Volvo XC40 Recharge 2024: Australian pricing revealed as small SUV goes rear-drive

---

Volvo is now offering a rear-drive electric XC40, with power also increasing from 170kW to 175kW.

The new rear-drive model represents a backflip on the current front-drive version, and is the first rear-drive Volvo model in 25 years. It’s part of a raft of minor updates making up the new MY24 XC40 Recharge range going on-sale in Q3, 2023.

Prices are up from $3000 to $4500, but so is range and recharging capability.

Brand new powertrain

In what is a major mechanical change, the MY24 XC40 Recharge will utilise Volvo-developed electric motors – 117kW on the front axle, and 183kW on the rear. The previous Twin model was powered by two 150kW motors front and rear. Outputs of the MY24 Twin remain the same as the MY23 – 300kW/660Nm.

The single-motor variant now uses a sole rear-mounted 175kW motor powering the rear wheels. The previous single-motor variant used a 170kW motor powering the front axle only.

While the electric motors are new, performance is unchanged. The rear-drive XC40 will reach 100km/h from a rest in a claimed 7.4 seconds and the dual-motor Twin version yielding a claimed 4.9 seconds.

Range up 62km to 500km

Battery capacity of the all-wheel-drive Twin increases from 78kWh to 82kWh, also increasing claimed range from 438km to 500km (WLTP).

Volvo also said battery cooling was improved, helping the single-motor versions increase range from 425km to 460km despite carrying over the same 69kWh battery pack.

DC fast-charging up from 150kW to 200kW

The larger, 82kWh battery pack of the updated twin-motor XC40 is 200kW DC fast-charging capable – compared to the 150kW maximum of the previous 78kWh model. This reduces the 10-to-80-percent recharging time from 37 minutes down to 28 minutes.

The single-motor XC40 Recharge remains 130kW DC fast-charging capable, able to go from 10-to-80-percent in 34 minutes.

New 19-inch wheel design

MY24 styling tweaks amount to a new 19-inch wheel design, which Volvo said is more aerodynamic. Volvo did not provide an aerodynamic Cd improvement claim.

Volvo XC40 Recharge 2023: prices in Australia

All prices listed are before on-road costs.

• Volvo XC40 Recharge Pure Electric: $76,990 (up $3000)
• Volvo XC40 Recharge Pure Electric Twin: $85,990 (up $4500)