Volvo’s XC40 and C40 Recharge are getting upgrades to their driving range and battery charge time in 2023.
Both vehicles have been a part of Volvo’s lineup for multiple years, but the new enhancements make the models comparable to cars released in the last few months. In addition to powertrain improvements, both the XC40 and C40 will come equipped with rear wheel drive, making them the first Volvo vehicles in 25 years without front or all wheel capabilities.
Both the XC40 and C40 will have new engines, estimated to be 3% more powerful than previous iterations. Although the battery remains the same in the XC40, it has been improved to allow for a 240 mile driving range. The C40’s driving range is slightly better at 245 miles, but its charging time has been significantly reduced: the vehicle is now capable of reaching 80% of its battery capacity in under 30 minutes.
The updates to the XC40 and C40 echo the efforts other automakers have made to transform their electric vehicle offerings to suit customer needs. Driving range anxiety remains one of the biggest roadblocks to EV adoption, and although technology is in development to dramatically increase the distance a battery-powered car can travel, it may still be some time before it becomes commercially viable. Modest and sequential improvements to EV lineups, with better variants introduced gradually, promise the best return on revenue for car manufacturers. Although Volvo’s upgrades are nothing groundbreaking, the rare addition of RWD, plus the quality-of-life improvements in the XC40 and C40, are likely to attract 2023 consumers who are eager to trade in their outdated EV for a better one.
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