Volvo C40 vs XC40: What are the differences?

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The onslaught of all-electric cars continues apace, with companies in all corners of the automotive market introducing EVs at a rapid clip. Some of this behaviour can certainly be traced to declarations made by countries across the globe committing to a gasoline-free future, some as early as next decade. Better technology and longer range are also driving acceptance of EVs on a larger scale, as well.

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For its part, Volvo has recently introduced two new electric vehicles  –  the C40 Recharge and XC40 Recharge. To the jaundiced eye, these machines may seem like the same car, with the one bearing an ‘X’ prefix aimed at the lifestyle crowd. However, as with most things in life, the big picture is a bit more nuanced.

There’s little doubt the C40 Recharge and XC40 Recharge will appeal to different customer sets; Volvo probably wouldn’t be building both of them if that wasn’t the case. We dove into the weeds with these fraternal twins and came up with a bevy of reasons why buyers would select one over the other.

Powertrain

Both machines are based on the company’s Compact Modular Platform, a global mid-size unibody architecture shared with other brands in Volvo’s corporate household. Propulsion consists of twin electric motors, one on the front and one on the rear axle. This means the presence of all-wheel drive, something a few of its competitors cannot claim. Since its XC40 cousin was first marketed with gasoline-powered engines, the C40 is technically the first Volvo model in history designed as a pure all-electric vehicle.

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Volvo lists both machines as having a battery with 75kWh of usable energy, though the nominal measure is often given as 78kWh. The company’s own literature lists the same battery statistics for both cars, so any attempt to represent the C or XC as having more power than the other is just obfuscation. As for range, expect just north of 400 kilometres in either vehicle.

Speaking of power, both the C40 Recharge and XC40 Recharge have an ample supply, belting out a claimed 402 horsepower and nearly 490 lb-ft of torque. Both are estimated to scramble from rest to highway speeds in about 4.9 seconds, which makes sense given they weigh approximately the same. Filling the thing with electrons with a DC fast-charger should nudge the needle from ‘E’ to 80 per cent in roughly 45 minutes.

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Styling

Volvo describes the C40 Recharge as having “all the benefits of an SUV” but with a lower and sleeker design. If you’re thinking that sounds a bit like the German approach of introducing a crossover-type machine, only to graft a fastback-style roofline on the thing in an attempt to create a racier-looking version –  well, that’s not too far off the truth. Considering the C40 Recharge as a ‘coupified’ version of the XC40 is a pretty good stab at classification.

C40 Recharge shares some bodywork with the XC40, along with both its front doors. However, the rear features a striking design to pair with the lower roof line, while the front introduces a new face for electric Volvos and includes headlights with cutting edge pixel-technology.

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How much lower is that roofline? Shaving the ‘X’ from this model’s name also shaves 70mm (about 3 inches) of height, with the C40 standing 1582mm tall compared to 1652mm of the XC40. Length and width are all but identical, with listed differences of just 1mm and 6mm respectively. Weight is also similar, with both machines playing in the 2200kg ballpark depending on options. Interestingly, ground clearance isn’t yet listed for the C40 Recharge but there’s a solid chance it may be a few millimetres less than the XC40 Recharge.

Viewed side by each, the C40’s swoopy roofline gives the machine a sportier and less upright appearance compared to the XC40. If one is a training sneaker, the other is an old-school high top. The XC40, with its more traditionally SUV-like profile, deploys Volvo’s trademark tall taillights to good effect, with their illuminated tentacles standing clearly against each side of the rear glass. The C40’s steeper rake means these same lamps are not as noticeable at first blush. A spoiler of sorts also sprouts from the C40 hatch area, a feature not found on its XC40 cousin.

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Interior & Practicality

A common knock on ‘coupifying’ an SUV is the sacrifice made in cabin space for the sake of snazzier exterior styling. This trend continues with these two cars. Front headroom is listed as within a hair of each other but rear seat passengers will be unhappier in the C40, with about 440mm (1.7 inches) less headroom compared to the XC40. Legroom is identical in both cars. Cargo space takes something of a hit as well, with both the back and –  oddly –  frunk areas losing capacity in the swoopier C40.

Interestingly, the C40 Recharge is listed as being able to tow 1800kg while the XC40 Recharge only earns a 1500kg rating. Perhaps you can stow all the stuff you couldn’t fit in the C40’s compromised trunk area in a tow behind trailer. That’s being facetious, but only just. Despite its smaller overall roof area, the C can bear the same amount of weight up top as the XC: 75kg. The C40 interior will be bereft of materials like leather, choosing instead to craft a luxury atmosphere from textiles and carefully recycled material. A minimalist theme stretches throughout both the C and XC, with a large tablet-style infotainment screen dominating the cabin along with sleek vertical air vents and a thin row of buttons.

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Price

Canadian customers will find the all-electric XC40 Recharge bearing a sticker of $64,950 before options and destination. Final pricing of the pure electric C40 Recharge has yet to be released but it’s worth noting companies tend to charge more for less when creating a ‘coupe-like’ variant of an existing SUV. A price of $67,950 for the C wouldn’t be unsurprising.

Customer Types

So who’s more likely to buy which all-electric Volvo? Those who want a little more sport (at least in terms of styling) at the expense of some utility in their, erm, sport-utility vehicle will probably go for the C40 Recharge. It has a lower roofline and sleeker appearance than the XC40 Recharge, one likely to catch the eye of customers that wish to stand out a bit in the school pick-up line. Those loading antique finds (or hockey bags) on a weekly basis will probably end up in the boxier option.

LISTEN: A Truck Guy’s take on the electrification of the pickup

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