Volvo XC40 P8 Recharge electric SUV 2021 review: Why this Volvo is no award winner / Electrifying
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- Опубликовано: 8 июл 2024
- For the full written review of the new Volvo XC40 P8 Recharge, click here
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When the all-electric Volvo XC40 was originally announced in 2019, the world was waiting for was a pure electric SUV which was more affordable than an Audi e-tron, Mercedes EQC and Jaguar I-Pace but a step above something like an MG ZS. It meant the Volvo XC40 Recharge was one of the most eagerly-awaited new arrivals.
But in the time since then, the world has caught up and there are plenty of rivals who beat Volvo to the market. Is it too late to be a winner?Ginny Buckley finds out.
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I can easy get +400km range in summertime in the XC40 P8, it both drives and feels like a SUV should, and it is both comfortable and quick! Very few of the reviews online comes to the same conclusion due to driving experience as You do, but that is fair enough. We all have different preferences...
I've had my XC 40 P8 for a while now. The back passenger headrests go down remotely via a button on the centre display. Yes, one does get jostled around a bit on country roads and the seats are quite firm. The inside fascia is different to your test drive vehicle; it looks a lot better and provides a nice ambient light at night. The centre tunnel is so that Volvo can use the cabin for all the XC40 ranges - Modular Compact Architecture I believe it is called. The volvo app allows you to pre heat the cabin and rear windscreen before driving. You can remotely lock and unlock the car and set a schedule for charging from the app too.
Bit of a strange review all I can say is drive the car for yourself if you are considering one, it drives really well over bumps in the road and is a really smooth quiet ride, it’s a great all round family car. I’m not sure why it’s so expensive in the UK, I’ve just ordered one in Australia and it’s £15k cheaper makes no sense. Price wise it should be pitched in between the cheaper electric cars like the Kia e-Niro and the premium e tron and EQC.
Hi there, do you have plans to test drive the P6 single motor version of this car? It's cheaper, smaller battery, FWD so maybe a more sensible version? Still expensive though to buy outright and although a smaller battery, has a similar range but all the same features without the bonkers acceleration?
It is fun to watch someone determined to give a bad revue. I have driven this car a few days and it is fantastic! I did not want to return the car to the dealer and have ordered one. Well, it's a good thing that we all have different taste, some better than others.
I thought that as well, she didn’t comment on the car’s looks which most other car reviewers here and abroad love. Had to laugh about her concern about the child seat, does she strap her teenagers in these seats??? If she was driving most other car brands on bumpy country roads or over road humps would she be continuously shouting “Ouch”! 🤔
@@kevindevlin7025 The rear headrests go down in the Volvo like they've gone down for over 20 years. So, she should have known that. For some reason, she had an idea in her head about what the car should feel like and when it didn't, she went with a theme of disappointing. Now, that's her prerogative. But we have to know the bias of a reviewer when going in and that we may not come to the same conclusions she did. There is a reviewer that reviewed the Genesis G70's interior design and found it disjointed. Disjointed is the last word I'd use for it. I found it the exact opposite.
I drive Xc40 since 3 years! It is a perfect car! No issue at all! Seat a very very comfortable. The car is very quiet in the cabin. Well finished, plus still is the best looking small suv. Remembering when you reviewd the xc40 in what car, you judged the car in different way. When you say seats are not comfortable, to me look like silly comment! Because seats are the same of the petrol version, which you reviewed in what car and you said they were very comfortable. The truth is that seat are like armchair. And i don’t get , why Volvo has to make a different look for the ev version? I do prefer my ev look like a normal car, and not like a toy as for example VW id. Sorry but i totally disagree with your review . Or why is wrong to have 20 inch alloys wheels? I have it and no problem at all! If the range is the problem , as per polestar 2 are availible, in xc40 are coming many version of ev pwertrain with more range and less power.
The XC40 with petrol and Diesel engines are very different. None of our reviewers have ever worked at What Car.
@@ElectrifyingcomI was wrong sorry was at car buyer! anyway i still don't agree with the review . Regards
Which is the most comfortable electric SUV? Ariya, Enyac/id 4, Model Y, iX3, Q4 e-tron, Ioniq 5..have I missed any?!
I own one and I totally disagree with this biased review. Safety is my priority not a range and do not drive more than 20 miles on any given day. Car handles well due to low center of gravity (heavy batteries at the bottom). It gives me a feel of driving regular SUV not some flashy spaceship like Tesla. Well and strong built. But if you drive 200 miles everyday, this car is not for you. You need to own it to experience how good it is!
I agree with you, the review was biased and takes a negative and narrow approach.
We're very glad you are happy with your car Ananya. We really wanted to love it too but came away from our test drive very disappointed. We honestly think the lower power, cheaper models which will come soon will be much better.
Amazing review. I was surprised about the power. Almost as fast as the etron gt
Great review and nice to see brutal honesty. Never mind the exorbitant price. The competitors mentioned including the Ioniq 5, will leave this as a very niche customer market
When a C segment SUV costs more per month than what I spend on my London flat, it's getting a bit worrying.
I don't know what's more shocking. The price of this car, or the absolute bargain on your flat.
@@BiW1nning looking back, I didn't quite write what I meant to say. I was referring to what I spent on my part of the flat; not the whole property 🤦
Brilliantly honest and honestly brilliant
In Australia, it's the same price as a Tesla 3 LR. Comes in only one spec with all the fruit costing circa 80K on road. I've owned mine for 6 weeks and agree with the assessment of the ride on crap roads. But cruises beautifully on smooth surfaces. Acceleration is manic (in a good way) and turns in nice and sharp on corners without the body roll common to SUVs. Love the interior. Leaves the Tesla for dead in my opinion. I'm getting a range of about 350km with a mixture of motorway and around town driving. This is during an Aussie Spring (temperature 20-30 degrees celcius). All up happy with my choice but on reflection, I'm sure I'd be happy with a Tesla Y, Hyundai Ioniq5 or Kia EV6. These cars are all close in price (Australia) and seem to all have their respective strengths and weaknesses.
Love the look of the volvos but don't get the subscription only 🤔
BTW when reviewing 'family' EV's could you do a range test with 3 passengers + luggage? 👍
Way too expensive, under 3 m/kwh is very poor. Definitely not for me. As for Tesla, they have serious competition from VW, Kia and Hyundai, but not from Volvo, even the IPace is way better.The Koreans know how to make a good EV.
Thanks for the very good video.
Don't write off Volvo yet. They have big plans for their next EV (which will not be a converted ICE platform but a true EV design). Admittedly, they'll be late with it when it comes out next year. I don't think it is that the Koreans know how to make a good EV more than Hyundai is a massive company with a lot of resources and they're churning out brilliant vehicles, both ICE and EVs. But the EVs are better because EVs are a more advanced architecture than ICE. Arguably, though not affordable, Mercedes' EQS may be the world's best EV. Or maybe Porsche's Taycan is, as an automobile.
In Sweden you can buy it through a Volvo dealer, so the online only is not everywhere...
You can buy it here in the UK also - a quick look at Volvos webpage shows all the purchase options so you don’t have to use the subscription if you don’t want.
Power is never too much! And here in Italy those are the 4,9 seconds 0to100kmh less expensive except for Tesla that is a booorig sedan!
Good video and to be honest, confirmed all of the information I had already gathered. I was really interested in this when it launched as I currently drive a D4AWD XC40 and thought the BEV version would be amazing. Sadly not, overpriced, low range and a bumpy ride. I think I'll wait for the possible XC20 which will be built on a new platform specifically designed for EV's. it may be smaller but that's fine and it will hopefully be more reasonably priced.
Very interesting review. Does this prove the point that many manufacturers seem to be a tad misleading, as you point out about the KWH rate, and some are surely overcharging (excuse the pun) on the basis that people prefer their Brand, maybe before dropping their prices as more quality competitive cars hit the market. There is just something about EV pricing that is simply wrong almost as if the manufacturers have colluded on price.
Looks nice but we need affordable less flash cars.
The rear headrests do fold down!
Maybe the problem is the "huge 20-inch wheels" on the car. Or the tires could be overinflated. Volvo likes high psi. Take them down 2 lbs. and it can make a big difference. I haven't heard many complaints about the ride in the XC40s, tbh.
This car really is an electrified ICE car. Volvo is moving away from that in their next versions so hopefully they'll be more efficient. The Polestar 2 is the same car, same converted from ICE design but there was never a Polestar in that body type, or Volvo, that had an ICE engine in it. But it was designed for one.
I ordered one and I find two little error: 1) the rear headrests will not hit the seat because they are foldable; 2) as standard the tires are equally wide, therefore safe when braking, but higher from the shoulder because on 19 "rims. All your lamentations about the sunspensions sounds music to me!!I want to drive full gas in silence and cornering flat!!!!
The headrests do fold - but forward. Which makes it even worse for the child seat! If you can show us a way to make it work, please show us.
@@Electrifyingcom awful! I read it folds and imagine back, like in my i3!
Sound video, wouldn’t disagree. You’d just get a P2, wouldn’t you?
£7680 per year to rent, yikes. More than most private buyers don't spend that on their whole used car. I would expect something amazing for that. I would rather have my nine year old Mercedes any day. I guess it's a different proposition for a company car driver with tax benefits but in that case a high mileage driver needs the Tesla supercharger network.
Im looking for EV next car but they are all quite expensive in comparison to all car costing including depreciation. I typically buy used between 2-4yrs old. Used Zoe yes 👍 used kona 👍 if i can push it at 24k ish. Ideally Tesla. Probably another 12months before i pull the trigger.
@@ftb2772 I had a Zoe ZE40 for three years (swapped it for a Mercedes SLK - went back to petrol because I wanted a fun car - feel like a sinner). The Zoe never went wrong and range exactly as new. The ZE50 much better if you can get one cheap enough (better range, vastly improved headlights - the ZE40 ones verged on dangerous and the R135 motor a revelation). I only paid £17800 for my Zoe new (batteries included). Those kind of deals aren't available on new EVs these days hence I think you are wise to wait.
@@robsmith1a thank you 🙏
Wow, this was such a bad review!
It sounds like all they have changed is a combustion engine for batteries 😳😡 love your great honest review ❤️
Miles per kwh is as straightforward as miles per gallon, very sensible and understood by everyone.
Watt-hours per 100km is foreign and upside down and just not right.
Couldn't agree more.
Really this channel is underrated, so unfortunate
I dont agree. This channel seems get stuck on completly irrelevant features and feels like they actually never own an EV
M/kwh as MPG makes little sense as a metric of efficiency. Watch the “engineering explained” RUclips channel on the topic
I have one, I think this review is very harsh. Its is very expensive in the UK for some reason but it's more competitively priced in other countries. I find the ride to be fine, but haven't been on particularly bumpy roads yet. There is an off road option in the settings, which should soften things up. The "transmission hump" contains batteries. It's same pack as in the Polestar. I find it very smooth and easy to drive and while it's also being very powerful it never feels unwieldy . The infotainment is top class. ID4 is not available in AWD yet, and the Model Y is back ordered till October in the US and longer receives fed tax credits so the Volvo was really the only choice. I haven't regretted it for a minute.
Agreed. This review is rubbish. Hell bendt to give it a bad review. I also find the suspension to be quite fine, and yeah loose some air from the tires. But, the off-road setting is for slow driving off road. Wouldn't work in her test.
The word “disappointing” was used a lot - perhaps for impact & hyperbole to promote your narrow opinions and bias. “Disappointing” is the word I would apply to your review.
Good review. It sounds like it suffers from not being designed as an EV specific platform.
Great review and totally agree with the conclusions drawn. Plus the price seems too high costing over £23k in the 3 years. Trying to be all things it's ended up being poor everywhere.
Opening statement is just so wrong. When think of Volvo, safety jumps to mind. When thinking of the environment Tesla jumps to mind. So opening statemnt should be when thinking of safety Volvo jumps to mind.
Don’t understand what Volvo were thinking with this. They totally overpowered it to the point it appeals to mostly no one. The price is a crime. Volvo clearly don’t care all that much about switching customers to clean drive trains.
I like the concept of it looking the same as other XC40, don't want or need wacky design. Also happy to have the acceleration if I wanted to use it.
I was going to buy one at £60k but would have preferred an Inscription based rather than the "hard ride" R-Design setup. Can I get any information re when that would come out. No. Dealers aren't interested as they only get a small commission to sell one; then you notice you can buy it online for £4000 less. That is some depreciation even before you have your hands on one. Looks like they may only sell them online in the future. Dealer who let me test drive was not a happy bunny.
Volvo will not respond as to why their version online is £4k cheaper.
Decision postponed .... for some time. Very confused.
Amazing acceleration and therefore wastage of power is ridiculous.
We don’t need more than 200hp for the average driver when also considering insurance companies will take horsepower into account to take more of your money.
When manufacturers realise this they will sell more of them, hopefully at a more sensible price.
It's always good to get a grounded review, warts 'n' all. Volvo/Geeley take note.
Agreed! The number of KwH per 100km is a ridiculous measurement. Same with number of litres per 100km back in the ICE days! Make it number of Km traveled per KwH.
Or miles per kwh for us Brits.
Great review and totally agree with the verdict, seems a confused car. Why would they give it so much power, it seems completely unnecessary and compromises the rest of the car. Very odd spec.
Because it has the Polestar 2 spec. Why change it for the top-of-the-line spec'd xc40? It's the same car down below. Only the body on top is different and Polestar has different suspension tuning.
A very strange review which is totally at odds with my experience of this car. Also at odds with many other reviews. Maybe you should retest. You do come over as Tesla lovers and whilst that brand has its strengths there are also many weaknesses
Looks like Volvo need to pull their finger out and start making decent EVs.
I agree with your review: why the hell should a segment C car (or SUV) have so much power?!?? Just because it's electric? and it's not just Volvo! Volvo along with Hyundai or other otherwise 'quiet' carmakers suddenly seem to be obsessed with horsepower ... up until the other day they had cars that rarely had more than 200-250 hp ... and now 300, 400 and soon maybe 600 hp?! What for? ... but apparently people like it! Apparently EVs woke up the latent stupidity in some people ... or maybe the latent frustration of those who dreamt of Lambos and Aston Martin but couldn't afford them. And that includes carmakers and drivers! EVs changed some paradigms ... and not for the good! I thought that EVs could epitomise the beginning of a new - more reasonable - era in driving but I'm definitely mistaken! It's yet another frantic quest for speed, testosterone-driven arrogance, competition on the roads, crazy overtakings, and so forth. Sad. New technologies ... same Australopithecus out there!
At least it's faster than a "Mustang" (vomit!) Mach-E. Not sure why though. That's like giving Stephen fry the ability to bench press hundreds of pounds. Who's it for?
I drive the S90 and I could not agree more. Just as my car is a premium car but has no place for my iPhone in the car, this also seems to like half baked car that’s about 2 years late to the market.
Thats what happens when you use an ICE blueprint for an electric.
I think that's what they did for their fist EVs. They're not doing it for the new XC90 replacement. That will be a from-the-ground-up EV so it will not have the compromises this one has (both the upcoming Polestar 3 SUV and the new Volvo XC90 replacement and all Volvos and Polestars to follow).
Unfortunately it's not that cheap, more expensive than the EQC premium plus!
No enough space.. better spend a bit more for a better comfy. I got a 60, next will be 90... plenty of space
Worst review! Totally opposite of every other review and countries. Wonder whom she buyist to/for ….. J….
Totally disagree with you. Terrible review.
Way too expensive what are Volvo thinking
its ugly and expensive