5 Reasons Why Volvo’s Fully Electric C40 Recharge Is The Ideal Small Family SUV

Introducing a household companion that sprints to 100km/h in 4.7 seconds…

Gerald Yuen

23 Sep 2022

Think of Volvo and those familiar with the brand might recollect its consistent safety-centric messaging since the early 70s. Sure, a couple of modern iterations still feel like they are hewn from granite, but Volvos of late, those of fully electric nature, have managed to serve up an enticing blend of functionality and blistering performance without compromising on safety. The C40 Recharge exemplifies these points, and here are 5 reasons why this SUV is the ideal small family hauler:

1) The C40 Recharge is built on the Compact Modular Architecture (CMA) architecture, a flexible platform also found on the Polestar 2 and XC40. Only the distance between the front wheels and pedal box is fixed, allowing engineers to maximise both form and function as illustrated in the C40 Recharge.

2) The twin motor version (the only spec available for the Singapore market for now) achieves up to 450km of range on the combined cycle, a sniff more than the similarly-sized Mercedes EQA. This should bring the family from Singapore to Desaru and back in one single charge, even during peak hour causeway traffic.

3) It will be easy to live with - just open the door, get comfy and drive. There’s no starter button or handbrake. But bear in mind that there is 660Nm on tap. For context, that’s only 10% less torque than a fire-breathing BMW M5!

4) The C40 Recharge might be headlined by its staggering 406bhp dual motor setup, but in true Volvo fashion it ensures that driver and occupants are safe behind the wheel. A 360-degree camera, blind spot indicators, cross traffic alerts and collision warnings as part of Volvo’s latest Advanced Driver Assistance Systems are handled by an array of radars and ultrasonic sensors.

5) An Android-based infotainment system ensures familiar interaction and smooth transition from smartphones. Combination of Google Play from the 9-inch touchscreen, wireless phone charging and a Harmon Kardon sound system allows seamless entertainment on the go. iPhone users can wire up to utilise Apple CarPlay.