Volvo XC40 Recharge to hit SA showrooms in August

Volvo’s first pure electric compact crossover was engineered for urban driving and competes with the Tesla Model Y and the Mercedes-Benz EQC. Launching in SA in the second half of this year, the order books are already open, and customers can expect delivery of this all-electric sports utility vehicle in August.

Is the XC40 Recharge a good choice for South Africans?

Before we answer this question, we need to see how well the customers are receiving it in the international markets. The XC40 Recharge sales started strongly, with thousands of orders placed in Europe before its formal launch. When Volvo kicked off production in October 2020, they had already sold every unit they could develop in the calendar year.

According to Greg Maruszewski, Managing Director at Volvo Car South Africa, the XC40 Recharge will be an excellent addition to South Africa’s compact SUV segment. The reason is the customer’s love for the petrol-powered XC40, which garnered 8.40% of share in the compact SUV segment in 2019 and 14.70% in 2020.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 Recharge brings all the perks of electric driving and more. Keep reading to find out more.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 Recharge Pure Electric features a 75-kWh battery pack and dual electric motors that generate 304kW and 660Nm of torque. With this power, the Pure Electric can hit 100 km/h in only 4.9 seconds.

Volvo also offers the Recharge Plug-in hybrid model powered by an electric motor and combustion engine, giving you a choice to drive the vehicle in pure electric mode, power mode, or hybrid mode.

The company says the XC40 Pure Electric can deliver 418km of range on a single charge. Drivers can use a public network, a home charging network or a charging station at Volvo’s dealerships for recharging.

Use a 150kW DC charger, and you can replenish the battery from zero to 80% in only 40 minutes. Plug the Pure Electric on an 11kW AC fast-charging station, and the 0 to 100% recharge will take place in 8 to 10 hours.

Inside, the XC40 Recharge keeps all the good things of the standard model, including comfy driving position, spacious seats, and same roomy cargo space, plus more in the trunk.

Volvo has created a new software with the help of Google's Android Automotive, and it is compatible with both Android and Apple iPhone devices.

Volvo has equipped this electric luxury SUV with various advanced driver-assistance facilities such as standard automated emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, standard lane-departure warning with lane-keeping assist, and standard adaptive cruise control with semi-autonomous driving mode. It is the reason the 2021 XC40 Recharge EV has received the Top Safety Pick Plus award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Volvo will reveal the pricing information before the SUV’s launch in the second half of this year. The XC40 Recharge’s launch comes with a promise to introduce one fully electric vehicle every year by 2025.

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