Volvo’s two all-electric models are getting an update. Neither has been on the road long, but the Swedish automaker has already seen fit to make a few changes to the lineup. An updated XC40 Recharge and C40 Recharge will appear as 2023 models. Volvo promises more specifics in spring.
Most readers probably haven’t had time to look into the pair before the update, so let’s start with a quick refresher.
Volvo’s Two EVs
The XC40 Recharge and C40 Recharge are arguably two versions of the same vehicle. They’re both compact electric luxury SUVs with starting prices in the mid $50,000 range. Both are all-wheel-drive, with a pair of electric motors, one per axle. Both offer a brisk 402 horsepower, driving range of a little over 220 miles on a charge, and tech niceties like voice commands and standard Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.
The main difference, until now, has been their shape. The XC40 Recharge wears a traditional SUV body, with all the cargo space and boxy style that implies. The C40 wraps it all in a more stylish, coupe-like body. It still rides high like an SUV, but with a sleeker roofline that sacrifices some cargo space in favor of sharper looks and a slightly longer range, thanks to the reduced wind resistance.
At present, the XC40 Recharge starts at $51,700, while the C40 Recharge starts at $58,750. Volvo hasn’t revealed pricing for the updated models. But it has detailed the changes.
Front-Wheel-Drive C40
The C40 Recharge gets the more significant update of the two. Volvo has added a single-motor, front-wheel-drive model. Volvo hasn’t provided power figures for the new one but notes that it expects testing to reveal a longer range with just one motor drawing power from the battery.
The company didn’t announce pricing for the new model, but it will almost certainly be the least-expensive EV in the Volvo lineup.
Refreshed XC40
The 2023 XC40 sees a cosmetic update, but not the single-motor drivetrain. The front fascia has been resculpted, with a new lower air dam. The false grille (EVs don’t need grilles) loses its frame, and the LED headlights have a more dramatic hammer shape.
The new headlights aren’t just a cosmetic improvement. They’re a new technology altogether. A recent change to U.S. law legalized adaptive headlights — a technology that has existed in Europe for years but was prohibited here until recently. The XC40’s new lights are adaptive headlights — rather than a low beam and a separate high beam, they switch individual light pixels on and off to maximize the driver’s view and avoid blinding oncoming traffic.
