I've been driving a leased 2024 XC40 Recharge Twin Ultimate for 30 days now, and unfortunately, I can't fully recommend this car to others at this point.
For context, I traded in my 2019 Chevy Bolt because I wanted a slightly larger car with all-wheel drive. I also found the Bolt to be both fragile (had a couple of repairs that, in my opinion, should not have been necessary) and a bit harsh on bumpy roads.
What I Like About the XC40 Recharge
The Drive – This was one of the top reasons I chose the XC40 over others like the Mach-E or Model Y. There’s a distinct smoothness, quietness, and sense of power that I really enjoyed compared to the others during test drives. The one-pedal driving has been great—far superior to both the Chevy Bolt and the Tesla Model Y.
Visibility – I loved the look of the C40 more than the XC40, but the visibility in the latter is so much better. The rear window provides excellent visibility, and the side mirrors and blind spot monitoring have worked well so far. There’s still a bit of a blind spot in the back, but that’s true for most SUVs (and was also true in my Bolt).
Interior Look and Feel – Many new EVs try too hard with either a "space age" interior (Kia), too minimalist a design (Tesla), or too complex (Nissan Ariya). The XC40’s interior is elegant and strikes the right balance between buttons and screen functionality, making it mostly easy to navigate. I also appreciate the sunroof and the bright feel inside, despite the dark interior coloring.
Comfort – The seats have been quite comfortable, especially compared to the Chevy Bolt, where they really skimped on comfort and functionality.
App – I don’t have much to compare it to since I didn’t really use the Bolt app, but I do like the simplicity of this one, especially the notification it sends if the door is unlocked. I’m sure the app could do more, and I imagine people will have opinions about what it should offer in the future.
What I Wish the XC40 Recharge Had
Heads-Up Display – The Ford Mach-E offers a heads-up display, which I found really useful for navigation, speed, and even controlling the radio. I believe other Volvo models have this feature, and it’s a big miss not having it in the XC40.
Wireless CarPlay Connectivity – The Mach-E also has this feature. In this day and age, I shouldn’t have to fumble with USB cables, which clutter the interior and will eventually need to be replaced. I imagine wireless connectivity is buggy in many cars, but I’d still like to have that option.
Digital Driver Display – The screen behind the steering wheel appears to only replicate the navigation system. There should be more display options, like showing media information, charging conditions, or other data. Most other cars display more than just navigation.
Start Button – Having to put the car in reverse or drive to start it is kind of silly. More often than not, I find myself putting the car in reverse or drive, then shifting to park to get situated before shifting gears again. I’d also like the ability to turn off the car without having to open the door.
What I Don’t Like About the XC40 Recharge
Hitting the Play Button for Media – When switching between Sirius XM, the radio, or CarPlay, you have to hit the play button to start the media. Switching between apps shouldn’t require hitting play again.
Cameras – This is probably the worst aspect of the XC40, especially compared to the Chevy Bolt, which had excellent cameras and sensors.
Hands-Free Liftgate – When trying to activate the hands-free liftgate by kicking under the trunk, it’s been very inconsistent, working less often than not. We’ve had better results with this feature on a Honda CR-V.
Keyless Lock – I love this feature on any car and used it all the time on the Bolt. However, on the XC40, it’s a bit inconsistent—I sometimes have to touch it more than once to get it to work. It should be more reliable.
The Ugly of the Volvo XC40 Recharge
In another post, I outlined an ongoing issue with my XC40 surging forward when I first put the car in reverse in our driveway, which is on a decline. I’ve been working with the dealer and Volvo Customer Service to see if this can be fixed. It’s an unusual, annoying, and potentially dangerous problem that should be addressed ASAP.
The Takeaway
Do I regret leasing the XC40? Well, I believe it was the best choice at the time when I test-drove the Ford Mach-E, Tesla Model Y, Nissan Ariya, and Kia EV6. I intend to share my wishlist and dislikes with Volvo Customer Service to see if there are things they might address through software updates—and to potentially have them consider these points for future iterations of the EX40.
For other new or experienced XC40 Recharge owners/leasees, what are your likes, dislikes, and wish list items? Can you share insights on the issues I’ve mentioned that might improve my experience or that of other drivers?
For context, I traded in my 2019 Chevy Bolt because I wanted a slightly larger car with all-wheel drive. I also found the Bolt to be both fragile (had a couple of repairs that, in my opinion, should not have been necessary) and a bit harsh on bumpy roads.
What I Like About the XC40 Recharge
The Drive – This was one of the top reasons I chose the XC40 over others like the Mach-E or Model Y. There’s a distinct smoothness, quietness, and sense of power that I really enjoyed compared to the others during test drives. The one-pedal driving has been great—far superior to both the Chevy Bolt and the Tesla Model Y.
Visibility – I loved the look of the C40 more than the XC40, but the visibility in the latter is so much better. The rear window provides excellent visibility, and the side mirrors and blind spot monitoring have worked well so far. There’s still a bit of a blind spot in the back, but that’s true for most SUVs (and was also true in my Bolt).
Interior Look and Feel – Many new EVs try too hard with either a "space age" interior (Kia), too minimalist a design (Tesla), or too complex (Nissan Ariya). The XC40’s interior is elegant and strikes the right balance between buttons and screen functionality, making it mostly easy to navigate. I also appreciate the sunroof and the bright feel inside, despite the dark interior coloring.
Comfort – The seats have been quite comfortable, especially compared to the Chevy Bolt, where they really skimped on comfort and functionality.
App – I don’t have much to compare it to since I didn’t really use the Bolt app, but I do like the simplicity of this one, especially the notification it sends if the door is unlocked. I’m sure the app could do more, and I imagine people will have opinions about what it should offer in the future.
What I Wish the XC40 Recharge Had
Heads-Up Display – The Ford Mach-E offers a heads-up display, which I found really useful for navigation, speed, and even controlling the radio. I believe other Volvo models have this feature, and it’s a big miss not having it in the XC40.
Wireless CarPlay Connectivity – The Mach-E also has this feature. In this day and age, I shouldn’t have to fumble with USB cables, which clutter the interior and will eventually need to be replaced. I imagine wireless connectivity is buggy in many cars, but I’d still like to have that option.
Digital Driver Display – The screen behind the steering wheel appears to only replicate the navigation system. There should be more display options, like showing media information, charging conditions, or other data. Most other cars display more than just navigation.
Start Button – Having to put the car in reverse or drive to start it is kind of silly. More often than not, I find myself putting the car in reverse or drive, then shifting to park to get situated before shifting gears again. I’d also like the ability to turn off the car without having to open the door.
What I Don’t Like About the XC40 Recharge
Hitting the Play Button for Media – When switching between Sirius XM, the radio, or CarPlay, you have to hit the play button to start the media. Switching between apps shouldn’t require hitting play again.
Cameras – This is probably the worst aspect of the XC40, especially compared to the Chevy Bolt, which had excellent cameras and sensors.
- The cameras should display both the overhead and front/rear camera views simultaneously. The upper part of the screen, which shows only an image of the car, is a wasted opportunity.
- When moving in or out of a parking space, the car should automatically switch from the rearview camera to the front view once you’ve backed up and started moving forward. It should also show both overhead and front/rear views simultaneously.
- The fisheye camera has a distorted and limited view compared to the Bolt and other cars I’ve driven with front and rear cameras. These cameras are a crucial safety feature and should be significantly better.
- The overhead camera has a distorted view, particularly around the sides of the car. It’s hard to describe, but it was much better in the Chevy Bolt.
- When reversing, the camera should always override (come on/appear) anything else on the infotainment system. It doesn’t, especially when using CarPlay, which is a major flaw.
Hands-Free Liftgate – When trying to activate the hands-free liftgate by kicking under the trunk, it’s been very inconsistent, working less often than not. We’ve had better results with this feature on a Honda CR-V.
Keyless Lock – I love this feature on any car and used it all the time on the Bolt. However, on the XC40, it’s a bit inconsistent—I sometimes have to touch it more than once to get it to work. It should be more reliable.
The Ugly of the Volvo XC40 Recharge
In another post, I outlined an ongoing issue with my XC40 surging forward when I first put the car in reverse in our driveway, which is on a decline. I’ve been working with the dealer and Volvo Customer Service to see if this can be fixed. It’s an unusual, annoying, and potentially dangerous problem that should be addressed ASAP.
The Takeaway
Do I regret leasing the XC40? Well, I believe it was the best choice at the time when I test-drove the Ford Mach-E, Tesla Model Y, Nissan Ariya, and Kia EV6. I intend to share my wishlist and dislikes with Volvo Customer Service to see if there are things they might address through software updates—and to potentially have them consider these points for future iterations of the EX40.
For other new or experienced XC40 Recharge owners/leasees, what are your likes, dislikes, and wish list items? Can you share insights on the issues I’ve mentioned that might improve my experience or that of other drivers?
