It’s been a quarter of a century since Volvo last sold a rear-wheel drive car. For the 2023 model year, RWD is back, but this time there’s no combustion engine. The updated XC40 and C40 Recharge models are offered with not one but two RWD versions featuring a different electric motor and battery. The base model has 235 hp (175 kW) with a 69-kWh package while the more expensive version packs 248 hp (185 kW) and an 82-kWh battery.
Both RWD models will achieve 0 to 62 mph (100 km/h) in 7.4 seconds and top out at 100 mph (160 km/h). Sticking to the base version with a smaller battery gives you a range of 460 kilometers in a WLTP cycle and 240 miles per EPA for the XC40 while its slimmer siblings can cover 470 km and 245 miles respectively. Opt for the larger package and range shoots up to 520 kilometers and 270 miles for the conventionally shaped electric crossover while the C40 Recharge can cover 530 kilometers and 275 miles.
Volvo says the 69-kWh battery can be charged from 10 to 80 percent in about 34 minutes from a 130-kW DC public charger. The larger battery pack can charge up to 200 kW (up from 150 kW previously), in which case going from 10 to 80 percent should take about 28 minutes.
The dual-motor XC40 and C40 Recharge models get an 82-kWh battery and will do WLTP certification of 500 kilometers for the former and 510 kilometers for the latter. For 2023MY, improved battery cooling implemented by Volvo engineers has increased the range to 60 kilometers for the XC40 Recharge AWD.
Elsewhere, the 2023 model year comes with a new design of 19-inch wheels made with aerodynamic efficiency in mind by reducing drag.
As a final note, Volvo is installing a new two-phase onboard charger in the plug-in hybrid models of the 60 and 90 Series that doubles the maximum charging power to 6.4 kW.
