Volvo details inbound XC40 Recharge Pure Electric

VOLVO Car Australia has confirmed local pricing and specifications of its first electric vehicle, the XC40 Recharge Pure Electric, revealing the compact family hauler will cost from $76,990 plus on-roads when it arrives here in August.

This pitches it head-to-head with the similar-sized Mercedes-Benz EQA 250 that will cost $190 less for more battery range but less performance.

A Tesla Model 3 starts from $66,625 before on-road costs for the Standard Range Plus model providing comparable performance to the XC40 but slightly more range.

Like the plug-in hybrid version that came before it, the Pure Electric will be sold here in a single, highly specified trim level, cresting the XC40 range in terms of price, equipment, power and performance.

Brandishing all the familiar XC40 styling elements plus a unique enclosed front grille, the Pure Electric’s party piece is the dual motor set-up – one on each axle – that develops 300kW of power and 660Nm of torque.

Fed by a 78kWh lithium-ion battery pack, Volvo says its inaugural EV will spring from 0-100km/h in a hot hatch-poaching 4.9 seconds and cover up to 418km on a single charge.

In terms of sheer firepower, the XC40 Recharge Pure Electric punches well above its class and price bracket, well and truly taking the fight to much more expensive offerings like the Jaguar I-Pace (294kW/696Nm), Audi E-Tron 55 (300kW/664Nm), Mercedes-Benz EQC (300kW/760Nm) and even the Tesla Model X Long Range (311kW/660Nm) for half the price.

The flipside however is range; of all the premium offerings outlined above, the Volvo only betters the Mercedes (353km) and just matches the Audi (“in excess of 400km”).

Pricing of the green Swede positions it between these larger luxury models and mainstream electric SUVs sold in Australia – such as the Hyundai Kona Electric and Kia Niro Electric – with the extra dollars buying both better performance and premium brand perks.

However, both mainstream offerings mentioned beat the Volvo on range, the Kona by more than 60km.

The more conceptually similar Mercedes EQA 250 also claims to trump the Volvo on range with up to 480km on a single charge, though its 140kW/375Nm outputs are slightly down on the more affordable Hyundai and Kia (a more expensive EQA 350 4Matic will up the ante to 215kW/520Nm).

Volvo says the XC40’s battery can be charged from 0-80 per cent in 40 minutes when using a DC fast charger.

Unlike other EVs, the Pure Electric has not been fitted with a distinct start/stop button – drivers and occupants simply unlock the car, get in, fasten their seatbelts and pull away.

Minimalist in design but not in nature, the XC40 Recharge Pure Electric will come loaded with gear when it arrives in local showrooms with the whole package rolling on unique 20-inch alloy wheels

Standard equipment highlights include a Harman/Kardon premium sound system accessed via a 9.0-inch Google Android infotainment and operating system with DAB digital radio, wireless smartphone integration and mirroring, speech recognition, inductive phone charging, 360-degree camera, keyless entry and hands-free tailgate, electronic folding exterior mirrors, auto-dimming mirrors, LED headlights, dual-zone climate control, leather accented seats with heating function and power folding rear headrests.

Safety features are headlined by Volvo’s City Safety autonomous emergency braking system, front and rear collision warning and mitigation, camera-based front and rear park assist, blind spot information system with cross traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, pilot assist, lane keeping aid, hill start assist and hill descent control as well as parking sensors front and rear.

“The XC40 Recharge Pure Electric is Volvo's first all-electric vehicle and reinforces the Swedish company's commitment to electrifying its entire car range by 2025, with full electric or plug-in hybrid variants,” the brand said in a statement.

“The Volvo XC40 Recharge Pure Electric is the first vehicle in Australia to come with a fully integrated Google Android Infotainment operating system, with Google Assistant, Google Maps and Google Play Store built in.”

Like every other Volvo currently offered here, the XC40 Recharge Pure Electric will be covered by a five-year/unlimited kilometre warranty, three-year 100,000km service wear and tear plan which (wiper blades, brake pads and rotors), eight-year roadside assistance plan and an eight-year battery warranty.

The Swedish-founded, Chinese-owned brand has sold 1881 XC40s in Australia to the end of May this year, enough to make it one of the dominant forces within the $40,000-plus compact SUV segment with its 19.2 per cent share being second only to the Audi Q3 (2616/26.8 per cent).

2021 Volvo XC40 pricing*

*Excludes on-road costs