Volvo C40
How it looks when you see on the street: I first drove the C40 Recharge around Palm Springs — the epicenter of American modernist architecture the year the C40 launched. I opted in for the self-guided architectural tour on my C40 Recharge test drive. Locations like 1946 Richard Neutra designed Kaufmann House underscore modernist themes — the wide open spaces, clean contours, and use of glass. The C40 is based off the XC40, the compact SUV, and the C40 is the smaller more svelte form.
How it makes you feel when you get in: Where the design shines brightest is on the interior — and in the long run, the interior actually matters more to the people that own and drive their cars. Here’s where user experience is becoming dominant in car design. The C40 driver’s experience is simple, clean and well proportioned. It’s a space intended to highlight Volvo’s use of sustainable materials. By 2025, Volvo says one-quarter of its materials will be sustainable. “There are so many latest, advanced materials that it gives us more freedom to experiment,” says Volvo US design chief Erik Beak. Without leathers and wasteful plastics, recycled material abound. Leather and pleather are not even available on the option list. The 12-inch digital cluster and nine-inch touch screens are functional, decently sized, and intuitive. These screens and the brain of the car are powered up by Google’s automotive system, and its accompanying suite of apps first seen on the Polestar 2, a distant cousin of the Volvo brand, also owned by the Geely group.
How it drives: The 2024 model adds a new 79 killowatt-per hour battery pack that produces a 297 mile driving range. There’s also an all-wheel drive Twin Motor models and extend to 257 miles between charges. One pedal braking is a key part of the C40 driving experience, and its well executed. C40 is zippy and personable.
Space for people and things: It’s more compact than the larger XC40 SUV.
What to compare it to: The growing category includes the Genesis GV60, the BMW IX, and the Porsche Macan EV.
How much does it cost: The price ranges from $55,000 to $62,000.