I drove Volvo’s XC40 Recharge – it’s an EV that’s a pleasure to drive and recent tweaks have made it even smarter

YOU’D never guess from looking at it but Volvo’s best-selling motor has been updated.

Not the usual facelift. That was last year.

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The entry-level XC40 Recharge has switched from front-wheel drive to old-school rear-wheel drive.

But don’t get too excited, this is all to do with greater efficiency and not tail-happy Scandinavian flicks.

Basically it is more economical to push an electric car from the rear axle rather than pull one from the front axle.

Range is increased by a useful 24 miles to 290 miles and power is up 7hp to 238hp thanks to a clever new motor developed in-house by the Swedish firm.

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What’s not increased, at least at this end of the XC40 offering, is the capacity of the 69kWh battery which is capped at 130kW rate of charge.

And neither has the price.

Well, not by very much anyway.

The premium for these useful improvements no one can see and most won’t necessarily notice is £755.

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The drive to eke out every ounce of extractable efficiency here has also resulted in a new standard-fit 19in alloy wheel design which reduces drag while on the move.

They’re predictably not the sexiest of rims, and therefore won’t be breaking Instagram, but every little helps in the energy-conservation department.

An intelligent choice that just got smarter.

Since arriving in 2020, the base XC40 Recharge is a pleasure to drive, and with rear-wheel drive this has now marginally improved.

Once you climb in and get going ­– without needing to start it by pressing anything so old-fashioned as a button – you will immediately notice there are no pre-set driving modes to toggle through either.

Volvo’s silent surveillance of its drivers’ habits proves that most of us never bother to use them anyway.

That said, you can tinker with the weight of the steering and firmness of the suspension via separate toggles on the Google-powered upright screen.

The car is tailored to young families and you get large portions of image and practicality in a premium SUV that is well screwed together and promises a safe EV investment . . . as well as actual safety, of course.

Refined ride, relative roominess, soberly-intellectual interior features while packing easily enough performance if you’re late on the school run (compared to its bizarrely ballistic, 408hp, dual-motor, 4WD Twin Recharge that is much less protective of your driving licence).

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If it wasn’t already, the XC40 Recharge really must be on your radar.

It’s an intelligent choice that’s got a little smarter still.

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