Volvo XC40 Recharge review

Having been very expensive to begin with, things are a bit better now with the entry-level Core trim with the single motor powertrain starting from £46,505. But you can get a plug-in hybrid XC40 for nearly £2k less in a fancier trim and the petrol powered Core model starts at £36k, so it’s all relative.

What specs are on offer? 

There are three trim levels available: Core, Plus and Ultimate. Core gets you a decent standard spec – 19in wheels, cruise control, powered tailgate, rear parking sensors, auto wipers and headlights, dual-zone climate control, heated front seats, 12in digital instrument panel, wireless phone charging, smartphone integration and Volvo’s 9in infotainment set-up based on Android that uses Google Maps.

Plus starts at £52,555 and adds front parking sensors and a rear camera, a heat pump for added efficiency, heated rear seats and steering wheel and keyless go, while Ultimate costs from £56,605 and comes with 20in alloys, 360-degree parking cameras, a panoramic sunroof, Harmon Kardon sound system and fancy ambient lighting in the cabin.

Which would you recommend?

Opting for the Recharge Twin will add about £5k to the asking price, and most who get it will do so for the extra range. And sure, the slip-road warrior acceleration is fun to deploy, but does it really suit the car’s sensible pitch? No. Stick with the single motor in Core guise.

What about leasing options? 

Now it’s not cheap, but if you like your car purchases to be as painless as possible then you could do worse than the Care by Volvo scheme, which gets you a car for a flat fee over a fixed monthly period with no deposit. And Volvo throws in roadside assistance, servicing, tax and suchlike into the bargain.

Stick £5k down and you’ll pay £640 a month over 36 months for the entry-level Core spec car on an annual allowance of 10,000 miles. You can even order your car online, and as is usually the case with these things you can play around with the online calculator to make the numbers work for you.

How much is charging gonna cost me?

We’ll point you in the direction of our comprehensive charging costs guide for a full breakdown on what you’ll likely be paying, but charge the Recharge single motor’s 67kWh battery from flat to full on the current standard UK rate of 34 pence per kilowatt-hour, you’re looking at just under £23. Those with cheaper overnight tariffs (or solar panels) will pay less, of course.