Volvo XC40 Recharge Pure Electric pricing announced
The first Volvo battery electric vehicle, the XC40 Recharge Pure Electric, has been priced at $76,990 before on-road costs in Australia – and it brings a sprinkling of new tech, including the new Android Automotive operating system.
Due to go on-sale in the third quarter of 2021, the luxury compact SUV is being pitched head-to-head on price with the $76,800 Mercedes-Benz EQA 250.
It will sit above the very similarly-named $64,990 XC40 Recharge PHEV plug-in hybrid in the line-up.
The XC40 Recharge Pure Electric will be sold in Australia in one well-equipped spec. Electric motors on the front and rear axles combine to provide 300kW and 660Nm, all-wheel drive and the claimed ability to accelerate from 0-100km.h in 4.9 seconds.
The motors are fed by a 78kWh lithium-ion battery (75kWh of which is usable) mounted under the floor that provides up to 418km in claimed range between recharges based on the ADR standard or 400km of WLTP range. AC charging can be done at up to 11kW and DC charging at 150kW. The battery can take as little as 40 minutes to refill from zero to 80 percent.
Visually, it is primarily distinguished from its ICE XC40 brethren by its blanked out grille.
The XC40 Pre Electric is based on the same Compact Modular Architecture (CMA) as petrol-powered XC40s and other models from the Geely-owned family of brands, including the Polestar 2 that launches in Australia late in 2021 and the upcoming Volvo C40 Recharge.
In terms of tech specs, the XC40 has some advantages and disadvantages compared to the EQA 250. The Benz only drives its front wheels via a 140kW/375Nm eMotor and 66.5kWh lithium-ion battery pack.
But its claimed range is 480km ADR or 416km WLTP, better than the Volvo in both cases.
However, much more competition is coming to the luxury compact SUV, with the Audi Q4 e-tron, Lexus UX300e and Tesla Model Y all yet to arrive.
Other models set to get into the mix include the Hyundai Ioniq 5, the Kia EV6 and the Toyota bZ4X.
The XC40 Recharge Pure Electric is also priced up against Australia’s most popular BEV, the Tesla Model 3 sedan.
Volvo, which has committed to electrifying its entire line-up with PHEV or BEV variants by 2025, will next roll out a coupe sibling for the XC40 dubbed the C40 as its next eletric model.
The XC40 Recharged Pure Electric is also the first vehicle in Australia to come with Google’s Android Automotive infotainment operating system, with Google Assistant, Google Maps and Google Play Store built in, the latter allowing third-party apps to be downloaded; Android Automotive is distinct from Android Auto in that it controls the entire functionality of the 9.0-inch infotainment screen, whereas Android Auto is a simpler smartphone connectivity system already commonly used across thousands of models. The Google Assistant also allows more speech functionality, allowing users to ask Google to complete tasks such as adjusting the ventilation or choosing an audio source.
It’s also the only XC40 to come without a stop-start button. Just get in, buckle up, select Drive or Reverse and drive off.
Other standard features include Harman Kardon Premium sound system, 20-inch alloy wheels, digital instrument cluster, digital radio tuning, smart key entry, dual-zone ventilation, 360-degree camera, wireless phone charging, partial leather heated seats and safety features including autonomous emergency braking (AEB) front and rear, and parking assist.
The XC40 Recharge Pure Electric will come with a five-year/unlimited kilometre warranty – more than all of its luxury rivals – a three-year service plan and eight-year roadside assist. The high voltage battery pack is covered by a separate eight-year warranty.
