2022 Volvo XC40 Electric pricing: Single-motor variant confirmed

The entry cost to Volvo’s fully electric XC40 has dropped to $72,990 with the introduction of a new variant that features a smaller battery and a single motor.

Volvo’s front-wheel-drive XC40 Recharge Pure Electric joins the dual-motor, all-wheel-drive version that launched last August as the company’s first fully electric vehicle and sold out of its 2021 allocation within weeks.

The “MY23” range update also brings a price change for the Twin Recharge, which increases from $76,990 to $79,990.

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Upgrades specific to the twin-motor XC40 are Pixel LED headlights, new wheels and sustainable upholstery that switches from leather-accented seats.

All electric XC40 models will gain a new front bumper design, a frameless grille plate, revised finishes for the headlamp surrounds, and new rear bumper inserts.

Both Pure Electrics share a high equipment level based around the company’s R-Design grade. Wheel size will be one of the only variations, with the single-motor model featuring 19-inch rather than 20-inch rims.

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There’s a marked difference in range and performance.

The base Pure Electric uses a 69kWh battery powering a single front electric motor with outputs of 170kW and 330Nm. Volvo quotes 7.4 seconds for the 0-100km/h acceleration run and the company is anticipating a WLTP-rated ddriving driving range of about 380km.

The existing Twin Pure Electric incorporates a larger 78kWh battery, with an electric motor on both the front and rear axles producing a combined 300kW/660Nm.

Volvo says the AWD electric XC40 accelerates from 0-100km/h in 4.9 seconds and it has a maximum WLTP-rated range of 418km.

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Volvo Australia says the more affordable, single-motor model will help it respond to “unprecedented” customer demand.

It will be comforting news for a brand that has committed to selling only electric vehicles from 2030.

A coupe-style twin to the XC40, called the C40 Recharge (see our review video below), will join the range in late 2022.

Volvo Australia’s managing director, Stephen Connor, believes 15,000 annual sales is achievable for the company soon – despite being set to miss out on its 10,000-unit target for 2021 amid a record year.

“We have secured a minimum of 20 per cent production growth for 2022 and we will continue to push for even more production to meet the demand of the brand,” said Connor. “If our factories can keep up, then our volumes will hit 15,000 units in the near future.”