The Volvo C40 Recharge is a brand-new Volvo coupe/crossover SUV based on the existing XC40 platform. It is more or less a Volvo XC40 but has been completely electrified and redesigned to look sleeker and more streamlined. With more than 400hp, the C40 is one of the most powerful Volvo SUVs to ever come out.
As far as reliability is concerned, we really don’t have too many complaints as the C40 is more or less a brand-new car. However, there are some electrical issues, charging issues, Apple CarPlay, and safety system issues we need to talk about. Up until now, it seems like these issues aren’t overly serious and that most of them are/will be taken care of in no time.
Some say that the C40 Recharge is/is going to suffer from pretty much the same plethora of issues as in the normal XC40 as these share a lot of parts with each other. Be that as it may, the C40 Recharge does seem like one of the coolest Volvo SUVs to ever come out which is why you should indeed consider it if you like Volvo’s take on luxury and styling.
All in all, the C40 is a fairly reliable car (up until now) and it is likely going to be better as most issues are surrounding the software side of things.
Volvo C40 – Electrical Issues
The Volvo C40 comes with numerous electrical features, some of which are designed to keep you safe while others are designed to keep you comfortable. For example, it comes with built-in Google assistant which is one of the best voice recognition systems in the business, but a few owners have complained that the system can misinterpret what you are saying and select a completely different option.
As the C40 comes with a no push to start button, some owners said that the car didn’t engage when they turned it into drive and wanted to pull off. The dashboard illuminates and everything seems to be fine, but the wheels are not getting any power.
Other electrical issues include problems with the BECM (battery energy control module) which causes the car to lock its brakes and shuts it off. This is an issue common across multiple EV/hybrid Volvo cars.
Volvo C40 – Charging Issues
As far as the process of charging is concerned, a few owners complained that the car is charging way too slowly, so much so that the car has only gained about 60% of charge in over 15 hours. Some say that this issue can be resolved by rebooting the Volvo-supplied EVSE charger, but this is not a complete fix as this issue can happen afterward as well.
Others reported that the charging status fails to display on the center screen which can be a nuisance while charging from the get-go. However, this is not as common and it can usually be resolved by plugging in the charger again.
Volvo C40 – Safety System Issues
Volvo cars are known to be some of the safest cars on the roads these days which makes sense as Volvo was the pioneer of many of the world’s most prominent in-car safety systems such as seat belts. However, the issue here is not associated with the seatbelts, but rather with software safety features that can fail occasionally.
For example, the lane keep assist feature is known to sometimes not be able to identify the lanes, even if the lanes are clearly marked. The front collision avoidance system can also often be a bit too sensitive for most people as it can beep at you even if you are just driving in regular bumper-to-bumper traffic.
Volvo C40 – Apple CarPlay Issues
Some owners of the Volvo C40 reported trouble with the car’s Apple CarPlay system which just fails to boot when you want it. Moreover, Apple CarPlay is also known to sometimes disconnect for no apparent reason. Both of these issues can only be resolved by restarting the car and re-connecting the system again.
FAQ Section
Should I buy a Volvo C40 Recharge?
If you like Volvo styling and how they approach designing and making luxury cars, you are likely going to enjoy the new C40 Recharge. It looks better than the XC40 because it has a cleaner look at the front and a much more modern and youthful rear end. Thanks to a coupe-ish sloping roofline, the C40 is attracting a lot more attention than the XC40.
Be that as it may, the C40 is a relatively expensive car which means that you can buy a very well-equipped XC40 Recharge for the entry price of the C40. This is rather common as fully electric cars do come at a premium. As such, if you like it, there is no reason not to buy the C40.
How much range does the Volvo C40 offer?
Underneath the floor of the C40 lies a decent 75kWh battery with enough range to give you around 225 miles of range on a full charge. Volvo estimated that a fully charged C40 can do 270 miles, but real-world tests have shown it to be good for about 220-230 miles.
All in all, this is an okay range, but it isn’t nearly as good as some of its competitors. For a spot of context, the Tesla Model Y can do 330 miles on a full charge which is a decent upgrade over the C40. The Hyundai Ioniq 5 can also do more than 300 which is also the case for the Kia EV6.
Does the Volvo C40 come with a phone app?
As is the case with most modern-day EVs, the Volvo 40 also comes with a phone app that can control pretty much every part of the driving experience. The provided app can be used to remotely start the car up, pre-heat, or pre-cool the car when needed, and it can always tell you where the car is and can give you a short status update on your range.
Moreover, it houses all the necessary instruction manuals and various shortcuts for booking your services.
