Volvo XC40 or XC40 Recharge? Which is Right for You?
November 23 2022,
If you are looking for a small premium SUV, you will have noticed that Volvo offers both the mild-hybrid XC40 and the fully electric XC40 Recharge. Since these two models are almost identical and offer many of the same benefits, it might be difficult to make a choice. Here are the reasons why one or the other might be better for you.
Driving in the city
If most of your drives are on urban roads or short bursts of highway driving, the XC40 Recharge could be a great way for you to reduce your vehicle spending and your carbon footprint. Indeed, electric vehicles are at their best in city driving because they don’t burn through their energy reserve when they are stopped in traffic or at intersections, which is where gasoline engines are the least efficient. With a range of up to 359 kilometres, this means that the XC40 Recharge can complete all of your daily commutes without having to be plugged in for days or even weeks at a time. In addition, the regenerative braking capabilities of electric motors reduce the wear on the braking system that is usually linked to city driving Combined with the elimination of fuel costs from your budget, choosing an XC40 Recharge could make you save more than you expect.
Making long highway trips
If you regularly need to make long trips on the highway, the gasoline-powered Volvo XC40 could be a better choice for you. This is because driving at high speeds depletes an electric vehicle’s battery faster than city driving while highway drives are also where gasoline engines are at their peak efficiency. This is because the speed remains constant for long periods, thus requiring less fuel to accelerate and creating fewer situations where gasoline is wasted at idle. In addition, the mild-hybrid powertrain found in every XC40 combines a small battery and an electric motor to help the gasoline engine propel the vehicle while using less fuel. Choosing this model will also make you benefit from a longer total range, which means you will have to stop less often and for shorter periods than with an XC40 Recharge.
