2024 Volvo XC40 Recharge: First Look Review

The facelifted Volvo XC40 Recharge has received its first update and entered the 2024 model year in the U.S. Last weekend, I saw a 2024 Volvo XC40 Recharge finished in the Fjord Blue color on display and took the opportunity to see its details and changes in person. Here’s what I learned about the new plug-in hybrid SUV:

Design

The 2024 Volvo XC40 Recharge has an athletic exterior with a squarish, tall body and all-around protective body cladding. I like the powerful stance of the compact SUV and its modern details, like the intense Thor’s Hammer headlights, the diamond-cut dual-tone alloy wheels, and the upward kick in the beltline at the end.

Volvo Cars has introduced new 19-inch wheels on the Core & Plus trims of the XC40 Recharge with the MY2024 update, but on the Ultimate trim, it has carried over the 20-inch wheels from the previous model year. Moreover, the company has added ‘Cloud Blue’ and ‘Vapour Grey’ paint options to the color palette and deleted Black Stone and Thunder Grey shades from the same.

The Ultimate trim may not have received new wheels, but it has got an even more crucial upgrade for the model year – Pixel lights. Each headlight consists of 84 individually controllable LEDs and adapts to the oncoming traffic to avoid dazzling them. Based on data obtained from a front camera and radar, they can blank up to five oncoming vehicles simultaneously. Lastly, the Ultimate trim has gained cornering lights as well.

Volvo Cars imports the 2024 XC40 Recharge from its factory in Ghent, Belgium. I expected it to have impeccable build quality, and when I checked its panel gaps to see if they were consistent, I found that it was built well. The paint quality and finish were also well executed.

Interior

The 2024 Volvo XC40 Recharge has a modern dashboard with vertical AC vents, a 12.3-inch virtual instrument cluster tucked in a binnacle behind the steering wheel, and a 9-inch portrait touchscreen infotainment system tilted toward the driver. I like the Swedish craftsmanship, evident in the exquisite details on the metallic door trim, the Orrefors-sourced crystal gear selector knob, and the fine wool blend upholstery.

The digital instrument cluster of the 2024 XC40 Recharge features customizable layouts, and from my experience, it’s clean and easy to read. As for the touchscreen infotainment system, I like the fact that I can access my frequently used apps like Google Maps and Google Assistant natively. I think its menu structure makes it easy to operate, but I think the graphics, font size, and font style could be improved.

I’m six foot tall, but thanks to the boxy and practical design of the 2024 XC40 Recharge, I didn’t face any issues with ingress or egress, neither in the front nor in the back. The all-around visibility was also good.

Sitting in the power driver’s seat with power 4-way lumbar support, a manually extendable cushion, and heating and memory functions, I had just about enough headroom. The under-thigh support was decent and the lumbar support felt adequate. The heated steering wheel with a manual tilt and telescopic column felt firm to hold.

In the back, the bench seat had a heating function in the outer cushions and backrests. I sat right behind the driver’s seat, which was still in my preferred position. I had legroom, but the knee room was in short supply, while the lumbar support was alright. I checked if reclining was possible and found that it wasn’t. As for headroom, my head was about an inch from the headliner.

The 2024 XC40 Recharge features a hands-free power tailgate and offers 16 cu. ft. of cargo volume, expandable to 57.5 cu. ft. by folding the rear seat. Moreover, it has a frunk, with 0.7 cu. ft. of extra storage space.

Specifications

The 2024 Volvo XC40 Recharge has some integral changes on the specifications front. Unlike the old model, it’s a rear-biased EV. It’s available in a new single-motor RWD variant and an updated dual-motor AWD variant.

The single-motor RWD variant employs Volvo Cars’ second-gen permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) on the rear axle. This motor produces 248 hp and 310 lb.-ft. of torque, allowing the 2024 XC40 Recharge to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 6.9 seconds.

The new PMSM gets its juice from a 79 kWh battery pack, which gives the vehicle an EPA-est. range of 293 miles. I think the 70-mile higher range compared to the old model, which was available exclusively in a dual-motor AWD variant, makes the 2024 XC40 Recharge significantly more practical for long-distance trips.

The updated dual-motor AWD variant adds a new asynchronous motor in the front. The combination of the front and rear motors leads to 402 hp of combined power and 494 lb.-ft. of total torque. A 0-60 mph sprint in this variant takes 4.6 seconds, 0.1 seconds less than in the old model’s dual-motor AWD variant. The EPA-est. range is comparatively 31 miles higher – 254 miles.

Price

The prices of the 2024 Volvo XC40 Recharge start at USD 52,450 (excl. USD 1,295 destination fee).

TopElectricSUV says

The 2024 Volvo XC40 Recharge hits the home run on efficiency and range with its new powertrains, and like the old model it replaces, is great on style, comfort, and convenience, too. Plus, with attractive pricing, I think it’s an excellent choice in the compact luxury SUV segment.

2024 Volvo XC40 Recharge FAQs

An automobile engineer by training, I’ve analyzed the global car market since 2005, with a keen focus on EVs since 2008. My journey in online automotive publishing spans 16 years, during which I have reviewed cutting-edge automotive technologies and interviewed leading CEOs and vehicle developers from around the world.