Volvo XC40 Recharge review

The ambience inside the XC40 Recharge is all very calm and reassuring, with crisp graphics on the 12in digital instrument panel, although it is a bit annoying that you can’t change some of the information readouts, like electricity consumption. The XC40 does at least tell you the remaining range now; before you’d have to start wading through central infotainment menus. Annoying.

What’s the infotainment like?

Volvo’s Android-based infotainment is almost likeable now that it’s been upgraded. It remains quite different to offerings from other carmakers, but is perfectly useful once you’re used to it.

The best thing about the infotainment is that you’ll actually want to use the satnav now – it uses Google Maps (you can also download extra apps from Google’s store), so you can sign in to your own account with all that entails.

The Google voice assistant also works quite well – it’s much better than voice operated systems elsewhere that have narrow operating windows and even then don’t always work very well.

Is it practical? 

Despite the relative size of the XC40 Recharge it’s still best suited to carrying four people rather than five. There’s decent leg room in the back for tall folks, but the middle seat is affected by the raised tunnel moving from front to rear. There’s a decent amount of cabin storage and it’s all very thoughtfully put together – you get a nifty little curry hook in the front passenger footwell, for instance.

Kids might feel a little shortchanged at the stylistic flourish that kicks up the rear window line through the back doors, somewhat cutting off their ability to look out the window.

They might not be assuaged by this, but you do also get 578 litres of space in the boot, which extends to 1,328 litres with the seats down. And a frunk under the bonnet, which is just big enough to keep your charging cables in. Who doesn’t love a frunk?