Volvo’s first ever production electric car, the XC30 Recharge is also the first model to spearhead an entire new line of cars in the future lineup of the Swedish carmaker.
To put it simply, every model from the Recharge lineup will feature some type of electrical assistance. This includes both plug-in hybrids and fully electric cars, as Volvo plans to grow to the Recharge line to engulf 50 percent of the carmaker’s global sales by 2025, with the rest being hybrids.

In fact, the XC40 Recharge is only the first of many, with 5 more fully electric cars being launched until 2025, one every year. Starting with 2020, every Volvo Recharge model, whether a plug-in hybrid or fully electric, will come with free electricity for a year, provided through a cash refund for the average electricity cost during the period. The XC40 Recharge is largely identical design-wise with the regular XC40, with the main differences being in the lack of a functional engine grille and lack of tail pipes. Its passengers can benefit from an Android-powered infotainment system, the first of its kind. With an output of 408 hp, an all-wheel-drive powertrain and a lithium-ion battery that can be charged to 80 percent of its capacity in 40 minutes on a fast-charger system, the XC40 Recharge of more than 400 km (249 miles).

In 2017, Volvo successfully launched its smallest SUV: the XC40.
The Swedish car-manufacturer decided to launch its small SUV in Milan, Italy, considered to be the world’s fashion capital.

The new model was jointly developed with Geely, the Chinese brand that owns Volvo Car Company. The new Volvo XC40 was the first model on Volvo Cars’ new modular vehicle architecture (CMA), which was also used for other new, electrified, vehicles.

On the outside, there are some lines that might remember of those found in older Volvo models, with straight lines and flat surfaces. The compact size was important in the battle against its main rivals such as the Audi Q3 or the BMW X3. It was Volvo’s intelligent Swedish design that made it look different.

Inside, due to an unusually long wheelbase for its compact size, it could accommodate up to five passengers. The dashboard was covered with expensive materials, with a soft touch. The driver got a standard digital display for the instrument cluster and a big, portrait-type, touch-screen for the infotainment system.

For the engine compartment, the XC 40 was available from the beginning with three gasoline choices and two diesel. A plug-in hybrid came later, in 2019 and it was followed by a full-electric model afterward. The base trim models featured a 6-speed manual transmission, although on the upper trim levels an automatic was available. Some versions were available with an all-wheel-drive system.