Performance & drive
What it’s like to drive, and how quiet it is
Engine, 0-60mph and gearbox
The single motor, front-wheel-drive Volvo C40 Recharge has 228bhp available, and can accelerate from 0-62mph in 7.4sec – more than sufficient for most people’s needs. The dual motor, four-wheel-drive Recharge Twin has a combined power output of a stout 402bhp, giving it a 0-62mph sprint time of just 4.7sec.
To put that in context, the quickest Audi Q4 Sportback e-tron takes 6.2sec and the Mercedes EQA takes 6.0sec. For more pace, you'll need to forgo the C40’s high electric SUV driving position and look at the Tesla Model 3 Long Range.
Handling
The C40 offers plenty of grip, hanging on gamely even if you steam into a bend with a bit too much speed. The body will lean over in much the same way, so there’s little enjoyment to be had in trying to hustle it (the same is true of the Q4 Sportback e-tron and EQA).
Your best bet is to back off a little and keep things smooth. That way you’ll fall into a relaxing rhythm, which works well with the steering.
The C40 has two steering modes – a lighter normal set-up that works well around town and a beefier mode designed to help with accuracy at higher speeds (you select it with a slider for ‘Steering feel firm’ in the driver assistance menu). We'd be happy to leave it in that last setting because it's not particularly hard work to steer into a parking space.
