Who Buys the Volvo C40?

The Volvo C40 looks good. It’s fun to drive. It’s quiet, comfortable, and has enough tech to keep people entertained. And at $59,995 as tested for this single-motor, long-range Ultimate model, it’s not too expensive considering the current luxury electric vehicle market.

But while this car is great, I don’t know who it’s for. The C40 is a Volvo SUV—already a niche within a niche—with average mileage, average charging speeds, and less cargo space than its sister car, the XC40 Recharge. It probably won’t have many people slamming doors on Volvos, and after a week of driving it, I’m not sure even the most nerdy Volvo buyer will find much reason to take the C40 home.

If there is something that Possible To convince buyers, that’s how the C40 looks. As is typical of Volvo, the SUV has clean lines, soft angles, and a few important—but not overly sporty—signatures. The neatly raked roofline merges into a boot lid with a sporty spoiler atop it. The taillights stretch along either side of the rear glass for a nice, unified shape. The front end, meanwhile, retains most of the same elements that make the compact XC40 so appealing.

The interior follows suit: Sporty simplicity. You might be surprised to see cloth seats in a nearly $60,000 luxury vehicle, but they fit right in here. The front and rear seats have a nice shape and feel, making them easy to sit in for hours. The rest of the cabin uses clean, simple lines and high-end materials—and an 8.0-inch portrait-oriented touchscreen adorns the center of the dashboard.

Volvo uses Google’s built-in system with maps, voice assistant, Google Play Store access, and finally, Apple CarPlay. You still can’t use phone-based Android Auto, which is a bummer, but the C40 runs Google Maps and other functions smoothly enough. My only complaint is that the touch response isn’t on par with a modern smartphone, and the Android Automotive system hasn’t changed much since its debut in 2019.

Jeff Perez/Motor1

Pros: Sleek design, comfortable ride, clean cabin, affordable price

The longer-range single-motor model has a 78.0-kilowatt-hour (usable capacity) battery that powers a single rear-mounted electric motor. With 248 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of instant torque, the single-motor model takes 6.9 seconds to reach 60 mph, while the dual-motor version hits 60 mph in 4.5 seconds.

Most buyers will find the single-motor model to be plenty quick. It has no problem pulling ahead of traffic and picking up speed, or overtaking on the highway. Around town, the instantaneous electrons make it feel nimble, and the aggressive one-pedal driving function means you can manoeuvre without slamming on the brakes.

Jeff Perez/Motor1

Jeff Perez/Motor1

The C40 also has good cornering maneuverability. The updated 2024 model is rear-wheel drive, making it more fun to drive than some front-wheel-drive alternatives. The steering is quick, the suspension is responsive, and the single-motor model (while still a heavy vehicle at 4,453 pounds) feels lighter on its tires than some other EVs.

Ultimately, though, the single-engine C40 leans more toward comfort than sportiness. The cabin is quiet; there’s no annoying gas engine noise in the interior. The only thing you might hear is wind and tire roar at high speeds. I found the C40 to be one of the quietest EVs out there.

Jeff Perez/Motor1

Cons: Niche within a Niche, Outdated Infotainment, Below Average Range & Charging

But because of its sloping roof, the C40 isn’t quite as roomy as the XC40. Rear headroom is down 2.4 inches and cargo space is down 8.5 cubic feet compared to the previous model. It’s not entirely uncomfortable, but at six feet tall, my head almost touches the roof.

The single-engine C40 has the better range of the two models, going up to 297 miles on a single charge according to the EPA. The twin-engine model is only rated at 257 miles by comparison. That puts the single-engine C40 right in the middle; its range is better than the Genesis GV60 (294 miles) and Audi Q4 Sportback (265 miles), but it falls short of the Ford Mustang Mach-E (320 miles) and Tesla Model Y (310 miles).

Jeff Perez/Motor1

In terms of charging, the C40 sucks up electrons at 200 kilowatts on a DC fast charger. Volvo says you’ll go from 10% to 80% in 28 minutes. The Mach-E will do the same in 32 minutes at 150 kilowatts, and the Audi will go from 5% to 80% in 36 minutes at the same rate. The Kia EV6 and Genesis GV60 are the fastest chargers in the bunch, going from 10% to 80% in just 18 minutes at 240 kilowatts.

So who is the Volvo C40 really for? I still don’t know. The Model Y is superior, the EV6 and GV60 charge faster, and for a lot less money you can get a Mach-E with a range of 320 miles. If you want something that looks really good, Volvo has you covered. Otherwise, the C40 is a tough sell.