Volvo Car Malaysia has just announced the pricing information for the XC40 Recharge Pure Electric today, but when we first drove it in the video below, which was now three weeks ago, the official RRP wasn’t available just yet. With that being said, though, we don’t think the new RM262k price tag changed our opinion on the fully-electric crossover – check it out for yourselves in the video below.
On the surface, the fully-electric XC40 Recharge Pure Electric appears to be very much like its other ICE-powered counterparts, and that includes its looks – the only differences you can pick out from the exterior are the blocked-off grille in front, and a set of aerodynamic-focused 19-inch alloys.
The similarities between the models extend inside, with an almost completely unchanged cabin, save for the removal of the electronic parking brake lever on the centre console. That is, until you step foot inside and sit on the driver’s seat, where you’ll immediately notice something’s afoot here.
That’s because the car automatically “starts” when it detects a driver on the seat – no need for a separate push-start button. When the Android Automotive OS-powered screens come alive, which happens in less than a second, you can then immediately drive off by just putting it into “gear”, thanks to its fully-electric drivetrain.
The Volvo XC40 Recharge Pure Electric is powered by two motors making a total of 408 hp and 660 Nm, with power transferred to all four wheels for a 0-100 km/h sprint time of just 4.9 seconds – the quickest among all Volvo SUVs on sale right now. And if you’ve never experienced the instant acceleration of an EV powertrain before, let’s just say it’s probably the most addictive drug out there for us petrolheads.
But unless you’re a millionaire with excess disposable income to buy these cars as toys, chances are you’ll want them to be usable in a daily context, be it as your commute to and from work, or on the odd road trips with your family. So how does the Volvo XC40 Recharge Pure Electric fair in that sense, then? Watch the video to find out.
