Volvo XC40

FIRST DRIVE Larger battery gives SUV extra range

- Richard Ingram

IT’S all change at Volvo. As well as an overhaul for its single-motor electric SUVs, the punchier all-wheel-drive XC40 and C40 Recharge cars have been updated with bigger batteries for more range.

Previously fitted with a 78kWh 75kWh usable) battery, the XC40 Twin now gets a larger 82kWh 79kWh usable) unit, adding up to 24 per cent more range. Volvo claims the dual-motor XC40 in entry-level Core specification will do up to 334 miles and 326 miles in our test car’s Ultimate trim.

In theory, that elevates Volvo’s smallest SUV from EV also-ran to one of the longest-range models in its class. For context, a Tesla Model Y can cover up to 331 miles.

In addition, the new XC40 Twin can now charge at speeds of up to 200kW. That’s a significant improvement on the old car’s peak 150kW, while also trumping the single-motor models’ 130kW; a 10-80 per cent top-up takes 28 minutes.