Testfahrt
Extremely well-crafted driver's car, but let down by the infotainment system
The XC40 Recharge exudes craftsmanship. The fit of the doors, the ride of the car, the absolute absence of any sort of chassis noise in response to any manner of bump just scream that this car was built with peerless precision. The suede on the seats, the leather elsewhere and even the plastics are all top-notch. It immediately feels like a high-end car.
On the road, the car is super engaging to drive. Acceleration is potent and explosive, and the handling feel superb. It reminds me of a larger, more solid MINI Cooper. The size of the car feels a step smaller than Mustang Mach E/ID.4 and larger than the Kona EV.
The biggest drag is that the Android Automotive infotainment system feels semi-finished. The Android home screen is very empty, and has few features, and there is one sub-menu that accesses all the Volvo features, which aren't especially clear how to reach. The 360° camera was like looking through a swimming pool (100% a software issue). It just felt like two half-systems shoved together.