Land of slope and glory
What Car? UK|May 2022
With their curvaceous roofs and electric power, these coupé-like SUVs are the height of fashion. Let's see which one will have us singing its praises the loudest
Land of slope and glory

Audi Q4 Sportback e-tron

50 quattro S line

List price £56,045 Target Price £56,045 The Sportback builds on the regular Q4's classy interior and refinement with sleeker looks and a slightly longer (298-mile) official range

NEW Volvo C40 Recharge

Twin Plus

List price £55,550 Target Price £55,550 Based on the XC40 Recharge, the all-new C40 is much more powerful than the Q4 but has a shorter official range of 274 miles

What could the all-new Volvo C40 Recharge and a pair of skinny Nudie jeans possibly have in common? Well, as it turns out, quite a lot, actually. Not only are they both very much bang on trend, but they also share the same design philosophy by being sleeker, more stylish variants of fundamentally practical products. Oh, and both are vegan.

Okay, we'll admit that's where our knowledge of fashionable jeans begins and ends, but we do know a thing or two about electric SUVs, and the C40 is one of the latest to enter the fold. Based on the XC40 Recharge, it sheds that car's square-cut looks, replacing them with a coupé-like roofline and a sloping tailgate to lend the C40 a sleeker appearance.

But the C40 is more than just a fashion statement. Not only is it the first exclusively electric Volvo, but it's also the first to entirely shun leather for its interior. As with the XC40 Recharge, you get the choice of a front-wheel-drive version with a single electric motor or a four-wheel-drive version with two motors - one for each axle. We're testing the latter.

This story is from the May 2022 edition of What Car? UK.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the May 2022 edition of What Car? UK.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM WHAT CAR? UKView All
Vauxhall Mokka 1.2 Turbo 136 GS
What Car? UK

Vauxhall Mokka 1.2 Turbo 136 GS

The Mokka is hot stuff in the sales charts, but does it deserve to be everyone's cup of tea? Let's find out

time-read
3 mins  |
December 2023
MG 4 VS TESLA MODEL 3 DO YOU GET MORE FOR LESS?
What Car? UK

MG 4 VS TESLA MODEL 3 DO YOU GET MORE FOR LESS?

The new MG 4 Extended Range costs thousands less than the cheapest Tesla Model 3, yet it has a longer official range. Is that game over for the Tesla?

time-read
7 mins  |
December 2023
SAVER OF THE MONTH
What Car? UK

SAVER OF THE MONTH

These plug-in hybrid SUVS can all save you money on running costs, especially if you're a company car driver But which one will net you the most interest in return?

time-read
10 mins  |
December 2023
VOLVO EX30
What Car? UK

VOLVO EX30

As the Swedish brand enters uncharted territory with its smallest electric SUV yet, we ask the members of our reader jury to issue their verdicts

time-read
6 mins  |
December 2023
Vauxhall Corsa Electric
What Car? UK

Vauxhall Corsa Electric

Small electric hatchback is brought up to date, gaining a slightly bigger battery option On sale Now Price from £32,445

time-read
3 mins  |
December 2023
Peugeot e-308
What Car? UK

Peugeot e-308

New electric family hatchback puts a French twist on the Vauxhall Astra Electric's recipe On sale Now Price from £40,050

time-read
3 mins  |
December 2023
BMW iX2
What Car? UK

BMW iX2

Electric coupé SUV promises up to 279 miles of range and will be joined by a new petrol-engined X2 On sale March 2024 Price from £56,540

time-read
2 mins  |
December 2023
Volkswagen ID Golf
What Car? UK

Volkswagen ID Golf

Popular family hatchback gets electric power for an official range of up to 400 miles On sale 2027 Price from 33,000 est)

time-read
2 mins  |
December 2023
Citroën e-C3
What Car? UK

Citroën e-C3

Small hatchback is reinvented with electric power and an affordable price On sale Early 2024 Price from £22,000 (est)

time-read
2 mins  |
December 2023
BMW i5
What Car? UK

BMW i5

Electric version of BMW's next 5 Series executive car guns for the Mercedes-Benz EQE On sale Now Price from £74,105

time-read
3 mins  |
December 2023