VOLVO C40 RECHARGE

Electric coupé-SUV gains a cheaper, single-motor variant - but blink and you'll miss it

- MATT SAUNDERS

TESTED 4.1.23, WARWICKSHIRE ON SALE NOW

TESTER'S NOTE

The backlit dash trim was inspired by the scenery of Sweden's Abisko National Park, apparently. It is at least ambient lighting done a bit differently. I quite like it. MS

Very few cars better symbolise how electrification is affecting car design and opening up the art of the possible than the single-motor Volvo C40 Recharge.

Having joined the dual-motor C40 in production midway through last year, it's broadly what you would expect. It costs a bit less, it has one driven axle rather than two and it has a slightly smaller battery. But dig a little deeper and you will find one key technical point that would have made a 20th-century product planner's eyes roll. While the 2023model-year C40 (tested here, having just joined Volvo UK's press fleet) has its motor on its front axle, the 2024-model-year C40 (which you're more likely to get if you put down a deposit today, production being due to start this summer) will have its motor on its rear axle instead.