This electric SUV has shown that you can go green while retaining all of the qualities for which Volvo is known
Claire Evans claire.evans@haymarket.com
HOMES BUILT TO Passivhaus principles (like the one above) incorporate details such as triple glazing, solar panels and recycled newspaper insulation to reduce their environmental impact. And in much the same way, my fully electric Volvo XC40 Recharge helped me take a big leap towards living a more eco-friendly life.
For example, a lot of its interior is made from recycled PET plastic. And while running on electricity didn’t make it completely clean (the car’s exact impact on the environment depends on where you charge and how that energy is produced in the first place), it did mean I wasn’t contributing to local air pollution.
I didn’t have to sacrifice any fun or comfort to go greener, though. Indeed, one of the things I loved about my XC40 was its acceleration. With two electric motors producing a combined 402bhp and sending that power to all four wheels, the car could sprint from 0-62mph in a mere 4.6sec. Don’t get me wrong; I didn’t take it drag racing. But it was great to have that performance available when I found myself needing a burst of speed.
Another thing I really appreciated about the XC40 was its exceptionally comfortable driver’s seat. Having electric adjustment, multi-directional lumbar support and an extendable base (to adjust the level of under-thigh support) all allowed me to get comfortable and stay that way, even after driving for much of a day. And my partner, who is considerably taller me, was just as impressed.
The plush interior of my range-topping Ultimate-spec car was another strength. Yet the XC40 proved just as practical as you’d expect a Volvo to be; it transported a variety of gardening and DIY materials during its time with me, including 300kg of gravel, topsoil and wood that were needed to create a tall rockery in my garden. I’d say it’s a worthy alternative to the brand’s now-discontinued estate models.
I also appreciated the fact that the car could receive over-the-air updates so that I didn’t have to visit a dealer to get the latest software added. One such update improved the digital instrument panel so that it showed the car’s predicted range in miles, as well as the percentage of battery capacity left, whereas previously I’d had to use an app on the touchscreen to access this information.
