Electric vehicles are slowly spreading their feel in the Indian market. Now we have vehicles running on electric power and cost as low as Rs. 12.24 Lakh (Tata Tigor) all the way up to Rs. 1.8 Crore (Audi e-Tron GT). With time these vehicles will surely become even more mainstream. That said, stepping into the Indian automotive market is another battery electric vehicle from Scandinavia, the Volvo XC40 Recharge.
The carmaker has finally unveiled the electric iteration of its entry-level SUV in India, the XC40 Recharge and we expect Volvo to launch this vehicle somewhere in the mid of 2022. But should we be excited? Yes, this electric vehicle comes loaded with everything. Let me explain.
What is Under the Hood of the Volvo XC40 Recharge?
Beginning with the rasmalai of the vehicle, its powertrain. The new Volvo XC40 Recharge comes with a couple of motors that power this vehicle. These motors generate a combined output of about 408hp. Hold it! The torque figures stand at 660Nm. Also, powering the motor is a 78kWh battery pack that lends the car a claimed range of about 418kms. But what is sweet in this rasmalai? Well, this SUV can propel from 0-100kmpl in just under 5 seconds (4.9s). Now, this is super territory.
Is It Stunning to Look at?
The vehicle doesn’t seem to have changed except for some tweaks here and there from the basic structure. And in typical change fashion, the alloy wheels are new, and the SUV also gets a dual-tone paint scheme that does make the vehicle stand out in the crowd. The most noticeable change is the front grille. A plain plastic piece replaces the front grille with no vents whatsoever. Well, it doesn’t have a radiator to cool the engine; instead, the lower part of the bumper makes way for the cooling of the battery and the motor.
It is a similar story on the inside. The new Volvo XC40 Recharge gets an identical interior and feels like a typical Volvo. On the inside, this electric SUV comes with an all-black interior and boasts of soft-touch material on all crucial touchpoints, like the steering wheel and the shift knob. Also, it comes with a keyless entry, quite literally. What is so special about that, you may ask?
The Volvo XC40 Recharge doesn’t even come with an ignition switch. To some that might feel a little cringe, but it is what it is. Also, to start the vehicle, all you have to do is fasten the seatbelt and hit the brake; you are good to know. Of course, the keyfob should be in the cockpit to drive the vehicle.
What are the features on offer?
Volvos are expensive and also offer value money deals. Sticking to that, the new Volvo XC40 comes with all that one wishes and even more. For instance, on the inside, this Volvo features a 9-inch vertical display infotainment system. This screen houses all the technology and connected car features. With that, what a bummer is that the controls for the HAVC are also integrated into the screen. Additionally, the screen comes with Android OS and comes with all the Google services, including maps, play store and more.
Alongside, the car also gets India’s favourite panoramic sunroof (actually a moonroof). On the safety front, the vehicle gets ADAS level-2 features that get aids like adaptive cruise control; lane keeps assist, lane departure warning, driver drowsiness detection and more.
What will be the price of this battery-electric SUV?
As of now, Volvo has not launched the vehicle, but if you are interested, the new Volvo XC40 recharge goes on sale in July. Also, we expect the vehicle to be priced somewhere between Rs. 45 – Rs.49 Lakhs (on-road). Besides, this Volvo doesn’t have any direct rival when it comes to price; Mini Cooper SE is the closest. But the Mini is down on almost everything, power, range acceleration and even the size.
What do you think of this new electric vehicle? Will the aggressive pricing convince you to buy this vehicle? Let us know in the comment section below.
