Both of Volvo’s electric SUVs, the XC40 and C40, have proven to be excellent additions to the automaker’s lineup. Substantial upgrades are in store for the 2024 models of each vehicle, starting with what’s under the hood. The Environmental Protection Agency recently released the estimated driving range for the 2024 C40 and XC40, detailing the level of improvement Volvo is making for the revised models.

EPA estimates for the 2024 Volvo C40 and XC40

Inside EVs has the full rundown on the new ranges for Volvo’s electric SUVs. 

The addition of a new powertrain and other changes (more on those below) give the 2024 C40 and XC40 more power than ever before. Here are the estimated ranges for the all-wheel drive models for each vehicle:

• 2024 Volvo C40: 257 miles 
• 2024 Volvo XC40:  254 miles

This is a substantial increase from last year’s editions. The 2023 C40’s range is 226 miles, while the 2023 XC40’s range is 223 miles. Efficiency is also upgraded. Last year’s XC40 has a combined fuel economy of 85 mpg (92 mpg in the city and 79 mpg on the highway), and the C40 gets 87 mpg (94 mpg in the city and 80 mpg on the highway). The 2024 C40 gets 99 mpg combined (106 mpg in the city and 91 mpg on the highway), and the C40 gets 98 mpg (106 mpg city/90 mpg highway). 

For the first time in decades, Volvo is also introducing a new rear-wheel drive version of both models. The 2024 XC40 RWD has an estimated range of 293 miles with a fuel economy of 106 mpg (118 mpg city/95 mpg highway). The new C40’s range is 297 miles with a fuel economy of 107 mpg (118 mpg city/96 mpg highway). 

Volvo is adding a rear-wheel drive variant for the 2024 C40 and XC40 

The rear-wheel-drive version of the 2024 Volvo C40 and Volvo XC40 is powered by a newly implemented single electric motor on the rear axle that puts out 248 hp and an 82kWh battery pack. These models can be charged at a top rate of 200 kilowatts, which Volvo claims can charge the SUVs from 10% to 80% in about 28 minutes. 

These C40 and XC40 models gain better traction than traditional front-engine ICE counterparts because the weight of the battery and the motors are more evenly distributed throughout the vehicle.

The all-wheel drive also gets a slew of improvements

The dual-motor variants of the Volvo C40 and Volvo XC40 get upgrades of their own in addition to the extended range. The previous set-up involved two 150 kW electric motors on the front and rear axles. For 2024, Volvo has replaced them with an in-house developed 255-hp electric motor on the rear axle and an asynchronous 147-hp electric motor on the front axle. Since it doesn’t need a constant electric charge, the asynchronous motor can disconnect when it is not needed, contributing to the extra range of Volvo’s electric SUVs. The 78kWh battery pack has a top charging rate of 150 kW DC.

Exterior upgrades also help with the C40 and XC40’s newfound efficiency. 19-inch alloy wheels on the Recharge reduce drag on the design, as well as give the models a new look. New paint colors and updated themes will also be available. 

Volvo sees these upgrades as a step forward toward their long-term plans. “These updates are another big step in our work towards becoming a fully electric car maker by 2030,” said Javier Varela, chief operating officer and deputy chief executive at Volvo Cars in a press release announcing the 2024 iterations. “Range and charging times are new key factors for more and more of our customers, and these improvements make our fully electric models even more attractive than they already were.”

According to Volvo, pricing for the 2024 XC40 begins at $40,100. The cost of the 2024 C40 is yet to be confirmed, but it is expected to be around $52,000. The vehicles will become part of Volvo’s lineup either in the fourth quarter of 2023 or the first of 2024. The brand will hope that these moves will help to spark their sales figures.