Not enough power for it, the Volvo C40 wants to be cool
The Volvo C40 is the least "Volvo" car we've met in a long time, and yet, it's one of the most successful ones we've tested recently.
Keenan Cohen
03/07/2022
Sunday, 03 July 2022, 19:03 Updated: 19:26
Share on Facebook
Share on WhatsApp
Share on Twitter
Share on Email
Share on general
Comments
Comments
Immediately identified as Volvo, the difference is behind (Photo: Keinan Cohen)
Volvo has built its world fame not only for ensuring safety, but also for square, efficient cars, with excellent utilization of interior space, not surprising when it comes from the country that brought you IKEA - the one where except the sausage in the bun everything comes in cardboard boxes.
Then came the C40 which suddenly put Volvo in this place that had never belonged to it or a real player in it.
The C40 is the "coupe-crossover" configuration of the electric XC40.
Same platform, same propulsion, largely also with the same driver and cabin environment and only a different rear.
A different rear end that makes it different from almost any previous Volvo.
More on Walla!
Have you ever wondered why you automatically take a loan from the bank?
In collaboration with max
The same cabin, engineered and well operated.
It is a pity that climate control is no longer accessible (Photo: Keinan Cohen)
The front of the Volvo is immediately identified with the manufacturer's models, the sealed grille also makes sure everyone knew it was electric.
The change, in the back of it she makes in a way that packs her into a sporty look, combined with two "mini spoilers" and a rear wing and lighting lines unique to him.
The cabin also has the familiar look of Volvo, a clean, versatile and easy-to-use driver environment.
The multimedia relies on Google's operating system, including a voice assistant, maps whose integration with the vehicle makes it possible to produce power consumption forecasts that have been found to be very accurate.
Less we liked the quality of the materials, which ranged from excellent to slightly disappointing parts with the door trim made from recycled material that is a bit cheap to the touch.
In the rest of the areas, except for the problematic rear view due to the windshield angle, there are only compliments, seat comfort, storage compartments, air vents and driving position.
The headroom in the back seat and the entrance opening are limited due to the sloping roof (Photo: Keinan Cohen)
In the back seat you start paying the price of the configuration with a smaller headroom for passengers than in the XC40, if you do not use it or the passengers are children it will be fine.
The trunk is also damaged and reduces 32 liters to 420 liters as well as the ability to load large packages due to the limited height, but with smart solutions of a double floor and a central opening in the rear seats that allows long objects to be put inside.
The equipment list in this version is very impressive;
Excellent audio system by Herman Cardon, wireless charging for mobile and a panoramic roof (which is not sufficiently opaque to Israeli sun conditions) and more.
The set of safety systems, as expected from Volvo is complete and comprehensive.
Keeping the tail (Photo: Keinan Cohen)
This version of the C40 is powered by two electric motors with 407 hp and 67.3 kg, take a second to linger on this data because its casual appearance can be misleading when in fact it has numbers that can be found in end versions of petrol cars like the Audi RSQ3 .
And all this power and torque is neither built up nor accumulated, it is available from the moment you touch the pedal.
The result is a very fast vehicle from the scene and at intermediate accelerations.
This speed sits on a platform that also knows how to support the lowering of the power to the road, so you get a vehicle with a lot of ability to manage these 407 horses with torque directing and braking of the front-inner wheel to help the nose stab the turn.
And he does it all without the fuss of "driving modes", how much you press - that's how you get.
The braking also gets an excellent score with a good feel and a continuous move in terms of power, without the "step" of the transition between regressive braking and normal braking.
The rear view is packed with a combination of sportiness and still with familiar Volvo markings (Photo: Keinan Cohen)
But that does not mean that it is a fun car to drive.
To be like that he needs a little more weight and feed to the steering wheel.
As with most electric cars - the recurring insight is that fast is not necessarily fun.
In day-to-day driving it is pleasant and smooth, I would be happy to get a control button on the regenerative braking level and not rummage through menus every time to get to it.
Despite all its power and speed potential, it is comfortable on a daily basis with a combination of moving bumps moving in and out of town on a variety of coils and keeping the cabin quiet even at high speeds.
We finished the test days, which included quite a few strong accelerations and fast driving on a mountainous route, with a combined power consumption of 25.8 kWh per 100 km, translated to the range obtained from its 78 kWh battery, which comes out to 302 km, not really the 420 declared.
But there is nothing to rejoice about Volvo's Ida, because in a moderate driving session, consumption was improved to 17 kWh per 100 km, ie a range of 459 km.
Atmospheric lighting in a three-dimensional configuration with the simulation of elevation lines (Photo: Keinan Cohen)
It's very easy to dismiss the C40 as a gimmick, you took the electric XC40, cut off the tail and that's it - you have a competitor to the plethora of modern crossovers, because it is powered by electricity, so in general it's cracking the business.
But the bottom line is the C40, even though it is just a different vehicle configuration is an excellent vehicle in its own right as well.
From the paddle unit, the cabin, the ride comfort to the behavior.
For those who would pay NIS 300,000 for the XC40, an extra NIS 10,000 for the version in the fashionable box office configuration should not be a deal breaker, we heard about more unfounded expenses for an attractive look.
Until a full test for his two most intriguing competitors - Tesla Model Y and Genesis GV60, he is currently at the top of this group.
I could not resist.
The AMC Eagle SX / 4 was here with this patent already in 1981 and I am dying to get my hands on one (Photo: Manufacturer's website)
On the technical side: Volvo C40 P8
Engine, propulsion:
electric X2, dual
power (hp):
407
torque (kg):
67.3
battery:
78 kWh
Gearbox:
automatic, single gear
Dimensions:
Length (cm):
444
Width (cm Mm
:
187
Height (cm):
159
Wheelbase (cm):
270
Trunk + Front compartment (liters):
420
Performance:
Acceleration 0-100:
4.9 seconds
Maximum speed:
180 km / h
Combined consumption (Test):
3.9 km per kWh
Range (test):
302 km
Competitors:
Tesla Model Y, Genesis GV60, Audi E TRON Q4 Sportback
Price:
NIS 310,000
vehicle
Vehicle tests
Tags
Volvo
Crossover
electric car
electric car
Meyer