Great review. We bought an XC40 Recharge EV several months ago over the Model Y, Mustang Mach-e, and Polestar 2. We've owned a Model 3 for three years, and found the Model Y to share the same drawbacks - noisy, rough ride, no 360-degree parking cam, no rear cross-traffic braking, subpar blindspot warning. The Polestar was too cramped, and the Mach-e too midwestern. We recently took the XC40 on a 900-mile trip, choosing it over the Model 3, because it is so much more comfortable and quiet to drive, a pleasure. Charger availability isn't quite up to Tesla's supercharging network, but it was fine - most Electrify America 150kW/350kW charging stalls were open at each stop, and we always hit about 150kW.
Like you, I also really prefer two pedal driving. Not because it's traditional, but because it makes more sense to me to dedicate one pedal to going and one pedal to stopping, rather than having both pedals' operation affect deceleration in different ways. When I owned an e-Golf, I turned off the coasting regen because that made it much easier to purely coast; and done properly, coasting maximizes efficiency (as opposed to regen braking and then accelerating again). Also, thank you for properly explaining the difference between blended braking and Teslas' regen braking! Many folks don't seem to understand the nuances of how different automakers incorporate regen braking in different ways.
Alex - Please add a category to compare cars by how sophisticated the driver assist features are. This WILL become a critical part of the buying choice in the future.
"You don't compare a Fiat 500 to a BMW 5 series just because they both use gasoline" THANK YOU ALEX! This is my number one gripe about people like Sandy who spent all his time complaining that an electric mini cooper wasn't like a Tesla Model Y.
Sandy Munro is a tool and an old fool. I unsubscribed from his channel because he got too deep into ranting about American manufactures not paying attention to China.
@@daveus64 sadly I agree and Sandy should know better. He is so drunk on the tesla koolaid it has blinded him to the fact conventional manufacturers are catching up with tesla very quickly despite tesla having a 12 yr lead. Also he is a huge proponent of their mega castings which as a former tesla owner I can tell you they may make assembly cheap or efficient, but they make repair of body damage a nightmare. I still like Tesla but they are not the end all be all and my next car will likely be a polestar2 as a result
@@wgemini4422 Well, they don't. One has a $22k MSRP, the other costs $54k MSRP. Unless you're talking about depreciated examples. BMW certainly wins at depreciation.
Thanks! It's so nice to have this reviewed from a american standpoint. I really appreciate the size, power and range comparisons. In the old days ( 10 years ago) a price hike of 30000 dollars for this higher performance wouldn't raise an eye brow (BMW 3 series 316-M3) Now some people compare performance cars (Tesla) with anti cars ;) (Nissan Leaf) just because they are electric. No car magazine would think of doing these comparisons with gas cars. -Strange I say. Keep up your excellent work.
I love your videos, your style, and sincerity. I am speaking only for myself here when I say that I much prefer having a POV like view on the big section than the outside camera that is on the side of the vehicle. A camera that is mounted to the sunroof, looking ahead to the road is something I much prefer than the outside side camera. I feel like I am seeing mostly the body panel of the car. Thanks for your hard work. I enjoy your videos.
Yeah I agree; I'm not sure how - outside of price and perceived 'luxury' market - the ID.4 isn't being considered a competitor to this. Very similar style and a much closer competitor than a Y if you ask me *shrug*. Reviewers seem to be sleeping on the ID.4 for some reason...
I had an ID.4 on order for 8 months, but am picking up an XC40 in May. They are both great cars, but the issue with any vehicle right now is availability. The other is price. Some dealers charge a premium (not where we live), but the other thing is rapidly increasing MSRPs. The model Y is currently is currently $82,990CDN up here, making even the XC40 a bargain. I’d be surprised if 2023 models weren’t substantially more expensive across all brands, thanks to parts and raw materials issues.
The efficiency is what a practical shape is going to have. In the long run it doesn't make sense to shape every car for max aerodynamics, when that also makes for a less practical, and often bigger, car. This also has more "normal" tires than many EVs.
Thanks Alex. Today, in Ontario, my wife and tried to check out the Audio Q4 E-Tron but none are available to look at. You're right, you have to keep adding and lot things to get it up to a car like a TMY - came out to about $10K CDN less then a TMY LR here. Checked out the Volvo XC40 Recharge. We liked it more than the Audi. The Google car thing was great for navigation. But, it was sadly limited in terms of apps and the driver's display. Quite impressed overall. Peak in windows of the Ioniq 5. Not as luxurious than these 2 and the trendy style won't age well. So, Volvo XC40 Recharge would be our pick of these. Now to check out a Mustang Mach-E (good luck!) and the Tesla Model Y soon.
You are a scholar and a gentleman. You are a trustworthy source of information - not a common trait in the twenty-first century. Thank you for your work. I bought a Model Y LR last year and I'm reasonably happy with it. I dislike every control being on the touch screen, and boy does the Model Y eat tires even though I drive it modestly (I am expecting a 15K mile life on the OEM tires), these are my main complaints, but if I needed to travel a few hundred miles, the Tesla charging network is vastly superior whereas the CCS network is significantly slower (often less than 62 KW in my area) but this may change. My wife does not care for the looks of the Tesla so we are looking at alternatives.
I have had my XC40 Recharge for about 3 months so far and I really enjoy it. I got a fairly good lease deal on it and yes I wish I did more research before jumping into a fully electric car but overall it hasn’t been horrible. The Car has had some issues but the OTA update fixed some but it still has some issues. I am not very happy with the Dealer I got it from or even my local dealer. The Volvo dealer experience so far is definitely not as good as Infiniti or Audi.
All car brands have lousy dealers, just as all car brands have good dealers; whether a specific dealership is good or bad is not predicated on the make of the car -- just luck (or choice, as we do have choice!) on the part of the buyer.
@@cbatiau2528 Yeah but my area in Orlando. Pretty much all the Volvo dealers within 150 miles of me suck. I know dealers can be hit or miss but 4 dealers not being good kinda sucks.
@@lucisleesion8824 The vast majority of Americans in the midwest live in urban areas, so BEVs are perfect for the vast majority of midwesterners. Even most farmers could probably use BEVs to good use because they can charge them at home and don't need to drive more than 200 miles per day. For the 1% of Americans who have access to home charging but have to drive for work or to shop more than 200 miles per day, yeah, you're kinda stuck with ICEVs for now. The average American drove about 25 miles per day on average in 2017. The big problem for owning a BEV for 99% of Americans is having convenient home charging; many do not have such capability, but that number is under 50%.
@@DougThompson Good Lord, All that wasted effort! I used to get shin splints in traffic. Now it's a fun game to see if you targeted the stop right from 50 feet out.
13:28 When I test drove the XC40 Recharge, the salesman said the reason for the hump is that it's used for the driveline on the ICE vehicle and the floor-pan is common between the two. So looks like Volvo used the space for cable routing, but it's there for the ICE driveline.
Ah, what I was suspecting. They saved a little money, and since this is realistically a four-passenger vehicle, a hump in the middle is no big deal. If anyone ends up riding there it will probably be a kid.
@@markmiller3279 It's not that they were saving money more than this is the car was meant to accommodate an ICE vehicle as a hybrid and not as a dedicated EV. The dedicated EVs are coming from Volvo/Polestar and the ICE cars are going away from Volvo and Polestar. But the xc40 is narrowish and it is a 4-person vehicle more than a 5-person vehicle. But a flat floor is a feature of the nest-generation EV-only Volvos and we've not seen one yet.
Little bit insulted for heat pump being a part of the $3000 package. It's a decent package overall, but I wish they included heat pump as a standard on all trims. They did the same thing on Polestar 2 btw.
If you have build quality issues with panel fit then there's safe to say there's a higher risk there's problems with more vital parts, now or in the future. If you plan to be eco friendly and actually own your car for a long time, low build quality could mean a money pit further down the road....
I remember you asking me “You use the radio? You know it's the 21st century, right?” Well Alex using your own words, let me ask you, “You listen to satellite radio? You know it’s the 21st century right?” We have our phones for that LOL 😆
First of all great review, regarding the infotainment system for those that dont own a XC40 EV there is way more options, and just recently they introduced "Range optimizer" a much apriciated feature to tell you the range, and helps you get better range performancee. The google integration also can do more than just turn up the heat in the car, just give it the right command and you can turn on the heat in your seat or the passenger seat, tell how much range you have left in KM and much more... Alex do you at some point plan to do a deeper dive into the infontainment system ?
So what kind of range degradation is expected in winter? If we’re talking down to 130-150 miles in a subzero climate that could be a deal breaker for many
How is air conditioner performance on these EV's? And can you turn the radio up loud? And in May of 2022, why are there no XC40 Recharges for sale? I found two used ones online and that's it.
You can eliminate most NVH with sound deadening material and framed windows. The first adds a ton of weight and the second limits styling. It's all about choices.
@Alex +1 on the comment to please include some review or opinion of any available driver assistance features, and safety features. Notably the XC40 Recharge includes a nice 360-degree parking camera, rear cross-traffic braking, and blind spot warning in the side view mirrors, none of which are available on Tesla's Model Y. The XC40 also has a decent traffic-aware cruise control and automatic lane-keeping, filling the same need for us as Tesla's much-hyped "Autopilot".
IMHO, iX is definitely priced higher than the others but I think there’s some significant justification: better suspension, great backseat leg and headroom, much longer range, much better sound system (std and upgrade), awesome new sunroof tech, and better interior design (and options).
Thank you for the awesome review! I have been watching for this one. I own the xc40. I was looking to swap to this EV option. I went and test drove the EV and it was a lot of fun. I just wish it had better range or was $5k less and I would have likely made the switch. I am still thinking about it and appreciate the excellent review.
Talk to the dealer, I got a 2021 for $3k off with very little haggling, so little that I feel I could have gotten an even better deal. But its just so fun, and has been so great that I'm ok with what I paid. Also in my suburban mixed driving I average 32kw/100m giving me way over the stated range.
regarding to the range, depending on your drive pattern the new feature just released "Range optimzer" you will have the option for better range performance.
I don’t really care much about build quality as long as the materials are nice and nothing breaks out of warranty. A rear door on my Model 3 had to be realigned because it took more effort than necessary to close it. I didn’t care because I noticed it when I took delivery. I waited an hour and it was done. Other than that, it has been pretty good and the materials in the interior are nice where material quality matters. Also, I have a car that has CarPlay and I have the Model 3. The Model 3 infotainment is just as easy to use. It syncs with the calendar and iMessage on my iPhone, including all my contacts. To respond to a text, I don’t even have to take my hand off the steering wheel. It also shows the actual text on the screen unlike CarPlay, which only reads texts.
Do yourself a favor: book a test drive and punch that thing. It's qay quicker and faster than it needs to be. Very comfortable, great fit and finish, excellent styling inside and outside. It checks a ton a boxes. No, no the best range. But it charges like a boss if you can find a 100 ou 150 KW charging station.
A year later, the landscape has changed. Tesla drops price of Model Y $12K, and now the Tesla qualifies for the $7500 Federal tax credit and the Volvo gets Zero. That flips the value equation substantially, even though the Volvo arguably looks superior and has more of a luxury interior....
This is a great comparison. I have driven the xc40 and for me it’s too small. I agree that it shouldn’t be compared to the model Y. After looking at all the cars I ordered a model Y. I know the Mach e and id4 aren’t really mentioned here but I drive them as well. I felt the id4 was the nicest but it felt like a Nissan Quest to me. The model Y has this magic of being huge on the inside but feeling sporty and not as big on the outside. I also know from driving an ev for 5 years prior that range above 200 realistically is enough for everyday use. I don’t drive more than 6 hours in a day for a “long” trip anything longer and I am flying. I really wanted to like the Volvo or polestar but they feel cramped to me. I will wait for the xc60 recharge for my wife
Really need to start see at least mention the "actual" peak DC charging rate and to stop posting it as "fuel economy".... when other channels are doing DC (and sometimes AC) charging tests and show the full charging curves... IMHO..
Anyone else notice the distinct gap difference between the hood and the bumper trim on the passenger side vs. the driver's side (above the headlight and grill)?
My wife's Polestar 2 has this same issue. When the hood is closed, sometimes the catch on the passenger side does not fully seat like the driver side. Pushing down it firmly brings it in line. This may be something they can adjust at the dealership.
I feel like this is sooooo close..... If it was 4-5k cheaper or had like 40 miles more range it might stand out as the best option. Also why wouldn't the heat pump be standard.
@@notinuse1233 And if you lived in Southern California you might ask why you are paying for a heat pump that you don't need. Considering that by far the greater market for EVs is in the sunbelt, especially in California, the decision to make the heat pump an option makes sends from Volvo's standpoint.
Spent my money on the 2021 version of this exact car. It being available to purchase and deliver in one week was one feature that was important. The infotainment system is wonky for sure, auto headlights and rear child locks randomly are unavailable, the entire system had to be rebooted one day into taking possession, which included a 350 mile round trip drive to the dealer. Amazing car, amazing acceleration, pretty decent in the curves. Everything about the car is amazing except the range. It says 208 miles but aggressive highway driving (90mph lots of passing) in the mountains only gets you 130 miles mostly uphill and 160 miles downhill. Charges like the comments state, 150kW until 50%, 50kW unto 80% and then 15kW to 90%.
Love the XC40 and I was super excited for this, but the lower ground clearance is tragic IMO. The platform can't have been all that well designed for EV duty if that's the compromise. If it was a few tenths of an inch that would be one thing.
@@wyw201 Yes, but that's fairly short sighted. If you're purchasing a crossover or SUV aerodynamics and handling shouldn't be a top priority. Even then if it had the same GC as the normal model it would still likely handle better because the large battery at the bottom would lower the center of gravity.
@@wyw201 I wouldn't call much about a FWD biased Volvo sporty. I don't think they ever quite mastered FWD fun to drive like Saab or Mini. If you want sporty you're better off in a class up with something like a RWD biased Genesis GV70 or BMW X3. Even then you can have ground clearance and good handling. If it doesn't have ground clearance it may as well be a sedan. The Mustang Mach E is a great example of that.
Visited local Volvo dealership yesterday (while waiting for my 2019 Toyota C-HR to have its 4th free bumper-2-bumper service). WOW Sticker price --> $60,000+ USD. This is about 10K+ too much. Gonna be hard to go "green". Toyota Hybrid (HEV) or PHEV seem to be the way "normal" people will HAVE to go, $$$$
I traded my model Y after several issues for a mach E. I really really like it but that audi is a sexier looking vehicle. I think if I had to do it all over again though, id buy the GT Mach E in grabber blue
Why? The median new car was close to $40k pre-pandemic. Why would a luxury vehicle be significantly below that? It's smallish, but not that tiny. It can carry four adults perfectly well, if they're not practicing yoga in the back seat. I really wish the EPA would change the size classes for SUVs. This is not at all comparable to a subcompact car in size. It's approximately equal to a compact in room.
It will be a long time and lots of cost innovation before ICE actually disappears from the market. But the bread and butter models for the average Joe will not be luxury-brand CUVs. The current high cost of batteries keeps current EVs towards the high end of the market. Toyota and Mazda are showing stirrings of some interesting plug-in hybrid versions toward the lower end of the market; a PHEV with ~30-50 mile range would allow most people to do the vast majority of their mileage on battery while still being able to own a single vehicle for local and longer trips.
In fact, I think I just don't trust Volvo here. And of course Ford went and signed up for the same BS Google Automotive infotainment in 2023. I straight refuse to buy a Google powered car, or a Tesla, so I guess that leaves me in a Korean car at this point.
Also our tesla rated at 245 wh per mile, and after 25,000 miles it is exactly hitting its rating. I am not sure i understand what his point is around 20 minutes with tesla over exaggerating their ratings, in my experience they’re extremely precise year over year
I suggest you watch it again. He's saying they use a perfectly legal and reasonable way of rating their vehicles. Many have found those numbers hard to match, but in an ideal climate and driven sensibly it is undoubtedly possible. It's more that the way other makes use tends to rate their efficiency and range too low. This Volvo has an EPA range of 240 miles, but for most drivers should break that easily.
@@markmiller3279 I guess I don't get the whole ideal conditions thing. We drive to ski all the time and are in Denver straight into the mountains and before that new England where we were doing the same things in winter. Far from ideal but still hitting the exact rating after 2 years of tracking. I think he plays cover in this video because compared to the y you get less space, worse tech and way less range
Why would anyone want a vehicle that only has, at most, a 200 mile range!!! I drove my gas powered Volvo XC60 this past weekend 460 miles round trip on 15 gallons of gas. No stops for fuel and definitely didn't have to recharge at least 2 times, both of which would have occured before reaching my desitnation in each direction.
Why the constant mention of CarPlay, when similar number of Android phones are sold? Internationally, Android outsells Apple about 3 to 1, so it makes sense to address Android Auto first.
He mentions CarPlay because iPhones dominate the market in the US (~56% share), which is the market he addresses. The market share among high-income users likely interested in luxury electric SUVs is even more strongly iPhone-centric. He mentions it because it is a notable omission that will affect a significant number of potential buyers; it's not a judgment of the technical merits.
Mark I was a constant Android Auto user in prior EVs, but honestly don't miss it in the XC40 EV with AAOS. It's a very similar experience to your phone except for some missing apps, which I expect to be filled in later.
Think it compares nicely to the q4 etron. A bit small for me but nice car. Love to see a full electric xc90. See there might be one soon but it has a weird design.
I'm in the market for a crossover/suv type full electric and I am majority highway driving 3 days a week (90 miles round-trip per day) which modes would you recommend to get the most range efficiency per charge?
I am just constantly frustrated by the inefficiency of these larger EVs. Obviously, I don't expect crossovers and SUVs to have the same kind of efficiency as small 4-seater EVs. But it seems like something in the range of 3.5 mi/kWh combined should be more than achievable for all but the most absurdly oversized SUVs. Then these new cars are constantly clocking in just beneath 3 mi/kWh. So, they just slap bigger and bigger batteries in them (which further degrades their efficiency...) and it just seems like the focus has been in the wrong place.
Why do you think they should be more efficient? Just because you want it? There are always tradeoffs. A very slippery shape with super skinny tires will optimize efficiency, but compromise passenger and luggage space and give a poorer ride and worse handling. Volvo opted to make a more 'normal' BEV shaped like a familiar model, using more ordinary hardware. So it's less efficient, but quiet, rides well, handles normally, and has standard packaging. For that you have to give up a bit of range. Sounds reasonable to me.
Battery technology will advance and the batteries will get smaller. ICE cars didn't have great efficiency for a long time and so the progression to more efficiency will take time. To me, there's more to an EV car than efficiency yet that's all people seem to harp on. They're still cars. There still is the matter of how they brake and with EVs it is the engineering of blending the brakes. There's little to no engine noise so EVs have to figure out how to have more sound insulation. There's throttle response so some EVs will tend to making that smoother. Range is something more important for long trips and people don't necessarily go on that many. It's just something that for some reason people are hyper-focused on vs. gas cars. You don't have to charge up for that long and you make some small adjustments. Range will increase in time. And there are over-the-air updates that increase range as well.
After market chargers like Chargepoint, ect work very well and give you extra perks like being able to charge at off peak times for a lower charging price rate if your electric utility offers that.
No. With the Volvo, Tesla, and some others, the car comes with a portable EVSE (up to 240V, 32 A), so all you need is a 240V circuit (or perhaps a dryer plug). You can optionally get a higher Ampere EVSE for slightly faster charging.
iX is unfortunately in a different price range than ones you mentioned. I’d live to stick to around $60K for a SUV EV, but the iX has too many better designed features, and BMW quality is assumed. Plus the R1S delivery isn’t available till mid ‘23. So, I’m saving up for an iX. The others are sone good lower priced options, but I’m retired and want to get this ultra nice ev while I can enjoy it.
This vehicle contains more features on the standard version than the audi. If u wanna match things on thr audi u gotta pay 10k mlre and audis etron is a terrible design on the door in the interior. Wait until you see the plastic. Sadly i also wanted a q4 etron but ive being changing my mind amd leaning more onto this one
I think one reason that this is compared to larger cars is that it doesn't have many of the benefits of a smaller car. A subcompact SUV is usually cheaper and/or more fun than a compact SUV. Let's say Mazda CX-30 vs CX-5. The base price of the CX-30 is 12% lower, and reviews say it's more fun. Including tax credits, the XC40 recharge is only 8% cheaper than a Model Y, and in a price range where that doesn't matter to most shoppers. It actually weighs more than a Model Y, so it's unlikely to be more fun, and it doesn't seem like it is. Especially in the US, very few people are shopping for a subcompact SUV just because they cannot fit a compact SUV into their life. With those things in mind, the XC40 isn't fundamentally different than the Model Y, so they get compared. Batteries dominate the weight of an electric car, so making the car a 10% shorter isn't going to reduce the weight by 10%, or even 1%. They also dominate the price of the car, so making a 10% smaller car doesn't make it 10% cheaper either. It might be that the subcompact segment isn't ready to be fully electric until efficiency or battery tech improves another 10 to 20 percent. Hybrids and plug-in hybrids might be solution for this segment, for now. Another reason is that charging infrastructure matters a lot to people, maybe more than it should. So every electric car gets compared to the nearest Tesla, because they currently have the best charging options. Random idea: it might be interesting if you compared the XC40 to the RAV4 prime.They have pretty similar exterior dimensions and the same MPGe rating when the RAV4 is operating on electricity.
For many of us, this would be plenty big enough. We have a compact hatchback, and this is similar in space for both passengers and cargo, if differently proportioned. A Model Y would be no better for our needs except maybe once a decade when we carry something bulky. The rest of the time I'd rather have the smaller vehicle. Parking in San Francisco isn't always easy.
Comparing a Volvo xc40 to a mainstream RAV4 makes no sense. You compare Volvo with Lexus. The Volvo is more upmarket. Hence, it costs more. It's not just about exterior dimensions. Let's not forget that an EV is still a car with components and levels of refinement that make one car cost more than the other.
Too bad it does not qualify for the Federal tax rebate. The cost is pushing $60. Out of range for most shoppers. Also, why 400 hp? Could you not use say a 250 hp, save $$ and weight?
To me, also. The cars look good, are well equipped, and the charging subsystem looks outstanding. I don't know why these other makes aren't moving to faster charging when slow charging out on the highway is a concern for so many. I know I'd find it a lot easier to spend 20 minutes than 40. A bathroom stop and a simple snack can take 20 minutes. I don't want to take a full lunch break on a 400 mile trip.
@@markmiller3279 on our recent 900 mile roundtrip, we stopped about every 100 miles for about 20 minutes of charging starting at 150kW. With a bathroom break and driver change, we weren't really waiting around much. I'll be looking at the Ioniq 5, EV6, and GV60 next year to replace our Model 3.
Thank goodness Volvo didn’t make this as a front wheel drive only cuv. It will be interesting to see what they do with all electric versions of the V60 and V90. I’d certainly consider a V90 electric wagon ahead of any Tesla if pricing and performance are similar.
@@sloanNYC I heard that as well. The V90 in particular is such a great looking car, that simply needs a better powertrain to make it more viable, and all electric would do that. It would have been a better looking option to the Porsche Taycan.
@@JMacGyver1 The V90 is a much more practical wagon than the Taycan Cross Turismo, in terms of cargo space and rear-window visibility, but in terms of outward appearance and handling and interior design, no way... But I'd buy a V90 Cross Country BEV (or 2022 PHEV with the 18.8-kWh battery pack) in a heartbeat...
It's not going to go fully EV from what I'm hearing. It will be replaced by a fully electric, ground-up, dedicated model and then the name XC60 will be dropped. That's what is going to happen to the XC90. Volvo is calling its replacement "the child" because they haven't figured out their new naming convention. The all-electric XC60 won't be available until at least 2024 from what I hear but it may not be sold until 2025.
Not sure why people dont fail to realize, lots of car brands build there cars in other countries from Mexico to the Canada at their various manufacturing assembly plants. Also origin wise Volvo is a swedish brand although Chinese auto giant Geely assist financially and was Volvos life line, we fail to forget that Jaguar and Land Rover brands are owned by Tata motors, an indian auto giant but the public constantly focus on Volvo being chinese. I guess Land Rover and Jaguar is Indian...exactly, its not. ludicrous.
I miss the C30 and the wagon styling. These just look like every other crossover SUV that's going electric to me... oh well... At these prices they are a total pass anyway.
C30 was indeed a cool 2 door hatchback. Just as you mentioned, this car is not for you and I who miss the wagon look but for the majority of the market who wants a taller riding crossover. Also even though any new gasoline-powered car that has this XC40's comfort, utility and warranty and do 0-60mph in 4.3 sec won't be any cheaper than this electric Volvo, not to mention the incentives.
@@shawnlister2730 Totally get that, I just was looking for my next car and they are almost all cross-overs now and look the same to me. I certainly want electric for my next vehicle, but the focus on 0-60 times and heavy, big, poor aerodynamic SUVs is antithetical to the environmental gains we could be getting.
@@shawnlister2730 I don't know. I won't disagree that the majority of the market is buying taller riding crossovers. What they want right now may be taller riding cars but people are fickle. It's possible that this will pass. Zeekr has built something of a wagonish car with it's 001 pure electric car. They're related to Volvo in the Geely group. Volvo's own Concept Recharge, the basis for their next generation of cars, looks more like a wagon in shape than a crossover. But yes, it is probably taller than a wagon. Porsche has also made a "shooting brake" version of the Taycan. Crossovers may get lower and eventually and progressively less tall to where they are essentially wagons in time. To be honest, when the C30 was out, it was not a big seller. The S40 and v50 sold in much higher amounts.
This car, the upcoming C40, and the Polestar-2 share a lot of components and are within a reasonable price window of each other. Which is the best implementation given all the shared parts? It sounds like the XC40 software is lagging behind the Polestar version. How differently are the driving dynamics tuned?
Over-the-air updates should keep software similar. I think it's mostly just a style difference. The Polestar 2 looks more car-like, where this is for people who want a more conventional vehicle. The C40 looks the most EVish of the three.
They are identical cars outside of styling, fit, and finish. The Polestar would have you in a jam because who is the dealer and where is it serviced? The XC40 is also a ICE car, so it can be confused for one, whereas the C40 I think is only electric and has the coupe SUV styling. I doubt any has any software advantage over the other which is the main problem.
I don’t know about the drivetrain software, but the infotainment / head unit software is definitely not identical. They are visibly different in the videos. It seems like the Polestar version might be more functional at this time.
@@timefly4221 I'm looking at a different skin on the same operating system. I've fully played with my Volvo system, and although the Polestar has a different GUI, everything that's happening is identical to Volvo in regards to the center console and gauge console screens.
GReat video is great as usual, build for the prices on these cars, build quality is very important. Even Volvo while built well, is not on par with the Japan brands, but is leaps ahead of Tesla. To me a sloppy built car is an indication of future reliability issues.
I'd rather get this than the Model Y. This has more character to it design wise than any new Tesla. And it has an interior I'd get used to, even if it has less range.
It's just about average as far as price, when the median car (pre-pandemic) was selling for close to $40k. If you can't afford a new car, or only an inexpensive one,by his is obviously not an option, but half of new car shoppers could afford it. At least in base trim.
It would, except that making one with a decent electric range requires a fairly large battery. That plus the motors and whatnot (clutches, planetary gearset, voltage conversion) makes for an expensive car and not a simple conversion from a conventional model. You can see that with the price of the Toyota Prime range. They are not inexpensive.
@@markmiller3279 - A decent plug-in hybrid only requires about 50 miles of range - enough to cover a typical day's driving for most drivers. That's about 1/6 of the desired range for a full EV, and consequently 1/6 of the battery cost. Without doubt it's the most cost effective way to reduce emissions and to get maximum value out of limited battery production.
Alex, I thought Google / Apple carplay was all done electronically, cordless? You just log in with your Google email address account and everything is on your car you don't need your phone in your car is what we were told on our test drive and experienced with the polestar? Am I missing what you mean by the car having Android auto and Apple carplay?
It doesn’t have Apple carplay. Be CAREFUL with what your salesperson tells you. Mine told me it had Apple CarPlay and XM radio but I found after I bought it that it doesn’t have any of that. Not the end of the world but just pisses me off that my salesman didn’t know about the Recharge being different from the gas XC40.
No, they aren't necessarily cordless. Only in the last couple of years have CarPlay and Android Auto supported a Bluetooth connection. Before that they needed a cable connection, and that's still true of many cars. This car has its entire infotainment system running on "Android Automotive", which is a version of the Android operating system intended for running car infotainment systems. That's different from the similarly named "Android Auto", which just displays from your phone on the car's screen and passes back scrern input to the phone. That's much more basic, and uses the phone's processor, memory, etc. The new software runs on the car and doesn't even need a phone connected to it, though you would want to if you want to play music that's on the phone (or other media).
I like the look and function of this car, but the efficiency is unacceptably poor. 223 miles on a 75kWh is a bit under 3mi/kWh, which is really poor for a sub-compact crossover EV. Larger crossover EVs like the Mach E and Model Y get the same or better efficiency with more interior room. Other sub-compact EVs get much better real world efficiency. Maybe Volvo has rated their efficiency numbers for Nordic winters.
Great review. We bought an XC40 Recharge EV several months ago over the Model Y, Mustang Mach-e, and Polestar 2. We've owned a Model 3 for three years, and found the Model Y to share the same drawbacks - noisy, rough ride, no 360-degree parking cam, no rear cross-traffic braking, subpar blindspot warning. The Polestar was too cramped, and the Mach-e too midwestern. We recently took the XC40 on a 900-mile trip, choosing it over the Model 3, because it is so much more comfortable and quiet to drive, a pleasure. Charger availability isn't quite up to Tesla's supercharging network, but it was fine - most Electrify America 150kW/350kW charging stalls were open at each stop, and we always hit about 150kW.
Great review from you too @Deane Gardner! You have a unique perspective with owing a Tesla M3 as well.
"Mach-e too midwestern" ? WTH does that even mean?
@@boots7859 Too much a Ford, I suspect. They don't sell well on the coasts.
A term he uses to discriminate against "things" and "people" different than himself
@@boots7859 If you said a Tesla was too "Californian" for your taste, I'd understand and respect your position.
Like you, I also really prefer two pedal driving. Not because it's traditional, but because it makes more sense to me to dedicate one pedal to going and one pedal to stopping, rather than having both pedals' operation affect deceleration in different ways. When I owned an e-Golf, I turned off the coasting regen because that made it much easier to purely coast; and done properly, coasting maximizes efficiency (as opposed to regen braking and then accelerating again).
Also, thank you for properly explaining the difference between blended braking and Teslas' regen braking! Many folks don't seem to understand the nuances of how different automakers incorporate regen braking in different ways.
Alex - Please add a category to compare cars by how sophisticated the driver assist features are. This WILL become a critical part of the buying choice in the future.
I’m guessing no more manuals
"You don't compare a Fiat 500 to a BMW 5 series just because they both use gasoline" THANK YOU ALEX! This is my number one gripe about people like Sandy who spent all his time complaining that an electric mini cooper wasn't like a Tesla Model Y.
Sandy Munro is a tool and an old fool. I unsubscribed from his channel because he got too deep into ranting about American manufactures not paying attention to China.
@@daveus64 sadly I agree and Sandy should know better. He is so drunk on the tesla koolaid it has blinded him to the fact conventional manufacturers are catching up with tesla very quickly despite tesla having a 12 yr lead. Also he is a huge proponent of their mega castings which as a former tesla owner I can tell you they may make assembly cheap or efficient, but they make repair of body damage a nightmare. I still like Tesla but they are not the end all be all and my next car will likely be a polestar2 as a result
@@daveus64 an old fool. Just because you don’t like his opinion ?
Well, if a Fiat500 cost the same as the BMW 5 series, then they better be comparable or at least have some advantages.
@@wgemini4422 Well, they don't. One has a $22k MSRP, the other costs $54k MSRP.
Unless you're talking about depreciated examples. BMW certainly wins at depreciation.
Thanks! It's so nice to have this reviewed from a american standpoint. I really appreciate the size, power and range comparisons.
In the old days ( 10 years ago) a price hike of 30000 dollars for this higher performance wouldn't raise an eye brow (BMW 3 series 316-M3) Now some people compare performance cars (Tesla) with anti cars ;) (Nissan Leaf) just because they are electric. No car magazine would think of doing these comparisons with gas cars. -Strange I say. Keep up your excellent work.
I love your videos, your style, and sincerity. I am speaking only for myself here when I say that I much prefer having a POV like view on the big section than the outside camera that is on the side of the vehicle. A camera that is mounted to the sunroof, looking ahead to the road is something I much prefer than the outside side camera. I feel like I am seeing mostly the body panel of the car.
Thanks for your hard work. I enjoy your videos.
I think I'd go for ID.4. Slightly less luxurious and a bit slower but $10K less. Or maybe Mach-E.
Yeah I agree; I'm not sure how - outside of price and perceived 'luxury' market - the ID.4 isn't being considered a competitor to this. Very similar style and a much closer competitor than a Y if you ask me *shrug*. Reviewers seem to be sleeping on the ID.4 for some reason...
I had an ID.4 on order for 8 months, but am picking up an XC40 in May. They are both great cars, but the issue with any vehicle right now is availability. The other is price. Some dealers charge a premium (not where we live), but the other thing is rapidly increasing MSRPs. The model Y is currently is currently $82,990CDN up here, making even the XC40 a bargain. I’d be surprised if 2023 models weren’t substantially more expensive across all brands, thanks to parts and raw materials issues.
Love the design of this, don’t love the efficiency and price.
When they sold them on dealer lots you could get some decent deals.
The efficiency is what a practical shape is going to have. In the long run it doesn't make sense to shape every car for max aerodynamics, when that also makes for a less practical, and often bigger, car. This also has more "normal" tires than many EVs.
Thanks Alex. Today, in Ontario, my wife and tried to check out the Audio Q4 E-Tron but none are available to look at. You're right, you have to keep adding and lot things to get it up to a car like a TMY - came out to about $10K CDN less then a TMY LR here. Checked out the Volvo XC40 Recharge. We liked it more than the Audi. The Google car thing was great for navigation. But, it was sadly limited in terms of apps and the driver's display. Quite impressed overall. Peak in windows of the Ioniq 5. Not as luxurious than these 2 and the trendy style won't age well. So, Volvo XC40 Recharge would be our pick of these. Now to check out a Mustang Mach-E (good luck!) and the Tesla Model Y soon.
You are a scholar and a gentleman. You are a trustworthy source of information - not a common trait in the twenty-first century. Thank you for your work. I bought a Model Y LR last year and I'm reasonably happy with it. I dislike every control being on the touch screen, and boy does the Model Y eat tires even though I drive it modestly (I am expecting a 15K mile life on the OEM tires), these are my main complaints, but if I needed to travel a few hundred miles, the Tesla charging network is vastly superior whereas the CCS network is significantly slower (often less than 62 KW in my area) but this may change. My wife does not care for the looks of the Tesla so we are looking at alternatives.
I have had my XC40 Recharge for about 3 months so far and I really enjoy it. I got a fairly good lease deal on it and yes I wish I did more research before jumping into a fully electric car but overall it hasn’t been horrible. The Car has had some issues but the OTA update fixed some but it still has some issues. I am not very happy with the Dealer I got it from or even my local dealer. The Volvo dealer experience so far is definitely not as good as Infiniti or Audi.
All car brands have lousy dealers, just as all car brands have good dealers; whether a specific dealership is good or bad is not predicated on the make of the car -- just luck (or choice, as we do have choice!) on the part of the buyer.
@@cbatiau2528 Yeah but my area in Orlando. Pretty much all the Volvo dealers within 150 miles of me suck. I know dealers can be hit or miss but 4 dealers not being good kinda sucks.
@@disneyfan9099 I don't even have a dealer within 150 miles of me.
I think if you only use it in an urban area, then an EV is the best.
For us in the midwest, ooops, you d better have a larger gas tank.
@@lucisleesion8824 The vast majority of Americans in the midwest live in urban areas, so BEVs are perfect for the vast majority of midwesterners. Even most farmers could probably use BEVs to good use because they can charge them at home and don't need to drive more than 200 miles per day. For the 1% of Americans who have access to home charging but have to drive for work or to shop more than 200 miles per day, yeah, you're kinda stuck with ICEVs for now. The average American drove about 25 miles per day on average in 2017. The big problem for owning a BEV for 99% of Americans is having convenient home charging; many do not have such capability, but that number is under 50%.
I love one pedal driving...it's less wear & tear on my knee ...(maybe I should sit correctly in the seat)
Same
Huge Fan of one Pedal Drive.
I love one pedal driving! Hate going into a ICE car and having to go back and forth gas pedal to brake all the time.
@@DougThompson Good Lord, All that wasted effort! I used to get shin splints in traffic. Now it's a fun game to see if you targeted the stop right from 50 feet out.
@@donjackjohn So true.....and fun!
13:28 When I test drove the XC40 Recharge, the salesman said the reason for the hump is that it's used for the driveline on the ICE vehicle and the floor-pan is common between the two. So looks like Volvo used the space for cable routing, but it's there for the ICE driveline.
Ah, what I was suspecting. They saved a little money, and since this is realistically a four-passenger vehicle, a hump in the middle is no big deal. If anyone ends up riding there it will probably be a kid.
@@markmiller3279 Or the poor 5'9" fool tucked between his younger 6' and 6'7" siblings 😂
@@markmiller3279 It's not that they were saving money more than this is the car was meant to accommodate an ICE vehicle as a hybrid and not as a dedicated EV. The dedicated EVs are coming from Volvo/Polestar and the ICE cars are going away from Volvo and Polestar. But the xc40 is narrowish and it is a 4-person vehicle more than a 5-person vehicle. But a flat floor is a feature of the nest-generation EV-only Volvos and we've not seen one yet.
Under almost under all braking situations Volvo engages the physical brakes a bit to help clean the rotors and pads.
I don't doubt what you say but I've not read that elsewhere. What is your source for that statement?
Enjoy everything bout all the XC 40s except the tight door frames.
The Kia EV6. Or the Genesis GV60. Hand for the cohesiveness of design, range and overall specialness of them.
Little bit insulted for heat pump being a part of the $3000 package. It's a decent package overall, but I wish they included heat pump as a standard on all trims. They did the same thing on Polestar 2 btw.
If you have build quality issues with panel fit then there's safe to say there's a higher risk there's problems with more vital parts, now or in the future. If you plan to be eco friendly and actually own your car for a long time, low build quality could mean a money pit further down the road....
I remember you asking me “You use the radio? You know it's the 21st century, right?”
Well Alex using your own words, let me ask you, “You listen to satellite radio? You know it’s the 21st century right?”
We have our phones for that LOL 😆
I listen ONLY to Spotify or country music app on the epic Bowers&Wilkins system in my new Volvo.
First of all great review, regarding the infotainment system for those that dont own a XC40 EV there is way more options, and just recently they introduced "Range optimizer" a much apriciated feature to tell you the range, and helps you get better range performancee. The google integration also can do more than just turn up the heat in the car, just give it the right command and you can turn on the heat in your seat or the passenger seat, tell how much range you have left in KM and much more...
Alex do you at some point plan to do a deeper dive into the infontainment system ?
So what kind of range degradation is expected in winter? If we’re talking down to 130-150 miles in a subzero climate that could be a deal breaker for many
How is air conditioner performance on these EV's? And can you turn the radio up loud? And in May of 2022, why are there no XC40 Recharges for sale? I found two used ones online and that's it.
I dont own a Electric car yet but i agree with you Alex...I wish at this point everyone would stop comparing every car to a Tesla.
its the gold std.....everything has to pass through its shadow.
@@laloajuria4678 It’s a std just not a good standard really
@@disneyfan9099 The auto ignorant tech geeks consider it to be the gold standard.
I like it and I love that color. Volvo will be a tough competitor in the years to come.
I'm not a fan of the huge c-pillars. I guess outward visibility is not a priority unless you are star gazing.
Apple Carplay arrived in July, 2022, in the v2.2 software update.
Beautiful, good car for sure!
I like mine so far
Inches of battery packs under the floor doesn’t seem to do much to control road noise on most Teslas.
You can eliminate most NVH with sound deadening material and framed windows. The first adds a ton of weight and the second limits styling. It's all about choices.
Did he really say you shouldn’t compare this to a Model Y and then compare it to a BMW iX 😂
@Alex +1 on the comment to please include some review or opinion of any available driver assistance features, and safety features. Notably the XC40 Recharge includes a nice 360-degree parking camera, rear cross-traffic braking, and blind spot warning in the side view mirrors, none of which are available on Tesla's Model Y. The XC40 also has a decent traffic-aware cruise control and automatic lane-keeping, filling the same need for us as Tesla's much-hyped "Autopilot".
Great review! Thank you. Would like to see an update to 2022 specs to all related vehicles.
IMHO, iX is definitely priced higher than the others but I think there’s some significant justification: better suspension, great backseat leg and headroom, much longer range, much better sound system (std and upgrade), awesome new sunroof tech, and better interior design (and options).
It drives and handles better than the Polestar 2.
Thank you for the awesome review! I have been watching for this one. I own the xc40. I was looking to swap to this EV option. I went and test drove the EV and it was a lot of fun. I just wish it had better range or was $5k less and I would have likely made the switch. I am still thinking about it and appreciate the excellent review.
See if any dealers have any left on the lots. You might be able to snag one for a good deal like me.
Talk to the dealer, I got a 2021 for $3k off with very little haggling, so little that I feel I could have gotten an even better deal. But its just so fun, and has been so great that I'm ok with what I paid. Also in my suburban mixed driving I average 32kw/100m giving me way over the stated range.
regarding to the range, depending on your drive pattern the new feature just released "Range optimzer" you will have the option for better range performance.
@@disneyfan9099 opioid
Yea
Any idea on the minimum and maximum miles before you need a new battery?
I don’t really care much about build quality as long as the materials are nice and nothing breaks out of warranty. A rear door on my Model 3 had to be realigned because it took more effort than necessary to close it. I didn’t care because I noticed it when I took delivery. I waited an hour and it was done. Other than that, it has been pretty good and the materials in the interior are nice where material quality matters.
Also, I have a car that has CarPlay and I have the Model 3. The Model 3 infotainment is just as easy to use. It syncs with the calendar and iMessage on my iPhone, including all my contacts. To respond to a text, I don’t even have to take my hand off the steering wheel. It also shows the actual text on the screen unlike CarPlay, which only reads texts.
For those who purchased, how are you liking it? I've heard of some software issues and wanted to confirm as I have this and MY on my list.
Do yourself a favor: book a test drive and punch that thing. It's qay quicker and faster than it needs to be.
Very comfortable, great fit and finish, excellent styling inside and outside. It checks a ton a boxes.
No, no the best range. But it charges like a boss if you can find a 100 ou 150 KW charging station.
A year later, the landscape has changed. Tesla drops price of Model Y $12K, and now the Tesla qualifies for the $7500 Federal tax credit and the Volvo gets Zero. That flips the value equation substantially, even though the Volvo arguably looks superior and has more of a luxury interior....
This is a great comparison. I have driven the xc40 and for me it’s too small. I agree that it shouldn’t be compared to the model Y. After looking at all the cars I ordered a model Y. I know the Mach e and id4 aren’t really mentioned here but I drive them as well. I felt the id4 was the nicest but it felt like a Nissan Quest to me. The model Y has this magic of being huge on the inside but feeling sporty and not as big on the outside. I also know from driving an ev for 5 years prior that range above 200 realistically is enough for everyday use. I don’t drive more than 6 hours in a day for a “long” trip anything longer and I am flying. I really wanted to like the Volvo or polestar but they feel cramped to me. I will wait for the xc60 recharge for my wife
Really need to start see at least mention the "actual" peak DC charging rate and to stop posting it as "fuel economy"....
when other channels are doing DC (and sometimes AC) charging tests and show the full charging curves... IMHO..
thanks for this won’t be going for the Volvo saved my cash
love my XC40 ICE. When EV is mainstream then yes I will get one
Why do different size tires ? No rotation and a heavier car = $. You had me looking up to that point.
Anyone else notice the distinct gap difference between the hood and the bumper trim on the passenger side vs. the driver's side (above the headlight and grill)?
My wife's Polestar 2 has this same issue. When the hood is closed, sometimes the catch on the passenger side does not fully seat like the driver side. Pushing down it firmly brings it in line. This may be something they can adjust at the dealership.
I feel like this is sooooo close..... If it was 4-5k cheaper or had like 40 miles more range it might stand out as the best option. Also why wouldn't the heat pump be standard.
Easy answer is that drivers from Florida to Southern California don't necessarily suffer from the lack of a heat pump.
@@stephenhendricks103 true but being from the Midwest adding more cost because of where I live makes it less attractive
Totally agreed
@@notinuse1233 And if you lived in Southern California you might ask why you are paying for a heat pump that you don't need. Considering that by far the greater market for EVs is in the sunbelt, especially in California, the decision to make the heat pump an option makes sends from Volvo's standpoint.
@@stephenhendricks103 I’m not going to argue with you. Have a good day.
The ipad in the centre with vert a/c vents that Volvo does looked terrible from the start and it looks ridiculous now.
Spent my money on the 2021 version of this exact car. It being available to purchase and deliver in one week was one feature that was important. The infotainment system is wonky for sure, auto headlights and rear child locks randomly are unavailable, the entire system had to be rebooted one day into taking possession, which included a 350 mile round trip drive to the dealer. Amazing car, amazing acceleration, pretty decent in the curves. Everything about the car is amazing except the range. It says 208 miles but aggressive highway driving (90mph lots of passing) in the mountains only gets you 130 miles mostly uphill and 160 miles downhill. Charges like the comments state, 150kW until 50%, 50kW unto 80% and then 15kW to 90%.
Love the XC40 and I was super excited for this, but the lower ground clearance is tragic IMO. The platform can't have been all that well designed for EV duty if that's the compromise. If it was a few tenths of an inch that would be one thing.
I don’t really notice or mind the difference
Isn’t lower ground clearance a good thing in terms of handling and aerodynamics?
@@wyw201 Yes, but that's fairly short sighted. If you're purchasing a crossover or SUV aerodynamics and handling shouldn't be a top priority. Even then if it had the same GC as the normal model it would still likely handle better because the large battery at the bottom would lower the center of gravity.
@@FantomLightning Thought the whole point of these small “sporty” SUV is handling
@@wyw201 I wouldn't call much about a FWD biased Volvo sporty. I don't think they ever quite mastered FWD fun to drive like Saab or Mini. If you want sporty you're better off in a class up with something like a RWD biased Genesis GV70 or BMW X3. Even then you can have ground clearance and good handling. If it doesn't have ground clearance it may as well be a sedan. The Mustang Mach E is a great example of that.
Visited local Volvo dealership yesterday (while waiting for my 2019 Toyota C-HR to have its 4th free bumper-2-bumper service).
WOW Sticker price --> $60,000+ USD. This is about 10K+ too much. Gonna be hard to go "green". Toyota Hybrid (HEV) or PHEV seem to be the way "normal" people will HAVE to go, $$$$
Love that color. Looks sick.
I ordered a VW ID.4 AWD Pro S last month - I'll stick with it vs. The Volvo.
I honestly would have probably gotten the ID.4 is AWD was available 3 months ago.
The ID.4 is a better value for sure - we saw a lot of them at EA fast chargers on our trip. It's a fine choice.
Love the look! R design look is nice! Too bad Google doesn't offer more adjustment yet.....
I traded my model Y after several issues for a mach E. I really really like it but that audi is a sexier looking vehicle. I think if I had to do it all over again though, id buy the GT Mach E in grabber blue
Gotta get the price down to ~35k fully loaded after credits. You can't force someone to buy at these high prices in the future if ice is abolished.
If the fully loaded ICE XC40 is $51k, there is no way the EV version will be $16k less! Volvo is a premium/luxury brand.
Why? The median new car was close to $40k pre-pandemic. Why would a luxury vehicle be significantly below that? It's smallish, but not that tiny. It can carry four adults perfectly well, if they're not practicing yoga in the back seat.
I really wish the EPA would change the size classes for SUVs. This is not at all comparable to a subcompact car in size. It's approximately equal to a compact in room.
It will be a long time and lots of cost innovation before ICE actually disappears from the market. But the bread and butter models for the average Joe will not be luxury-brand CUVs. The current high cost of batteries keeps current EVs towards the high end of the market. Toyota and Mazda are showing stirrings of some interesting plug-in hybrid versions toward the lower end of the market; a PHEV with ~30-50 mile range would allow most people to do the vast majority of their mileage on battery while still being able to own a single vehicle for local and longer trips.
Volvo don't cost $35K. Maybe, maybe low 40Ks as an absolute base start. It's not practical to expect a car of this quality to cost 35K.
as a primary car, gotta go MY. secondary, volvo looks like competition is coming!
Has that OTA update come for Android Auto and CarPlay? I know it has NOT for Polestar 2.
In fact, I think I just don't trust Volvo here. And of course Ford went and signed up for the same BS Google Automotive infotainment in 2023. I straight refuse to buy a Google powered car, or a Tesla, so I guess that leaves me in a Korean car at this point.
Alex, all displays look big when the camera you use is placed (THAT) close to the screens!!!!
Where is the logic of providing a jack … but not a spare tire ?
yes, personally I think that all SUVs should offer a rear-mounted full-size spare wheel (on the rear door), like RAV4s used to have...
@@cbatiau2528 Oh god lol
@@cbatiau2528 They're horrible for both aerodynamics and rear visibility.
Would anyone recommend this over the hybrid xc60?
Also our tesla rated at 245 wh per mile, and after 25,000 miles it is exactly hitting its rating. I am not sure i understand what his point is around 20 minutes with tesla over exaggerating their ratings, in my experience they’re extremely precise year over year
I suggest you watch it again. He's saying they use a perfectly legal and reasonable way of rating their vehicles. Many have found those numbers hard to match, but in an ideal climate and driven sensibly it is undoubtedly possible. It's more that the way other makes use tends to rate their efficiency and range too low. This Volvo has an EPA range of 240 miles, but for most drivers should break that easily.
@@markmiller3279 I guess I don't get the whole ideal conditions thing. We drive to ski all the time and are in Denver straight into the mountains and before that new England where we were doing the same things in winter. Far from ideal but still hitting the exact rating after 2 years of tracking. I think he plays cover in this video because compared to the y you get less space, worse tech and way less range
Why would anyone want a vehicle that only has, at most, a 200 mile range!!! I drove my gas powered Volvo XC60 this past weekend 460 miles round trip on 15 gallons of gas. No stops for fuel and definitely didn't have to recharge at least 2 times, both of which would have occured before reaching my desitnation in each direction.
Why the constant mention of CarPlay, when similar number of Android phones are sold? Internationally, Android outsells Apple about 3 to 1, so it makes sense to address Android Auto first.
He mentions CarPlay because iPhones dominate the market in the US (~56% share), which is the market he addresses. The market share among high-income users likely interested in luxury electric SUVs is even more strongly iPhone-centric. He mentions it because it is a notable omission that will affect a significant number of potential buyers; it's not a judgment of the technical merits.
Mark I was a constant Android Auto user in prior EVs, but honestly don't miss it in the XC40 EV with AAOS. It's a very similar experience to your phone except for some missing apps, which I expect to be filled in later.
It's also a Volvo so it makes sense to mention safety, quality and reliability first before the range. After all that's why people buy Volvos.
Hi Alex, please…do review the S60 B5 AWD if available! That’s a highly anticipated model for most sedan/Volvo lovers!
Think it compares nicely to the q4 etron. A bit small for me but nice car. Love to see a full electric xc90. See there might be one soon but it has a weird design.
I'm in the market for a crossover/suv type full electric and I am majority highway driving 3 days a week (90 miles round-trip per day) which modes would you recommend to get the most range efficiency per charge?
I am just constantly frustrated by the inefficiency of these larger EVs. Obviously, I don't expect crossovers and SUVs to have the same kind of efficiency as small 4-seater EVs. But it seems like something in the range of 3.5 mi/kWh combined should be more than achievable for all but the most absurdly oversized SUVs. Then these new cars are constantly clocking in just beneath 3 mi/kWh. So, they just slap bigger and bigger batteries in them (which further degrades their efficiency...) and it just seems like the focus has been in the wrong place.
And also due to aerodynamics
Why do you think they should be more efficient? Just because you want it? There are always tradeoffs. A very slippery shape with super skinny tires will optimize efficiency, but compromise passenger and luggage space and give a poorer ride and worse handling. Volvo opted to make a more 'normal' BEV shaped like a familiar model, using more ordinary hardware. So it's less efficient, but quiet, rides well, handles normally, and has standard packaging. For that you have to give up a bit of range. Sounds reasonable to me.
Battery technology will advance and the batteries will get smaller. ICE cars didn't have great efficiency for a long time and so the progression to more efficiency will take time. To me, there's more to an EV car than efficiency yet that's all people seem to harp on. They're still cars. There still is the matter of how they brake and with EVs it is the engineering of blending the brakes. There's little to no engine noise so EVs have to figure out how to have more sound insulation. There's throttle response so some EVs will tend to making that smoother. Range is something more important for long trips and people don't necessarily go on that many. It's just something that for some reason people are hyper-focused on vs. gas cars. You don't have to charge up for that long and you make some small adjustments. Range will increase in time. And there are over-the-air updates that increase range as well.
Why/how would you have paddle shifters in a battery car??
They control the regen, not gears.
When buying an electric vehicle do you have to get the additional evse charger from the cars manufacturer? Or are aftermarket chargers better?
After market chargers like Chargepoint, ect work very well and give you extra perks like being able to charge at off peak times for a lower charging price rate if your electric utility offers that.
No. With the Volvo, Tesla, and some others, the car comes with a portable EVSE (up to 240V, 32 A), so all you need is a 240V circuit (or perhaps a dryer plug). You can optionally get a higher Ampere EVSE for slightly faster charging.
iX is unfortunately in a different price range than ones you mentioned. I’d live to stick to around $60K for a SUV EV, but the iX has too many better designed features, and BMW quality is assumed. Plus the R1S delivery isn’t available till mid ‘23. So, I’m saving up for an iX. The others are sone good lower priced options, but I’m retired and want to get this ultra nice ev while I can enjoy it.
Did anyone else know the massive panel gap of the hood? The left side is noticeably higher than the right side of the hood.
It's not a panel gap, the bonnet is not properly closed. It has two latches, left and right.
Waiting on the Audi. I think it;s a good value,. I still must do a test drive and compare it with the ID 4.
This vehicle contains more features on the standard version than the audi. If u wanna match things on thr audi u gotta pay 10k mlre and audis etron is a terrible design on the door in the interior. Wait until you see the plastic. Sadly i also wanted a q4 etron but ive being changing my mind amd leaning more onto this one
I think one reason that this is compared to larger cars is that it doesn't have many of the benefits of a smaller car. A subcompact SUV is usually cheaper and/or more fun than a compact SUV. Let's say Mazda CX-30 vs CX-5. The base price of the CX-30 is 12% lower, and reviews say it's more fun. Including tax credits, the XC40 recharge is only 8% cheaper than a Model Y, and in a price range where that doesn't matter to most shoppers. It actually weighs more than a Model Y, so it's unlikely to be more fun, and it doesn't seem like it is. Especially in the US, very few people are shopping for a subcompact SUV just because they cannot fit a compact SUV into their life. With those things in mind, the XC40 isn't fundamentally different than the Model Y, so they get compared.
Batteries dominate the weight of an electric car, so making the car a 10% shorter isn't going to reduce the weight by 10%, or even 1%. They also dominate the price of the car, so making a 10% smaller car doesn't make it 10% cheaper either. It might be that the subcompact segment isn't ready to be fully electric until efficiency or battery tech improves another 10 to 20 percent. Hybrids and plug-in hybrids might be solution for this segment, for now.
Another reason is that charging infrastructure matters a lot to people, maybe more than it should. So every electric car gets compared to the nearest Tesla, because they currently have the best charging options.
Random idea: it might be interesting if you compared the XC40 to the RAV4 prime.They have pretty similar exterior dimensions and the same MPGe rating when the RAV4 is operating on electricity.
For many of us, this would be plenty big enough. We have a compact hatchback, and this is similar in space for both passengers and cargo, if differently proportioned. A Model Y would be no better for our needs except maybe once a decade when we carry something bulky. The rest of the time I'd rather have the smaller vehicle. Parking in San Francisco isn't always easy.
Comparing a Volvo xc40 to a mainstream RAV4 makes no sense. You compare Volvo with Lexus. The Volvo is more upmarket. Hence, it costs more. It's not just about exterior dimensions. Let's not forget that an EV is still a car with components and levels of refinement that make one car cost more than the other.
This is what I expected the Ford electric Mustang to look like.
Too bad it does not qualify for the Federal tax rebate. The cost is pushing $60. Out of range for most shoppers. Also, why 400 hp? Could you not use say a 250 hp, save $$ and weight?
i wish these supposedly commute focused cars would have a commute focused price tag. 58k for this?
It's a luxury brand, you get what you pay for.
wow... this has the same maximum ground clearance as the Taycan Cross Turismo (wagon BEV) ...
I love the ipace but I’ve never seen one in the wild that wasn’t broken down
This is reliable as hell compared to LJR.
Do you know how much the battery replacement costs?
While larger the hyundai ionic 5 and kia ev6 are still looking like the better option.
Exactly my thoughts - these are very promising vehicles
To me, also. The cars look good, are well equipped, and the charging subsystem looks outstanding. I don't know why these other makes aren't moving to faster charging when slow charging out on the highway is a concern for so many. I know I'd find it a lot easier to spend 20 minutes than 40. A bathroom stop and a simple snack can take 20 minutes. I don't want to take a full lunch break on a 400 mile trip.
@@markmiller3279 on our recent 900 mile roundtrip, we stopped about every 100 miles for about 20 minutes of charging starting at 150kW. With a bathroom break and driver change, we weren't really waiting around much. I'll be looking at the Ioniq 5, EV6, and GV60 next year to replace our Model 3.
Much more modern designs. And yes, they're larger.
Also the Genesis GV60 sister vehicle.
Thank goodness Volvo didn’t make this as a front wheel drive only cuv. It will be interesting to see what they do with all electric versions of the V60 and V90. I’d certainly consider a V90 electric wagon ahead of any Tesla if pricing and performance are similar.
I get the feeling they won't be continuing them in the US at all.
@@sloanNYC I heard that as well. The V90 in particular is such a great looking car, that simply needs a better powertrain to make it more viable, and all electric would do that. It would have been a better looking option to the Porsche Taycan.
@@JMacGyver1 the new models are all over $50k as well. Hard area to compete in with EVERYONE making SUVs that look the same mostly.
@@JMacGyver1 The V90 is a much more practical wagon than the Taycan Cross Turismo, in terms of cargo space and rear-window visibility, but in terms of outward appearance and handling and interior design, no way... But I'd buy a V90 Cross Country BEV (or 2022 PHEV with the 18.8-kWh battery pack) in a heartbeat...
I know. I love having AWD
Does this car is sold in Australia as well?
Build quality of Tesla hahahah, Alex you nailed it
1000% better looking than a tesla.
Alex … I live in SoCal. Any word on when the XC60 goes fully EV? It’s my favorite model 😉
It's not going to go fully EV from what I'm hearing. It will be replaced by a fully electric, ground-up, dedicated model and then the name XC60 will be dropped. That's what is going to happen to the XC90. Volvo is calling its replacement "the child" because they haven't figured out their new naming convention. The all-electric XC60 won't be available until at least 2024 from what I hear but it may not be sold until 2025.
Putting a swedish flag on these seats for a car made in Belgium is kinda funny. I know I wouldn't recognize the Belgium flag.
It’s Germany’s flag but vertical colors.
They should put the Swedish, Belgian, and Chinese flags. Or do like everyone else and put none of them.
I thought Volvo was Chinese
It's not a Belgium car.
Not sure why people dont fail to realize, lots of car brands build there cars in other countries from Mexico to the Canada at their various manufacturing assembly plants. Also origin wise Volvo is a swedish brand although Chinese auto giant Geely assist financially and was Volvos life line, we fail to forget that Jaguar and Land Rover brands are owned by Tata motors, an indian auto giant but the public constantly focus on Volvo being chinese. I guess Land Rover and Jaguar is Indian...exactly, its not. ludicrous.
Love the intro
WTF does anyone need with 400hp? 🤭🤭
I miss the C30 and the wagon styling. These just look like every other crossover SUV that's going electric to me... oh well... At these prices they are a total pass anyway.
C30 was indeed a cool 2 door hatchback. Just as you mentioned, this car is not for you and I who miss the wagon look but for the majority of the market who wants a taller riding crossover. Also even though any new gasoline-powered car that has this XC40's comfort, utility and warranty and do 0-60mph in 4.3 sec won't be any cheaper than this electric Volvo, not to mention the incentives.
@@shawnlister2730 Totally get that, I just was looking for my next car and they are almost all cross-overs now and look the same to me. I certainly want electric for my next vehicle, but the focus on 0-60 times and heavy, big, poor aerodynamic SUVs is antithetical to the environmental gains we could be getting.
@@shawnlister2730 I don't know. I won't disagree that the majority of the market is buying taller riding crossovers. What they want right now may be taller riding cars but people are fickle. It's possible that this will pass. Zeekr has built something of a wagonish car with it's 001 pure electric car. They're related to Volvo in the Geely group. Volvo's own Concept Recharge, the basis for their next generation of cars, looks more like a wagon in shape than a crossover. But yes, it is probably taller than a wagon. Porsche has also made a "shooting brake" version of the Taycan. Crossovers may get lower and eventually and progressively less tall to where they are essentially wagons in time.
To be honest, when the C30 was out, it was not a big seller. The S40 and v50 sold in much higher amounts.
This car, the upcoming C40, and the Polestar-2 share a lot of components and are within a reasonable price window of each other. Which is the best implementation given all the shared parts? It sounds like the XC40 software is lagging behind the Polestar version. How differently are the driving dynamics tuned?
Over-the-air updates should keep software similar. I think it's mostly just a style difference. The Polestar 2 looks more car-like, where this is for people who want a more conventional vehicle. The C40 looks the most EVish of the three.
They are identical cars outside of styling, fit, and finish. The Polestar would have you in a jam because who is the dealer and where is it serviced? The XC40 is also a ICE car, so it can be confused for one, whereas the C40 I think is only electric and has the coupe SUV styling. I doubt any has any software advantage over the other which is the main problem.
I don’t know about the drivetrain software, but the infotainment / head unit software is definitely not identical. They are visibly different in the videos. It seems like the Polestar version might be more functional at this time.
@@timefly4221 I'm looking at a different skin on the same operating system. I've fully played with my Volvo system, and although the Polestar has a different GUI, everything that's happening is identical to Volvo in regards to the center console and gauge console screens.
How do you get these 0-60 numbers? Fastest I find is 4.7 sec.
He times them.
My question ....Why a jack and tire iron but no spare tire .... Wasted space if you aren't going to have a spare tire.
GReat video is great as usual, build for the prices on these cars, build quality is very important. Even Volvo while built well, is not on par with the Japan brands, but is leaps ahead of Tesla. To me a sloppy built car is an indication of future reliability issues.
Always appreciate the complete reviews. Y if you have the $$$$
I'd rather get this than the Model Y. This has more character to it design wise than any new Tesla. And it has an interior I'd get used to, even if it has less range.
@@damilolaakanni Exactly why I got this over the Y.
The Y isn’t a nice car. Its a good car in terms of Tech but I got the recharge over the Y.
It's just about average as far as price, when the median car (pre-pandemic) was selling for close to $40k. If you can't afford a new car, or only an inexpensive one,by his is obviously not an option, but half of new car shoppers could afford it. At least in base trim.
The progression to full electric through plug-in hybrids makes so much more sense to me.
It would, except that making one with a decent electric range requires a fairly large battery. That plus the motors and whatnot (clutches, planetary gearset, voltage conversion) makes for an expensive car and not a simple conversion from a conventional model. You can see that with the price of the Toyota Prime range. They are not inexpensive.
@@markmiller3279 - A decent plug-in hybrid only requires about 50 miles of range - enough to cover a typical day's driving for most drivers. That's about 1/6 of the desired range for a full EV, and consequently 1/6 of the battery cost. Without doubt it's the most cost effective way to reduce emissions and to get maximum value out of limited battery production.
What is the meaning of the round dots shown when you describe the lenght of the vehicle? Is each one representing an inch?
Alex, I thought Google / Apple carplay was all done electronically, cordless? You just log in with your Google email address account and everything is on your car you don't need your phone in your car is what we were told on our test drive and experienced with the polestar? Am I missing what you mean by the car having Android auto and Apple carplay?
It doesn’t have Apple carplay. Be CAREFUL with what your salesperson tells you. Mine told me it had Apple CarPlay and XM radio but I found after I bought it that it doesn’t have any of that. Not the end of the world but just pisses me off that my salesman didn’t know about the Recharge being different from the gas XC40.
No, they aren't necessarily cordless. Only in the last couple of years have CarPlay and Android Auto supported a Bluetooth connection. Before that they needed a cable connection, and that's still true of many cars.
This car has its entire infotainment system running on "Android Automotive", which is a version of the Android operating system intended for running car infotainment systems. That's different from the similarly named "Android Auto", which just displays from your phone on the car's screen and passes back scrern input to the phone. That's much more basic, and uses the phone's processor, memory, etc. The new software runs on the car and doesn't even need a phone connected to it, though you would want to if you want to play music that's on the phone (or other media).
I like the look and function of this car, but the efficiency is unacceptably poor. 223 miles on a 75kWh is a bit under 3mi/kWh, which is really poor for a sub-compact crossover EV. Larger crossover EVs like the Mach E and Model Y get the same or better efficiency with more interior room. Other sub-compact EVs get much better real world efficiency. Maybe Volvo has rated their efficiency numbers for Nordic winters.
The build quality in Tesla should be better especially for what they cost.
Attractive styling. Bmw? You must be joking?