Volvo takes turn to invest in the electric car market with the 408 hp XC40 P8 with a generous 78 kWh battery to serve its range. The performance is high, as is the price.
Unveiled at the end of 2019, the new electric Volvo XC40 will arrive in dealerships in December 2020. Its first deliveries will be effective at the beginning of 2021. With it, the Swedish manufacturer is seriously attacking the electric car market. After the C30 electric experience there is about ten years old. For this new offensive, Volvo has chosen to electrify its XC40 compact SUV. It is the smallest vehicle listed in its catalog. But it is the first to benefit from the CMA (Compact Modular Architecture) platform dedicated to this technology. It was on the UTAC-Ceram test track at Mortefontaine in the Oise that we discovered the XC40 P8 for this first grip. The vehicle has these characteristics:
- 408 hp power
- LG battery with a capacity of 78 kWh (75 useful capacity)
- WLTP range of 418 km
- Four-wheel drive (one electric motor per axle)
Volvo XC40 electric price
Volvo sells the XC40 P8 in R-Design finish at a price of 59,940 €. From which we can deduct 3,000 € ecological bonus. Access to the electric car is therefore elitist here, but nothing very abnormal for this premium SUV which has chosen a high battery capacity which necessarily weighs on its price. To lower the price, the R-Design finish is appetizing in presentation and generous in standard equipment (see page 3). The electric XC40 also inaugurates new technologies such as the multimedia interface which now works on Android. This system makes it possible in particular to benefit from Google Assistant intelligent voice control, Google Maps updated in real time and remote vehicle updates. The electric XC40 also enhances its safety with, now, automatic avoidance of pedestrians or cyclists in addition to emergency braking.
Two charging cables are supplied as standard: a classic for the sector and a reinforced type 2 (16A). Volvo thought of fitting a small trunk up front to accommodate these cables, of course. The car has an 11 kW charger that can go from 10 to 80% of the battery in 6 hours (estimate) and a fast direct current charging system up to 150 kWh. In the latter case, the battery goes from 10 to 80% in just 40 minutes … provided you find a fast charging station that delivers such power. Note that for any order of an XC40 P8 before the end of the year, Volvo offers the home installation of a Schneider charging station with a power of 7.2 kWh, within the limit of € 1,149 for homes individual and € 599 for condominiums.
Driving
The architecture of the XC40 is based on a platform that accommodates the large battery in the floor and an electric motor per axle of 150 kW (204 hp) each. The battery alone weighs 500 kg and brings the total weight of the vehicle to 2150 kg. An enormous mass that the total power of 408 hp and the torque of 660 Nm available without delay easily erase under acceleration. Electric XC40 pushes really hard and reading the technical sheet confirms it: 0 to 100 km / h in 4.9 s, that’s a sports score. During our brief grip on a soggy track, the XC40 P8 also demonstrated flawless traction despite the profusion of energy provided by the electric motors. Thanks to the four-wheel drive, split 50/50 between the front and the rear in normal conditions and which adapts its torque to the axle which has the most grip when the road is slippery.
The damping revised to take into account the total mass and the sports chassis of the R-Design finish correctly retain body movements. Without compromising comfort. Good point also for the braking always difficult to measure on electric and hybrid vehicles because of the transition between regenerative and friction braking. Here, the pedal feel is quite natural and without backstop, which the T5 plug-in hybrid version fails to do. The XC40 offers one-pedal driving if you opt for the highest level of regenerative braking. In other words, the car goes to a stop when you take your foot off the accelerator. This system found in Jaguar, Nissan or Tesla adapts well to city driving. Two other modes allow more natural driving when getting out of a thermal vehicle: intermediate braking or none.
Volvo XC40 mass and battery
At the end of the journey behind the wheel of the XC40 T8. Remember that this SUV is very efficient and reassuring, but beware of its large mass which pushes the car out of the tightest corners. It remains to verify the range which is announced at 418 km in the WLTP combined cycle and 538 km on the city cycle. While in urban areas this XC40 will have no trouble fulfilling its mission. It will be necessary to check the actual consumption on the road and motorway. Volvo does not provide any consumption data for the moment. We will do this on our course dedicated to the autonomy of electric vehicles. Because this is one of the major challenges of battery cars that claim to replace gasoline or diesel cars. Diesel which, by the way, disappears from the XC40 range. To reassure its driver on long journeys. The XC40 P8 does not lack to be equipped with a GPS with route planning as on board a Tesla (indication of places and stopping time to recharge the battery on the route).
Competition
The Volvo XC40 is expensive. Although it is reasonably more accessible than other premium electric SUVs. Of which score even higher in price, size and battery capacity, like the Audi e-tron, Jaguar i-Pace and Mercedes. EQC. The youngest on the list, the BMW iX3, which will arrive in March 2021, is of the same caliber. The real competition for the Volvo is JAC iEV7.
The marketing of the XC40 P8 is the first act of an aggressive stance by Volvo. In terms of electrification, which targets a target of 50% of its sales with 100% electric cars by 2025. The bet is huge for a brand whose cars are popular with heavy rollers and travelers. The 100% electric propulsion is not very compatible with these values. Even if the XC40 P8 announces an honorable range of around 400 km.
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