It’s straightforward to overlook an important factor in regards to the refreshed 2024 XC40 Recharge and C40 Recharge. 

These fashions, which I drove final week close to Volvo’s Gothenburg headquarters, make the rear wheels the first drive wheels for the primary time in a Volvo in a long time. But they don’t look a lot completely different than their 2023 equivalents.

Like Swedes themselves, who will be understated about accomplishments, these fashions don’t flaunt what’s new on the floor or promote the magnitude of their accomplishments. However they obtain some key steps on the way in which to scaling up EVs for the model. With simply sufficient cultural context, I held again the smirk as engineers identified to Inexperienced Automotive Studies at a current preview that the automobiles hadn’t actually modified that a lot: new motors, some minor modifications to the battery pack, and a retune of the suspension. 

2024 Volvo XC40 Recharge single-motor powertrain

Translation: it’s a little bit of an engineering feat—and maybe an trade first—contemplating that the CMA platform these fashions are constructed on favored front-wheel drive. However they sport no new badges or any of the vastly completely different trim, cladding, or staggered wheels different manufacturers can be tempted to make use of to sign the shift. New 19-inch aero alloy wheels, a few new colours, and some cabin trim variations sum up all the opposite variations for 2024 {that a} characteristic listing is probably going to present away. 

The modifications aren’t about being seen. They’re merely to create better-driving EVs. Given the central location of EVs’ huge battery packs and their extra even weight distribution, mixed with advances in traction and stability management, Volvo sees rear-wheel drive as superior in EVs versus front-wheel drive. It’s made up its thoughts and isn’t ready for the subsequent huge mannequin changeover to ship it. 

After driving each the single- and dual-motor variations of those fashions, I’m satisfied that almost all customers are going to search out the rear-drive model excellent—if not higher. It might be my very own desire over the dual-motor model.

2024 Volvo C40 Recharge

2024 Volvo C40 Recharge

2024 Volvo C40 Recharge

XC40 Recharge and C40 Recharge vary and effectivity

What helps these lineups make extra sense from the get-go are the all-important numbers that customers will think about: a driving vary now EPA-estimated at as much as 297 miles for the C40 Recharge and 293 miles for the XC40 Recharge. That’s for the single-motor rear-wheel-drive variations. Twin-motor all-wheel-drive variations now go 257 miles and 254 miles for the 2 fashions, respectively—a achieve of 31 miles for every.

That 14% increase in vary comes with no change to the 78-kwh (gross) battery pack—though single-motor variations practically attain 300 miles thanks partly to a couple extra usable kwh of their new 82-kwh pack (78 kwh usable, versus 75 kwh). 

With a co-driver, I lined about 160 miles on Swedish roads, cut up practically equally between a dual-motor C40 Recharge and a rear-drive XC40 Recharge. We averaged 3.4 miles per kwh with the dual-motor powertrain, then practically 3.9 miles per kwh within the single-motor model. It wasn’t an apples-to-apples comparability, although, because the latter portion of the route lined within the rear-drive model included slower-moving roads and extra site visitors, which might have in any other case probably improved effectivity. In both case, it indicated each variations are probably now capable of return greater than 250 miles on a cost in spirited (albeit not high-speed) driving. 

The better effectivity and vary isn’t from being rear-wheel drive, both, Volvo emphasizes, however from the electrical propulsion improvement prowess it’s been constructing  in-house. These refreshed fashions characterize the beginning of that. 

Volvo electrical motor in C40 and XC40 Recharge

Volvo goes its personal approach with EV motors

A brand new 255-hp permanent-magnet (PSM) motor in again—designed and engineered by Volvo in Sweden, and inbuilt Sweden for the U.S. and Europe—is the star of the powertrain. Whereas Volvo used two similar permanent-magnet motors from a provider within the outgoing 2023 and earlier variations of those automobiles, it has now shifted to a 147-hp asynchronous (induction) motor for the entrance wheels in dual-motor fashions. Volvo additionally strikes to its personal {hardware} and software program controls for the motor system, whether or not single- or dual-motor. 

Single-motor fashions make 248 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque, and altogether, dual-motor variations make a mixed 402 hp (identical because the 2023 mannequin) however produce the next 494 lb-ft of torque, versus their predecessors’ 487 lb-ft. As a result of the induction motor doesn’t require a cost simply to spin alongside, the configuration permits dual-motor fashions to run as rear-wheel-drive automobiles the overwhelming majority of the time, utilizing the entrance unit solely when it’s wanted for all-out efficiency or traction on the entrance wheels. 

The motor selection could save Volvo vital cash because it scales up its EVs and works towards a completely electrical lineup by 2030. Off-the-shelf PSM motors from suppliers will be very costly, and when one isn’t very environment friendly, it’s a double sting. 

2024 Volvo C40 Recharge

In acceleration, the brand new mannequin doesn’t really feel a lot completely different. Volvo claims the identical 0-60 mph time of 4.5 seconds in dual-motor type, whereas single-motor variations clock in at 6.9 seconds. Each motors stay geared fairly tall, at 8.57:1, so there’s some emphasis on higher-speed passing guts over pure off-the-line oomph. Merely put, you gained’t miss the additional punch of the dual-motor if you happen to don’t drive it. 

Volvo Recharge battery pack particulars

The 82-kwh pack appears to be like just about similar to the 78-kwh pack on the skin, but it surely’s a unique affair inside. The 78-kwh pack makes use of 27 modules, every with 4 teams of three LG pouch cells linked in parallel. Within the 82-kwh pack, simply 4 a lot bigger CATL prismatic cells make up every module, with a 3rd as many complete cells for the pack. All mentioned, the CATL cells additionally carry slight features in vitality density, whereas their cooling is a bit more easy, based on Klas Olsson, the supervisor for these fashions’ battery system design, who summed the brand new pack as “completely different however not that completely different.” 

Volvo did trace that each one variations will get the 82-kwh pack ultimately, but it surely mentioned that for a minimum of the primary full 12 months dual-motor variations will retain the 78-kwh pack as a matter of manufacturing capability. 

Volvo battery pack and chassis – C40 and XC40 Recharge

Due to the battery pack distinction, single-motor variations fast-charge slightly faster. They get from 10-80% in simply 28 minutes and attain a peak 200 kw, whereas dual-motor variations do it in 34 minutes and attain a peak 150 kw. 

Volvo actually needed journalists on the take a look at drive to benefit from the one-pedal driving mode and agency steering setting, however I preferred the expertise higher with each toggled off. The steering simply feels extra constant in its extra boosted type, though a center stage of regenerative braking can be a greater expertise for all. 

2024 Volvo XC40 Recharge

2024 Volvo XC40 Recharge

2024 Volvo XC40 Recharge

XC40 and C40 Recharge trip and dealing with

The rear-wheel-drive format and different updates assist these 2024 fashions carry themselves down the highway with slightly extra sophistication. Altering up the rear motor required a brand new rear subframe, which gave engineers the chance to retune the suspension. Outgoing variations of those Recharge fashions can trip on the jittery aspect, but it surely’s now been turned to be slightly extra luxurious with none lack of athleticism—and the single-motor model steers and handles with a bit extra neatness. In a route that took us via a collection of curvy backroads, largely at speeds of 30-55 mph, the brand new fashions had been each slightly extra forgiving and extra pure in fast transitions and fewer liable to carrying small impacts and coarse surfaces into the cabin. As earlier than, they’re remarkably tight from wind noise. 

2024 Volvo C40 Recharge

2024 Volvo C40 Recharge

2024 Volvo C40 Recharge

The cabin impresses as understated at first, but it surely wows within the textures, particulars, and seat consolation and assist. Volvo obtained it proper from the beginning, so it’s excellent news nothing a lot modified. As in most different current fashions from Volvo, it’s additionally straightforward to discover a comfy driving place (and rear-seat consolation) for a variety of physique heights and sizes. Though the middle console format detracts a bit from area in comparison with rivals, at 6-foot-6 I discovered it straightforward to get out and in and be comfy in each the C40 Recharge and XC40 Recharge. The coupe-like C40 doesn’t supply practically as a lot cargo flexibility, although, and its design doesn’t allure from all angles in fairly the identical approach. 

Costs are but to come back as these fashions’ arrive later within the 12 months. The 2023 XC40 Recharge fashions begin at $54,645 and $56,395 respectively; search for 2024 single-motor variations to land nearer to the $50,000 mark. 

2024 Volvo C40 Recharge

With the pending arrival of the large EX90 electric SUV early subsequent 12 months, and now an EX30 small SUV on the way in which too, these refreshed 40-series fashions present that Volvo has its priorities in verify—with extra vary, extra effectivity, and quicker charging. And that you just gained’t miss. 

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Volvo supplied journey and lodging to carry you this firsthand overview.