Is less more?: Volvo XC40
That the Volvo XC40 Recharge made a lasting impression would be an understatement. When launched in 2022, it wasn’t just one of theveryfew luxury EVs tobe presentin the Indian market, itwas alsoquitewell-equipped —not just with features but power and range, too, enough to lure buyers to take electric propulsion seriously. Now, to widen the premium compact crossover SUV’s appeal, Volvo has introduced a new version of the XC40 Recharge —suffixed ‘E60’ —with fewer features, less power, andasa result, a lower price tag.

Volvo XC40 Recharge single motor review: Easy Going
Source Credit: Autocar India

What you see here is the new entry point to Volvo’s India range. This is the all-electric XC40 Recharge Single Motor and as the name spells out, it drops the price by dropping a motor. The Single Motor model features only a rear axle-mounted motor versus the Twin Motor, which has a motor at each axle. It’s got a smaller battery too and makes do with fewer features as well. For all the paring down, you’d expect it to be a whole lot more affordable than the Twin Motor, right? Well, your savings are only to the tune of Rs 3 lakh. Volvo sales executives would need to be at their A-game to steer a potential buyer from a Twin Motor to this Single Motor. But let’s judge the SUV for what it is.

Volvo XC40 Recharge single motor bookings open
Source Credit: Autocar India

Volvo Car India has started accepting bookings for the XC40 Recharge single motor variant against a token amount of Rs 1 lakh. Launched earlier this month, the XC40 Recharge single motor is priced at Rs 54.95 lakh, undercutting the all-wheel drive ‘Ultimate’ variant (Rs 57.9 lakh) by Rs 2.95 lakh.

Volvo XC40 Recharge Single motor bookings open
Volvo India has opened the booking of the XC40 Recharge Single exclusively online. Customers can log in to Volvo India’s official website and book the EV SUV at Rs 1 lakh. The XC40 Recharge is the third electric vehicle from Volvo which is being assembled at the Hosakote plant in Bengaluru, Karnataka, after the XC40 Recharge twin motors and the C40 Recharge. 

Car Review: Volvo XC40 Recharge (Single Motor) : Price steals the thunder
In Electric Cars, less can be more. TheVolvoXC40 Recharge (single motor) has one less motor, smaller battery, shorter range and slower acceleration than the twin-motor variant. That means a more efficient system (due to lower weight) and a far lower price (theoretically). While this Volvo is efficient (longer range per kWh of battery), its price is anything but lower (it starts at t 54.95, as compared to Rs.57.95 lakh for the twin-motor variant), I drove it around Delhi.

Volvo brings XC40 Recharge single motor variant to India at Rs 54.95 lakh

Volvo XC40 Recharge single motor launched at Rs 54.95 lakh
Source Credit: Autocar India

Volvo has launched a new variant of the XC40 Recharge with a single motor mounted to the rear axle. Officially called the E60, the variant is dubbed the ‘Plus’ on the Volvo India website and is priced at Rs 54.95 lakh, ex-showroom, India. It is positioned below the dual-motor, AWD XC40 Recharge E80 (Ultimate) that's priced at Rs 57.9 lakh, ex-showroom, India.

Volvo Car India launches new variant of XC40 Recharge at INR 54.95 lakh
New Delhi: Volvo Car India Thursday launched the single motor variant of XC40 Recharge at an introductory ex-showroom price of INR 54.95 lakh plus applicable taxes. Bookings for the XC40 Recharge will be exclusively online and can be done on the Volvo Car India Website. XC40 Recharge single motor is assembled at the Volvo facility in Hosakote, Bengaluru, along with the existing vehicle lineup. Pre-booking for the car has begun. Customers can pre-book their car at their nearest Volvo Car India business partner. After the success of XC40 Recharge launched in 2022, we are delighted to unveil its single motor variant- the XC40 Recharge. The vehicle has been strategically priced so as to increase our customer base as well as to showcase our continued commitment to grow the Indian EV market.

New nomenclature for Volvo C40 & XC40 Recharge to arrive in India only next year

Volvo XC40 and C40 Recharge EVs get new names: Drops ‘Recharge’ suffix

Volvo XC40, C40 EVs renamed as Recharge suffix retired
Source Credit: Autocar India

Volvo recently announced a new naming strategy for its XC40 Recharge and C40 Recharge crossovers, by naming them the EX40 and EC40, respectively. The company is doing this to bring it in line with its current and future EV line-up, which includes the EX30 and the EX90.

Over 17,000 Volvo XC40 to be recalled. Here's why?

Over 17,000 Volvo XC40 to be recalled. Here's why?

Volvo joins Mercedes and other luxury carmakers to hike prices of XC40, C40 Recharge among others from New Year
Volvo Car India offers two electric SUVs in India. The latest addition is the C40 Recharge, which was launched earlier this year. The carmaker had also introduced the XC40 Recharge a year earlier. Besides these two, Volvo also offers two more SUVs - the XC60 and XC90. There is also the S90 sedan with petrol mild-hybrid powertrain.

Volvo discontinues XC40 in India, will continue to sell all-electric version
Swedish carmaker Volvo has silently pulled the plug on the petrol version of the XC40 SUV in India. The model received a facelift in September 2022. The OEM, however, will continue to sell the all-electric avatar, the XC40 Recharge, in the country.

End of road for Volvo XC40 petrol in India?
Volvo has silently pulled the plug on the petrol-powered XC40 in India. As of now, the company’s official website lists only five models for the Indian market– four in the SUV lineup including XC40 Recharge, C40 Recharge, XC60, and XC90; and one sedan in the form of S90. 

Nearly Rs 7 lakh discount on Volvo XC40 Recharge, XC60 this Diwali! Check new price

BMW iX1 Vs Volvo XC40 Recharge Vs Kia EV6: Price, specs, features comparison
BMW launched the iX1 electric SUV in India which is based on the ICE-powered X1. Like the X1, the iX1 caters to the entry-level luxury SUV segment but in the battery-powered space. It competes against the likes of fully-electric luxury crossovers like Volvo XC40 Recharge and Kia EV6. Let us see how these three luxury EVs fare against each other.

BMW iX1 vs Volvo XC40 Recharge: Specs, range and price comparison
Source Credit: Sahil Kukreja, The Times of India

The Indian luxury EV space has witnessed the launch of two brand new offerings this month, first in the form of the Volvo C40 Recharge coupe e-SUV, and now the BMW iX1 - the Bavarian brand's most affordable electric car in India. With a similar price tag, the two luxury EVs will surely give competition to one another.

Here is a specifications and price comparison between the new BMW iX1 and the Volvo C40 Recharge to help you find out which one offers better value for your money -

Battery and electric motor specs
The BMW iX1 is equipped with a 66.4 kWh battery providing a range of 440 km on a single charge as per the WLTP test cycle. The electric SUV gets dual electric motors for AWD, producing a combined 309 hp and 494 Nm, helping it sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.6 seconds.