When we decided to spotlight EVs for the September issue of Motoring, my first call was to the fine folks at Volvo India. They didn’t hesitate to send over the Volvo C40 Recharge for an extended test, and we got to live with this for a month.
The Volvo C40 Recharge practically begs you to unleash its potential. With those dual motors under the hood, it’s not just quick — it’s downright thrilling. The acceleration is instant, and it delivers a driving experience that easily puts a grin on my face as I gun it on wide-open roads.
It’s not just about the speed, though. True to Volvo’s reputation, the C40 Recharge’s interior oozes luxury. There’s a sense of calm sophistication in the design — everything is meticulously crafted, with clean lines and good-quality materials that exude class without being overly flashy. However, there’s one detail that could use some tweaking: the massive transmission tunnel in the back. It eats into the rear passenger legroom, making it a bit uncomfortable, especially for older passengers.
Volvo has now gone all-in on its commitment to an electric future, vowing to bring only EVs to the market as part of its ambitious journey towards carbon neutrality. The C40 Recharge is the second EV in their lineup for India, and it would be really interesting how they move forward with this.
Over the past month, I’ve put the C40 Recharge through its paces. It’s been my go-to for everything from quick city errands to those longer Mumbai-Pune highway sprints. The car handled everything with ease, and the range anxiety that often plagues EV drivers was a nonissue. Speaking of range, as the EV charging infrastructure is improving, a 150kW charger gets you from 20 to 80 per cent in just about 40 minutes — not too shabby, right?
Of course, living with an EV isn’t without its challenges — particularly if you don’t have a dedicated charging space at home. But as public charging networks expand and become more accessible, the convenience factor will only grow. Once the infrastructure matures, parking an EV in your garage could be one of the smartest moves you make.
