Volvo C40 vs Volvo XC40: Which One Wins?

Electric vehicles are a constantly growing market. Potential customers have lots of options. Volvo has long been at the forefront of automobile safety, which extends fully to its electric vehicle lineup. The C40 Recharge and XC40 Recharge score highly on general reliability and safety. That said, how do these EVs stack up against each other? Let’s take a closer look at Volvo C40 vs VolvoXC40, specifically their specs, key differences, and their performance.

Volvo C40 vs Volvo XC40: Side-by-Side Comparison

Both vehicles have quite a bit in common. Given the similar purpose and use case for each EV, it isn’t too surprising to see such commonalities.

Volvo C40 vs Volvo XC40: What’s the Difference?

These vehicles are shockingly similar, even down to the actual dimensions of the vehicles. Some subtle differences exist but are almost invisible at first glance. Let’s explore the difference between these EVs in detail.

Performance

The Volvo C40 boasts 402 horsepower and can drive 226 miles on a single charge under nominal conditions. Acceleration is relatively swift on the C40 and is more than ready for most daily driving tasks. It has slightly more range than the XC40 Recharge, but not by much. This extends to the DC Fast Charging times, which sees the C40 Recharge take an estimated 37 minutes from 0% to 80%. It also uses the fairly standard J1772 charging adapter for home charging purposes.

The Volvo XC40 boasts the same 402 horsepower as the C40 Recharge but has a slightly smaller operational range of 223 miles on a single charge. This difference is quite scant, but most other things are pretty similar in this regard. It takes 37 minutes to charge from 0 to 80% and uses the same J1772 charging adapter for home charging. By all accounts, they are functionally identical for daily driving tasks.

Infotainment and Interior Systems

A traditional instrument cluster and gear shifter are present in the C40 Recharge. If you’re accustomed to driving a gasoline-powered car, the adjustment period for the C40 will be minimal. Also present are built-in Google services, meaning you can access Google Maps, Voice, Assistant, and the Play Store. This doesn’t require a smartphone to take advantage of the functionality, but there is support for Android Auto and Apple CarPlay if needed. The center infotainment panel is modestly sized on the C40 Recharge but is clear and easy to navigate.

The XC40 Recharge features the same instrument cluster and gear shifter as the C40 Recharge. As such, you should be looking at the same general adjustment period. As is standard with the Volvo EV line, you’ll find the same full complement of Google Services for your EV. The interior infotainment panel is functionally identical and relatively swift and intuitive. The C40 and XC40 Recharge feature leather-less interior upholstery, a first from Volvo.

Interior and Exterior Capacity

Looking at the spec sheets, not much difference size-wise between the two vehicles. You’d be correct in that assumption, but subtle differences exist in their dimensions. And these can lead to drastically different capacities for the interior passengers.

The C40 has more front headroom but lesser rear headroom. This makes it more cramped for your passengers in the back. Legroom between the C40 Recharge and XC40 Recharge is identical and relatively spacious. Cargo capacity is similar, with the C40 Recharge having 15 cubic feet of storage and the XC40 Recharge having 16 cubic feet. That extra cubic foot of storage space does account for more room for groceries and supplies you might need.

Additional Features

The C40 Recharge features driver assistance features to keep you and your passengers safe on the road. This EV has lane-keeping assists and automated emergency braking. Higher trim levels also bring lane-centering and adaptive cruise control. C40 Recharge performed exceptionally well in crash testing. It also features a decent warranty, with a battery cover of eight years or up to 100,000 miles.

The same safety features are present on the XC40 Recharge. You’ll find automated driver safety features, including adaptive cruise control at higher trim levels. The warranty featured for the C40 Recharge is also applicable to XC40 Recharge. As such, you’ll have a guaranteed battery replacement within 100,000 miles or eight years and a powertrain replacement within 50,000 miles or four years.

Volvo C40 vs Volvo XC40: Must-Know Facts

• The C40 Recharge uses the same chassis and interior as the XC40 Recharge
• The C40 Recharge is capable of 0 to 60 miles per hour within 4.3 seconds
• The C40 Recharge receives a combined 87 miles per gallon equivalent for highway and city driving
• The XC40 Recharge is capable of hitting 60 miles per hour within 4.3 seconds
• XC40 has a slightly stiffer handling due to the extra weight
• The XC40 Recharge has a combined 98 miles per gallon equivalent for highway and city driving

Volvo C40 vs Volvo XC40: Which One is Better? Which One Should You Choose?

Both EVs are functionally identical, so which one is the better choice? Given their similar feature sets and functionality, you might be better off with the XC40 Recharge. You get slightly less range, comparable acceleration, and more cargo capacity. Not to mention, it’s cheaper than the C40 Recharge.

While C40 Recharge is a marvelous EV, it seems superfluous considering what the XC40 Recharge brings to the table. It may ditch the traditional Volvo stylings of yesteryear but has no significant edge over the XC40 Recharge. It may have sleeker styling but has a lesser cargo capacity and costs more.

If you’re looking for a safe and reliable EV, it is hard to go wrong with either. The XC40 is a better choice overall, with the base model costing $5,000 less than the C40 Recharge. It also makes an excellent choice for your first EV, and its performance is similar to any gasoline-powered vehicle today. If you can test both cars, you can make an informed decision.