Volvo consistently makes good vehicles every year. Some of them, like the Volvo XC40, have made us huge fans of its vehicles, especially its sport utility vehicles. When Volvo enthusiasts upgrade to a newer model, they look forward to experiencing the same smooth, quiet ride that keeps them coming back. 

This time, however, the new kid on the Volvo block is an electric vehicle. The XC40 lineup now has the Recharge P8, which is a pure electric SUV. MotorTrend reviewed the 2021 electric version and shared their thoughts on it.

How much different will it be from the non-electric version?

The Volvo XC40 Recharge P8 uses a CMA vehicle architecture, which is the same structure that the non-electric version uses. However, some modifications were made in order to have room for the two electric motors and the battery pack system.  

Volvo, interestingly enough, says that the Recharge model will have the same amount of roominess in the cabin area that the non-electric model has. Also, it’s supposed to mimic the cargo area as far as the amount of space it provides. 

That’s good news because most automakers compromise space in order to fit in the extra electric components. Volvo has figured out a way to reduce the space lost when big battery packs take up a good chunk of that room. 

What will the Volvo XC40 Recharge P8 offer?

The XC40 Recharge P8 is Volvo’s first electric vehicle in the lineup. It’s also going to be the first in a line of five electric vehicles Volvo plans to roll out over a five-year period. In fact, one goal this automaker put out there is that it hopes to have half of the company’s production run on electric powertrains by 2025.

Powering up the XC40 Recharge are two electric motors, each one generating 201 hp, giving a total output of 402 hp. It also produces 486 lb-ft of torque.  These run off a 78 kWh lithium-ion battery pack. According to MotorTrend, you should be able to charge it up to 80 percent in a 40-minute time frame, provided you use a 150 kW DC fast charger.  

The Recharge version has many of the same features as the rest of the XC40 lineup, but there are a few items that are exclusive to the electric model. One is the covered grille in the front of the vehicle. Without an engine under the hood, it’s not necessary to have slots to allow air into the engine compartment. 

There’s also no start/stop button in the electric version. It’s engineered to go after you’ve entered the vehicle and maneuvered the shifter. The design of the 19-inch and the optional 20-inch wheels along with the sage green body color are also unique to the electric model. 

How well does it stand up to its rivals?

One rival, mentioned by MotorTrend, happens to be the Tesla Model Y Long Range version. The Model Y weighs 4,367 lbs, which is around 450 lbs less than Volvo’s XC40 Recharge P8. You’d think that it would affect the acceleration time for the XC40, but surprisingly, it doesn’t – at least not by much. 

The Tesla Model Y clocks an acceleration time of 4.8 seconds, but MotorTrend managed to squeak out 4.6 seconds on a 0-to-60 mph run. The Volvo XC40 electric version clocked an amazing 4.7 seconds for the same run. 

When it comes to driving range, the two don’t really compare. The Tesla Model Y Long Range version can go for approximately 316 miles on a charge. Volvo’s XC40 gets an estimated range of 208 miles, which is on the low side. 

One area the XC40 comes out on top is its interior. The Tesla can’t compete with the premium styling the Volvo has both inside and outside the vehicle. 

The Volvo XC40 Recharge P8 has all the benefits of an electric vehicle. But it doesn’t need to sacrifice space in order to give you the same experience from a Volvo that you know and love