Volvo reveals Australian pricing and specs for new C40 Recharge electric SUV

Two variants of Volvo’s second pure electric car – the sleek, low-profle C40 Recharge SUV – will go on sale in Australia starting at $74,990, with deliveries slated to begin in the second half of the year, the car maker has revealed.

The C40 Recharge, which is based on Volvo’s Compact Modular Architecture (CMA) vehicle platform, is the first model in the Swedish-Chinese car maker’s history to have been designed as a pure electric only.

It will be available in Australia in dual and single motor variants – both variants sitting outside the price range for Australia’s various current state rebate schemes.

Volvo says the dual motor, all-wheel-drive variant, which will be priced at $82,490 before on-road costs, has a 300kW/660Nm powertrain and acceleration from 0 100km/h in a 4.7 seconds.

A 78kWh lithium-ion battery provides an estimated 420km of WLTP-certified range and can be charged from 10 to 80 per cent capacity in 40 minutes with a 150kW DC fast charger.

The single-motor front wheel drive variant, at $74,990, has a smaller battery (69kWh) but produces a higher WLTP driving range of 434km on a charge compared to the dual-motor’s 420 kilometres.

Volvo said the single motor variant’s smaller battery also meant faster charging times, offering the ability to go from 10 to 80 per cent charge in as little as 32 minutes – eight minutes less than the larger 78kWh lithium-ion battery.

In Australia, the C40 Recharge joins the popular all-electric XC 40 Recharge, which in November of 2021 claimed the top spot for monthly (non-Tesla) EV sales in Australia, and only just missed the record for launch month sales set by the MG ZS EV (169) and the Porsche Taycan (161).

“The future of Volvo Cars is electric, and the C40 Recharge is the first model in Volvo’s history designed as pure electric only,” said Volvo Car Australia managing director, Stephen Connor.

“It has the personality of the very popular XC40, but it’s more dynamic with a  sleeker profile. It’s a very attractive car for people who are looking for the easy to-live-with aspects of an SUV with more of a modern statement.

“The launch of Volvo C40 Recharge is another step along the way to Volvo’s goal of making all-electric account for half the cars we sell globally by 2025, as part of an overall plan to go completely pure-electric by 2030,” Connor said.

Both variants come with Volvo’s five-year unlimited kilometre warranty, an 8-year roadside assistance package, 8-year battery warranty and 2-year interval servicing.