range 208 miles
Cost to Drive	$77/month
Total Charging Time (240V)	8.0 hours
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	25.0 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	all wheel drive
Warranty	4 years / 50,000 miles
EV Battery Warranty	8 years / 100,000 miles

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Safety

Our experts like the XC40 Recharge models:

City Safety with Auto Braking: Warns you if a front collision is imminent and automatically applies the brakes. Can detect vehicles, pedestrians and animals.
Lane Keeping Aid: Alerts you if the vehicle begins drifting out of the lane, then applies steering and braking force to guide it back.
Park Assist Pilot: Guides the XC40 into an adjacent parking spot with minimal driver assistance.

IIHS Rating

The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.

Small Overlap Front Driver-Side Test
Good
Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side Test
Good
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Original
Good
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Updated
Not Tested
Side Impact Test – Original
Good
Side Impact Test – Updated
Not Tested
Roof Strength Test
Good
Rear Crash Protection / Head Restraint
Good

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2021 Volvo XC40 Recharge Review

Pros

Cons

What's new

Overview

2021 Volvo XC40 Recharge EV Insights

Estimated Range Based on Age

Charging

EV Battery Warranty

EV Tax Credits & Rebates

Cost to Drive

Am I Ready for an EV?

Edmunds Expert Rating

Performance

Comfort

Interior

Technology

Storage

Range and Efficiency

Value

Wildcard

Which XC40 Recharge does Edmunds recommend?

2021 Volvo XC40 Recharge models

Most helpful consumer reviews

Volvo XC40 Recharge - typical "Volvo Unreliable"

Poor reliability and efficiency; worse support

Take my Volvo, please

86k and happy!

2021 XC40 Recharge Highlights

Safety

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