[vantablack]

Hi all, prospective buyer here.

I have some questions regarding using the app to control the car remotely.

Can I use the app to set the interior temperature without going out to the car? Like on a cold morning for example.

Can I use the app to set the interior temperature regardless of whether or not it is plugged in to a charger?

Has anyone camped inside their recharge?

Does anyone regret not buying another EV, ex. Model 3?

Thank you in advance.

 

[Paul1117]

First, I’m very happy I chose the XC40 Recharge over other EVs, primarily because of build quality and driving performance. The Volvo Cars app, however, has very few features at present, although I assume that will improve over time. You should be able to do some controlling of the cabin interior from the app, don’t count on it working consistently. The P8’s software platform is getting better, but it still needs much improvement.

 

[vantablack]

Ok, just wondering why that is a hard thing to accomplish. Setting the cabin temp remotely should be a no brainer.

 

[vantablack]

Another question for you Volvo vets:

Are you able to set a 'Schedule' for pre-heating the interior cabin temp?

I leave for work early, around 6am. Could I set the car to preheat starting at 545am daily, without doing some setting manually every day?

 

[Vatorney3]

Like said above, the VC app is limited but will improve over time. It has consistently worked well for me. You can pre-condition (run climate hvac) from the app, but it is currently factory-set to 72F degrees only -- whether plugged in or not.

 

[Vatorney3]

Another question for you Volvo vets:

Are you able to set a 'Schedule' for pre-heating the interior cabin temp?

I leave for work early, around 6am. Could I set the car to preheat starting at 545am daily, without doing some setting manually every day?

Yes, you can set a schedule (timer).

 

[Vatorney3]

Re: regret -- none at all. I have been extremely happy with my '21 Recharge P8 (knock-on-wood). I wanted to drive a solid, well-made car with a computer -- I can handle some SW glitches. I did not want to drive a computer (model 3).

 

[VinceC]

We also enjoy our XC40 Recharge for its styling, electric power, acceleration, and safety features, BUT many features such as remote climate control, schedule charging and CarPlay aren’t working yet. Hopefully Volvo and Google follow through and deliver these features.

 

[Paul1117]

Ok, just wondering why that is a hard thing to accomplish. Setting the cabin temp remotely should be a no brainer.

Perhaps the biggest mental adjustment I had to make with this car is that, for reasons better explained by others on this forum, EV software is more problematic, prone to bugs, etc. What would be a “no brainer “ in any other context, is a difficult in an EV.

 

[Vatorney3]

Ok, just wondering why that is a hard thing to accomplish. Setting the cabin temp remotely should be a no brainer.

Since it's already set at 72F, I guess that programming the SW so that there's more of an adjustment is a low priority.

 

[cav8tor]

I have had fairly good experience with the remote climate control and pre-conditioning. I have a bunch of timers set for weekly occurrence and they have all happened. Sometimes it will give me a fault trying to set one but if I quit the app and get back in it does it the next time. I would say there has been some consistent inconsistency in the reliability of the app. Big thing I found was having to allow all the data sharing for the app to work properly.

There was a comment on one of the Facebook XC40 groups I'm also on from someone that also had a Porsche Taycan. They said that if you took XC40 out of the posts it would be the same for the Taycan for software and its app. Tesla has been at this since 2008 so their app and software has much more time to get sorted out.

 

[vantablack]

Thanks for the replies.

Another question: I will have a dog in the back from time to time and am interested in a 'dog' mode of sorts. Is it possible to leave the climate controls on while your in a store? I.e. out of the car/front seat?

Similar question for climate controls and car-camping...

Again, thanks all.

 

[Greg S]

Thanks for the replies.

Another question: I will have a dog in the back from time to time and am interested in a 'dog' mode of sorts. Is it possible to leave the climate controls on while your in a store? I.e. out of the car/front seat?

Similar question for climate controls and car-camping...

Again, thanks all.

There is a “parking mode” on the climate control that I believe will keep it running for 30 minutes. Not sure whether any seats have to be occupied for it to work and/or whether it shuts off if you lock the doors. Would need to experiment!

 

[Vatorney3]

There is a “parking mode” on the climate control that I believe will keep it running for 30 minutes. Not sure whether any seats have to be occupied for it to work and/or whether it shuts off if you lock the doors. Would need to experiment!

Climate "parking mode" allows you to keep climate running for 30 minutes unoccupied after doors are locked.

 

[vantablack]

Climate "parking mode" allows you to keep climate running for 30 minutes unoccupied after doors are locked.

Are you able to extend that remotely from your phone if you can't get back within 30min?

 

[Welland canada recharge]

Are you able to extend that remotely from your phone if you can't get back within 30min?

Sure - just use the app on your phone and re-start it via the Now screen - or you can set a time via the app for when you want it to be ready.

 

[MMK]

Climate "parking mode" allows you to keep climate running for 30 minutes unoccupied after doors are locked.

Ditto on all - I never fail to activate the “parking mode” as soon as I step out of the car, lock it as usual, my fro eye errands are usually less than 30, so it’s perfectly comfortable at all times.

 

[vantablack]

Thanks all