2020 Volvo XC40 Recharge Is Volvo’s First EV

The 2020 Volvo XC40 Recharge, the brand’s first electric vehicle, is here.

The gist: It’s got a 78kWh battery pack with a range of 200 miles on a full charge, which leaves it on the lower side of the spectrum. Volvo says you can charge this bad boy up to 80 percent in just 40 minutes when fast charging, just like a phone. Onboard are two electric motors, giving the 2020 Volvo XC40 Recharge an all-wheel drive.

The motors output a combined horsepower of 402 and 487 pound-feet of torque, and Volvo confirms it’ll zoom from zero to 60 in just 4.9. Not bad for an EV, all things considered.

As for the styling, this is more typical of XC40 aesthetics. Some EV-specific touches do liven up the design a bit, like the solid panel replacing the grille and the lack of tailpipes. A black roof sits up top. Down below, you’ll find 19- or 20-inch wheels. A little “Recharge” badge rests on the C-pillar for a bit of flair.

People love the XC40 interior, and Volvo smartly left some things just the same for the 2020 Volvo XC40 Recharge. You get a newly redesigned driver interface specifically for the EV variant. The floor mats come from recycled materials. The infotainment system is based on Android. That means you get access to great software like Google Assistant, vice recognition, turn-by-turn navigation, and more. Plus, Volvo says it will release over-the-air updates to keep all the tech in the car up to date.

Photos courtesy of Volvo