WeeklySA_Admin2025 VOLVO XC40 RECHARGE: A thoughtfully designed all-electric offering from the Swedish manufacturer which now comes in rear-wheel drive and improved battery range
By Ali Mphaki
Addiction as generally described by those in the know is a chronic dysfunction of the brain system that involves reward, motivation, and memory. To drive the message home just think of the Nyaope crew and how they are unable stay away from the substance or stop their addictive behavior and or their lack of concern over consequences.
You sometimes have to spare a thought for the urchins, especially when the craving is at peak, their characteristic cap in hand cry to spare them a dime (noma yini in isiZulu) coming into play as they harangue and cajole you to do something with your pockets in their compulsive and obsessive pursuit to get their ‘fix”.
Now imagine a car with no petrol engine or starter button, either. You simply get in the car, toggle its neat little gear selector into D, and go. No noise either, or the cantankerous sound of petrol/diesel engine. All quiet.
Floor it and you’ll get an intoxicating thrill. It zooms from 0 – 100km/h in an awesome hot-hatch speed of 7.3 seconds, more than enough to get you into trouble with boys/girls with blue lights.. Sure it can be a bit intimidating at first, especially if you an EV virgin, but you’ll soon adjust. Unwittingly, this is where the addiction starts.
What is it?
Never mind that it would soon be rebadged to EX40 to better align with Volvo’s EV naming strategy, the 2025 Volvo XC40 Recharge whilst retaining the XC40 formula that first debuted in 2017, is a chic compact electric SUV which is offered in either the Single Motor model (which we had for test recently) and the Twin Motor all-wheel drive version.
There’s no major changes to its styling or drivetrains apart from a mild refresh and a new Google-powered infotainment system from 2023, the base XC40 Recharge model moving from front-wheel drive to rear-wheel drive whilst also gaining a new battery for improved range.
Using a 69kWha li-ion battery pack, the Single Motor is geared for up to 400 kilometres, with charging times of 34 minutes using DC fast-charging or 7hrs at homeess than 50 minutes to reach the 100 percent battery capacity mark..
Inside:
Whilst the Volvo XC40 Recharge boasts a spacious, open and airy cabin, typical of the quality associated with the Swedish brand, it retains a significant relic from the past – a cigarette lighter. Kikikiki! (another addiction).
A smart looking digital instrument cluster is all you see in the minimalistic dashboard, the textile trimmed seats with several electric adjustment offering a comfortable seating which is not exactly Bakos Brothers cushion like, but neither Ellerines or Town Talk inspired. Impressive is the 9.0-inch portrait-oriented centre touchscreen, the chunky Volvo steering wheel with a smooth leather rim, the row of buttons beneath the touchscreen, as well as the window switches in the doors adds to its relaxed and modern ambience.
It being tall and boxy, the Volvo XC40 offers a practical rear cabin and with loads of glasshouse no boredom for the children as they peer at the passing landscape etc. Smaller kids are also catered for with ISOFIX anchor points on the outboard rear seat positions.
If the pudding is in the eating, the XC40 Volvo Recharge is an agreeable companion which is easy to manoeuvre through traffic and city streets and isn’t intimidating to park thanks to its good outward visibility even though the reversing camera can be termed average, Though with a detectable heavy weighting to the steering and a hint of tyre roar at high speed, it is a quiet ride. You can opt to drive the vehicle using a single pedal driving mode and it can still drive like a normal XC40.
Volvo’s driver assistance technologies like The Pilot Assist function, adaptive cruise and lane centring for semi-autonomous driving on the highway and during traffic jams, standard blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert etc,…the XC40 will even brake to mitigate a collision when reversing out of tight parking spaces if you can’t see the crossing traffic.
Using a 69kWha li-ion battery pack, the Single Motor is geared for up to 485 kilometres, with charging times of 34 minutes using DC fast-charging or 7hrs at home, enough to deplete your prepaid electricity! It consumers 18.3 kWh/100km.
With a Euro NCAP five star rating it comes with 7 airbags including the driver’s knee and wait for it, a 97 percent adult occupation protection rating..
With this and more, is it a surprise that I am hooked?
Thing is it would cost me from R1, 108 and up to R1 209 000 (for the Volvo Recharge Twin Motor) to get my fix, though I still get a 5-year/100 000 km vehicle warranty and an 8-year/160 000 battery warranty. Service is scheduled every 32, 000 kilometres or 24 months, whilst Volvo is also offering new EV owners two years of free public charging – a R12 000 voucher linked to GridCars.
Motoring: Briefs
UP AND DOWN
South Africa’s rand rose to its highest level against the US dollar in nearly three months on Thursday, March 6. This comes as concerns grow over President Donald Trump’s tariff policies, which are fueling fears of a prolonged global trade war that could harm economic growth and increase inflation.
Coupled with a stronger rand in recent days, it spells potential good news for South Africa’s motorists. Below, the latest projections as received by The South African website from the Central Energy Fund (CEF), effective Tuesday, March 4. If the market conditions were to remain consistent for the remainder of the month – an unlikely scenario with the rand/dollar exchange rate fluctuating and the oil price ever changing – a decrease of 70 cents is expected for petrol 93 octane motorists and a decrease of 83 cents for 95 users. Meanwhile, diesel motorists would see something between a 76 and 79 cents per litre increase. Finally, illuminating paraffin is expected to drop by 70 cents in price.
TESLA IN SA?
Tesla will not launch its cars in South Africa until the country reduces its import taxes on electric vehicles (EVs). That is according to Cars.co.za journalist Ciro de Siena, citing feedback from the National Automobile Association of South Africa (Naamsa) CEO Mikel Mabasa.
“He had met with Tesla representatives and they categorically stated that they won’t set up shop in SA until that EV tax is dropped,” De Siena recently posted on X. The EV tax De Siena referred to is the additional 25% duty that applies to all passenger vehicles imported from all regions other than Europe and the UK.Under a preferential trade agreement between South Africa and the EU and the UK, petrol, diesel, and hybrid cars imported from only those countries have a reduced duty of 18%. Fully electric cars are the only models for which the 25% duty applies regardless of origin.-MYBROADBAND
OUT OF FOCUS
The US manufacturer is waving goodbye to their beloved Focus in November, as reported by motor1.com. The move was first announced in 2022, but Ford’s head of Europe Martin Sander doubled down on the decision this month. Mr Sander emphasised that the company doesn’t have “any plans to extend Focus production” at its plant in Saarlouis, Germany.
Ford’s European Communications Manager, Finn Thomasen, made the original shock announcement. Fans still have time to place orders – but the window will close imminently. The Ford Focus was first rolled out in 1998, off the back of their Escort model.
JUST 23
Following the local debut of the segment-leading Range Rover Sport SV EDITION ONE, the much-anticipated Range Rover Sport SV EDITION TWO is now available in South Africa. Only 23 examples of Range Rover’s flagship high-performance luxury SUV are available to order through select JLR retailers in South Africa. Headlining its performance credentials is the potent 467kW, 750Nm2 4.4-litre Twin-Turbo MHEV V8 petrol engine. The revered powerplant endows Range Rover Sport SV with the capability to accelerate from 0-100km/h in just 3.7 seconds 3 and a top speed of 290km/h. To rein in the immense power, clients can select the optional Carbon Ceramic Braking system with SV-exclusive eight-piston Brembo front calipers and 440mm front brake discs, the largest in the automotive industry.
MOTORING WHILE BLACK
Motoring While Black hosted its highly anticipated Black History Month Mixer, bringing together more than 100 car enthusiasts, industry professionals, and community members in Downtown Los Angeles to celebrate the intersection of car culture and Black history. The driving event provided a space for meaningful conversations, networking, and appreciation of automotive passion within Black communities and communities of color.
Now in its third year, the Black History Month Mixer has become a must-attend gathering, creating a welcoming environment for car enthusiasts of color to connect through their shared love of cars. What began as an Instagram account during the COVID-19 pandemic – showcasing the cars of Motoring While Black founder and creator Rashod Bacon – has since evolved into a movement to foster inclusivity, cultural pride, and a deeper sense of belonging within the automotive space. Recognizing that enthusiasts of color are often the only ones in the room at traditional car gatherings, Bacon saw an opportunity to create a space that was not only about cars but also about culture, representation, and community upliftment.
