Louth Motors: As smooth as it gets, at a price - The Volvo XC40 Recharge

I love stats and the interpretation people put on them. No matter what the stat is it can always be explained positively.

Take the Volvo XC40 Recharge. In 2022 it was the 10th best selling electric model in Ireland with a market share of  2.5% of the electric market car market.

Electric cars from Volvo had a market share of just over 3% - so it is a huge model for Volvo. Last year Volvo captured 1.7% of the all cars sold so in terms of cars electrically powered Volvo sells well.

All this feeds into the transition of Volvo to an all-electric manufacturer and tells you that Volvo’s transition to all-electric is yielding results. Why is that?

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My belief is that as cars go and electric cars in particular Volvo’s are very appealing looking cars.

You won’t be persuaded by the stats backing up any claim if the car is a dog but if it catches your eye, you’re in.

The XC40 Recharge certainly catches your eye and attention. It’s very similar to the normal XC40, the main differentiator a frameless grille.

That’s a good plan because the XC40 has found a lot of buyers and fans being a previous Irish Car of the Year Award winner and is a design to be minimally tweaked with and nothing radical.

The ride and drive in the XC40 Recharge is at the level expected by a premium car. It’s hushed and refined.

It’s motoring manners ooze assurance and wraps you with a great sense of security. It handles exactly how you’d expect it to and for the times you may have underestimated a corner or bend it’ll step in and help out.

Not that as a Volvo driver you’ll be sporting driving gloves and shoes as it’s not that type of car.

Premium passenger transportation is its goal and it bullseyes it. Being electric it is blessed with instant torque and power and will accelerate to 100km/h is 7.4s.  Top speed is 160km/h.

That performance is possible from the 231hp electric motor that powers the front wheels. There is also a 4wd version that has a motor per axle and 408hp.

The battery is 69kWh and can charge at a max. rate of 150kW to get you to 80% in 28 minutes or typical coffee and bun time.

The cabin you’ll be enjoying that driving experience in is simply divine and Volvo’s whatever you think of them have possibly the best interiors in the premium sector.

The ergonomic design and the presentation of touch controls is the best there is and will appeal to old school button and knobs people like me as well as the touch and flick younger generation.

The XC40 Recharge is the first Volvo to use the fully integrate Goggle Automotive Services software that gives a better Maps and Assistant experience because the voice control is particularly good and accurate.

The level of standard comfort and safety equipment is outstanding too. For day-to-day driving the hand-on-the-wheel feeling you get from the XC40 Recharge is extremely pleasant.

Rear space is OK being a bit cosy when three people are in there making the rear passenger experience best taken with just one other. The 452 litre boot feels small when set against the overall dimension of the car.

The main drawback, and it is a significant drawback, with the XC40 Recharge is the price. It starts at €58,210 which is quite steep compared to any of the premium competitors be they from Mercedes, Audi or BMW.

But the real problem is that the Tesla Model Y starts at €46,990, is bigger, has a better range (425kms v 455kms), better performance and has that talismanic name.

Volvo ownership and Tesla ownership’s are interchangeable now such is the impact of the burgeoning Tesla brand.

I think this is borne out by, you’ve guessed it, stats. Tesla has sold 875 Model Y’s up to the end of May compared to 265 XC40 Recharge’s.

The stats demonstrate that like Tesla, Volvo may need to have a price correction to attract more of the buyers they would expect to be in their cars.

The premium car manufacturers were getting, and for some still are, is coming under pressure to end.

Especially when customers see what they can get from the emerging Asian electric car manufacturers. Interesting times ahead.

I loved my extended time with the Volvo XC40 Recharge. It is the epitome of smooth, premium comfort and everything you touch feels robust and of the best quality.

That comes at a price which may be too much even for diehard Volvo aficionados.