Well the fully electric 2022 Volvo XC40 EV does not disappoint! Like the other models it is a modern little SUV, with a neat and minimal interior that is a pleasure to spend time in. The biggest thing to get used to in the XC40 EV is there is no start button or ignition! You just sit in the drivers seat and select your gear and off you go! It takes a bit of getting used to and I worried if my daughter sat in the front she could easily knock it into gear.
The Volvo XC40 EV is a great drive, intact that is my favourite thing about this car! I am testing the twin motor variant and it is super fast! It does 0-100km in just 4.9seconds. The ride is smooth and quiet too which makes it a pleasure to drive with my family of four, everyone is cocooned from any exterior traffic noise and I can drive my girls to school and to sleep knowing that I charged it at home using the power of the sun, which feels pretty good!
The XC40 EV has a ‘Range Assistant' screen within the media screen which shows you your estimated battery range etc and you can use the ‘Range Optimiser' option which I used to get me somewhere and it really helps with minimising the cars battery usage.
When it comes to family practicality the Volvo XC40 EV is just as good as the PHEV and petrol models. The interior space has not changed. I can fit two Infasecure child seats forward-facing or rear-facing in the cars outer seats really nicely. I installed the Infasecure Aspire More forward-facing and the Achieve More rear-facing. Occasionally I have squeezed the Infasecure Versatile Folding Booster seat between the other two child seats when I need to carry a school friend but I would not recommend it as an everyday solution.
We can fit a 180cm passenger in-front of a rear-facing child seat or a 170cm driver. With forward-facing child seats installed we can fit a 186cm+ driver or front passenger.
Storage in the back of the Volvo VC40 EV is quite minimal. The rear door bins are nicely carpet lined so nothing rattles around in them but they will only fit a small water bottle. There are net map pockets and two cup holders in a fold down in the central seat back.
Storage in the front is god with cup holders, a wireless phone charging dock and a generous size central console box.
The glove box has enough space for my wallet with the manual and has a handbag bag hook in the front of it too.
The door bins in the front are more practical holding a refillable water bottle and wallet and iPad.
The boot floor of the XC40 EV has a folding method which allows you to hold shopping bags in just the rear of the boot so they do not roll around the boot floor and these three bag hooks too which you can hook school bags onto!
Twin, tandem or double prams and strollers fit in the boot with a few shopping bags too.
Don't forget the frunk! This is where the charging leads are kept and you have a little storage there too.
The media screen in the XC40 PHEV is portrait orientation and it has Google Maps available in there too.
You can also add Apps and access your own Spotify account too which we love while driving.
The 360degree birds-eye-view camera image is very clear and easy to see.
However for the reversing camera image is shark mouth shaped and distorts the visibility.
The Volvo XC40 EV has rear air-conditioning vents which are good to keep little passengers cool in the back. The heated rear seat buttons and USB are located below the rear vents and out of the way of little passengers who might be tempted to fiddle with them!
Overall the Volvo XC40 EV Recharge is a fantastic car for families of four or less. The EV is a pleasure to drive and the internal practicality for fitting child seats and prams is good.
BabyDrive Indepth - Storage
How big is the boot of the 2022 Volvo XC40 EV Recharge?
The 2022 Volvo XC40 EV Recharge has a very generous size boot just like the plug-in-hybrid model. From empty, I could fit 12 shopping bags in there, which is two more than the Kia Niro holding 10 bags and the Hyundai Ioniq 5 holds 15 shopping bags.
The boot floor of the XC40 EV can be folded up to create a smaller boot so you can put your things in the back of the boot space and they will not roll around all over the boot. There are also three bag hooks along the edge, good for holding school bags!
The twin pram fits in the boot of the XC40 EV with three shopping bags.
The tandem pram fits with four shopping bag.
The single pram fits with four shopping bags.
The boot space and its functionality are really important. I like to have a big boot space and little side wells or areas I can divide things into. So something I don’t want to move around while I’m driving such as Tulsi’s lunch bag or her wet swimming gear can be sectioned off in a little well where it’s not going to spill or get squashed by the rest of the things in the boot.
Hooks for securing shopping bags to are also favourites of mine, I like being able to secure the bag containing more fragile things like eggs so they don’t move around on the journey.
I measure the boot space in freezer shopping bags, prams and dogs. Not because I think all there is to a mum’s life is food shopping, prams and dogs. (Although it can feel like it sometimes!!) But because these are visually mesurable items we can all associate with. For me, the car company boot measurement of litres is not an amount I can easily visualise and 400L in one car may differ in usability to that in another due to the configuration or shape of the space.
The compact stroller fitted with eight shopping bags beside it.
Or you could fit a large family dog in there!
The boot floor is flat, which is good for an emergency nappy change and there is a bag hook on either side of the boot too.
How good is storage inside the 2022 Volvo XC40 EV Recharge?
Storage in the cabin of the XC40 EV is good, in the front there are two cup holders in the central console that will hold a re-usable or disposable coffee cup and a large refillable water bottle fits in them too.
In front of them is a wireless phone charging dock and a 12V socket and two USBC ports. Also on the side of the central console is a passenger phone storage shelf.
The central console box is a good size.
In front of it is a small lidded compartment.
The glove box is quite small, it would just hold my wallet with the manual, the iPad would not fit. There is also the fold out hand bag hook like in the plug-in-hybrid model.
The door bins in the front are generous in size and will hold a large refillable water bottle and an iPad and wallet easily fits in them too. The door panels are lined with carpet fabric so things don't rattle in the door bins.
In the back, the door bins are small and will only hold a 600ml water bottle.
We find we use the little space at either side of the rear seat base to store the kids drink bottles because they don't fit in the door bins.
There are net map pockets on the back of both front seats, in the Volvo XC40 EV, that will hold but not conceal an iPad.
In a fold-down armrest in the central seatback are two cup holders. They will hold a disposable or reusable coffee cup or a large refillable water bottle fits in them too.
BabyDrive Indepth - Noise
How noisy is the 2022 Volvo XC40 EV Recharge?
The 2022 Volvo XC40 EV is a wonderfully quiet BabyDrive! Being a fully electric vehicle it is silent to start, you don't even press a button to turn it on, just sitting in the drivers seat turns it on and you move it into gear and off it goes!
The XC40 EV is a smooth, quiet drive and you are cocooned from a lot of the usual exterior road noise and stimulation when driving which is great.
The media system in the Volvo XC40 EV is a large portrait touch screen which controls most things in the car that would usually be controlled by buttons and dials on the dashboard and central console.
It has Google maps and you can add Apps like your Spotify account etc.
There is a Range Assistant screen which tells you your estimated battery range, what your consumption is etc while driving and also allows you to optimise your range which I found helpful on longer journeys.
There is also a charging screen, where you can set a charging timer etc.
The birds-eye camera image quality is great.
However when you put it into reverse the view is much smaller and shark mouth shaped which isn't very helpful.
You can easily control the parking sensor beep on the screen too.
The indicators are nice and quiet in the XC40 EV Recharge and didn’t disturb my sleeping baby.
Fatigue warning in the XC40 is a gentle bell chime, just enough to alert you without disturbing any other passengers.
Becoming a parent I soon realised there are some noises and sounds I feel are unnecessary and I could happily live without if it meant my baby stayed asleep!!
That often the distraction of my screaming, distressed baby is more dangerous when driving than not having a lane departure warning for example.
If it is the lane departure warning beeping that creates distress with my baby then which is safest?
It’s where I think we need to be able to strike a balance and choose when we can mute the warnings or swap them to a vibration in the steering wheel or flashing light perhaps?
A lot of these noises come with the increase in technology and especially linked to safety features and alerts. For me these all have their place.
Another thing I have realised is I spend my time in a lot more places where small children roam, parks, beaches, play gyms, swimming lessons, daycare centre etc. I have become more aware that when I’m reversing or manouvering in the car parks I have to tripple check for small children running around behind me or being in my blind spot when reversing. For this I LOVE reversing cameras, I just don’t like their beeping sounds!!
I have become so much more aware of safety and potential accidents or hazards since having a child and so I love the peace of mind that I get from the cameras and sensors combined with my own vision from windows and mirrors as I don’t trust cameras alone.
The child lock button in the driver's door control panel locks the rear doors and windows which is fantastic for families. Both the doors and windows are quiet to use and did not disturb sleeping passengers when opening and closing them. You can come to a stop with the engine still running and get out of the car without sounding any alarms.
Since becoming a mum I spend A LOT of time parked up somewhere with a nice view while my daughter is asleep in the back! If it's hot I need to leave the engine running and the aircon on but I do like to get out and drink my cuppa tea in the fresh air while enjoying the fact my limbs are free from said dangling child!!
So this is a very important test as I have found that sometimes I have been held hostage by a cars BEEEEPING alarms when I have taken off my seatbelt or opened the door while the engine is still running!! (I only stand outside the car, I am not a bad mother!!)
It also comes up in the drivers display screen too.
The XC40 EV is especially quiet to drive, it is incredibly fast and the ride is lovely and smooth.
There is a seatbelt removal alarm and a really good visual comes up on the drivers screen to let you know exactly which passenger has removed their seatbelt for both rows of passengers.
BabyDrive Indepth - Car Seats
How many child seats fit in the 2022 Volvo XC40 EV Recharge?
There are three top tether anchorages in the back of the XC40 EV's rear seat backrests. The outer two are clearly marked and easy to connect to through the boot.
The central top tether anchorage is below the hatch door and not marked but nice and easy to connect to.
There are ISOFix points in the two outer rear seats. They are within plastic guides and nice and easy to connect to. Two Infasecure child seats fit really comfortably in the back of the Volvo XC40 EV, forward-facing or rear-facing in the cars outer seats. I installed the Infasecure Aspire More forward-facing and the Achieve More rear-facing. I squeezed the Infasecure Versatile Folding Booster seat between the other two child seats a couple of times when I needed to carry my daughters school friend but I would not recommend it as an everyday solution.
We fit a 180cm passenger in-front of a rear-facing child seat or a 170cm driver. With forward-facing child seats installed we can fit a 186cm+ driver or front passenger.
Posting Bub into their child seat from inside and outside the car is really nice and easy in the XC40 EV. The doorways are nice and wide and the ceiling has good height too. There are no handles above the second-row doors though so nowhere to hang a child's toy.
Australia being a country of weather extremes; blazing sun and torrential rain, mean you may find it easier to put Bub into their seat from inside the car sometimes. If it’s hot you can get the air-con going, cool the car down and not stand out in the sun while you fasten them in or shelter from the rain and not get soaked yourself whilst you’re doing it. So it is important to test whether Bub can be easily installed from either direction!
There is plenty of room to feed bub in the back if you only have one child seat installed.
BabyDrive Indepth - Drive & Comfort
How comfortable is the 2022 Volvo XC40 EV Recharge? And How good is the 2022 Volvo XC40 EV Recharge to drive?
In the front of the Volvo XC40 EV, the cabin is minimal and practical. The seats are very comfortable and easily wiped clean being grey leather with minimal fuss in stitching or panelling.
For a mum travelling in the back with bub, the seats are comfortable at the sides but in the central seat I could feel the hardness of the drop-down armrest.
I find the back of the XC40 EV very comfortable to travel in and it feels spacious for an SUV of this size.
For the first year of my baby’s life when we would go out as a family, if I wasn’t driving, I would travel in the back with Bub so it’s important to check the back seat comfort as you may be spending a lot of time in them! They were never something I gave any thought to before but I definitely notice a good or bad back seat now!
The steering wheel is fully adjustable in/out and up/down.
Cruise control is incredibly accurate in the Volvo XC40 EV, it holds the exact speed at low speeds on undulating roads, around town and on the motorway at higher speeds. The controls are on the left on the steering wheel and are nice and simple to use.
There are four air-conditioning vents across the front dashboard; one at either end and one either side of the central media screen.
There are aircon vents in the back of the Volvo XC40 EV which is great for keeping rear passengers the right temperature. There are also rear heated seat controls and a USBC socket for rear charging in the model I tested. The controls for the aircon are within the media screen and are quite simple to reach and use while driving.
The rear interior lights are located above the rear doors in the ceiling I can reach one of the while driving.
I have found my babies do not like travelling in the dark in the car so if it gets dark whilst travelling then I reach back and turn the interior light on for her. So it’s really important for me that I can reach the rear ceiling light.
Also if I am traveling home and it is getting near to bed time and I DEFINITELY DON’T want her to fall asleep in the car as even a five-minute nap in the car means bed time is all over!!!! I lean back and pop the light on so it’s not dark and try to keep her awake!! Along with screaming/singing at the top of my voice!!!
It is also useful when there are lights situated above the doors where the handles are usually positioned. These are good for when putting baby into their child seats when visibility is poor, so you do not have to reach across them to a light situated in the ceiling centrally etc.
Visibility out of the windows is good in the Volvo XC40 EV and I especially like the 360degree camera when parking and manoeuvring.
One thing I have noticed since being a mum is I hate it when I reach a destination or get home from being out and Bub has either done really well in the car or she is screaming her head off and I have done really well to keep it together for the entire journey (usually the latter!!) and it takes 10 minutes to park the car! It can be really stressful. Usually I dread parking new cars as they take longer in our tight apartment block carpark, but the XC40 was easy to park.
Aesthetically the Volvo XC40 EV is a fantastic electric SUV that doesn't have to look like a futuristic electric car. It is practical for families as well as being modern and fun with all the benefits of being fully electric.
BabyDrive Indepth - Safety
How safe is the 2022 Volvo XC40 EV Recharge?
The Volvo XC40 scored a five-star ANCAP safety rating in 2018.
Scoring a total of 97% or 37.2 out of 38 for adult occupancy. Broken down into 7.42 out of 8Â for the full-width frontal crash test, 7.98 out of 8Â for the frontal offset test. Full marks for the side impact test and the pole test.
For Child Occupancy protection the Volvo XC40 scored 41.6 out of 49 which is 84%. Broken down into 16/16 for the dynamic front, 8/8 for dynamic slide. Child restraint installation scored 11.62 out of 12 and onboard features score 6 out of 13.
ANCAP said of the testing: In the frontal offset and side impact tests, protection of the 10 year and 6 year dummies was GOOD and the Volvo XC40 scored maximum points in these tests.
The Volvo XC40 is fitted with lower ISOFix anchorages on therear outboard seats and top tether anchorages on all rear seats. Installation of typical child restraints available in Australia and New Zealand showed that most child restraints could be accommodated in most rear seating positions, with the centre rear seat failing two of ANCAP’s installation assessments.
Seven airbags come as standard; there is a driver’s knee airbag as well as dual frontal airbags and front side airbags and side head curtain airbags for the front and the rear side passengers.
As standard, all models of the Volvo XC40 come with seat belt pre-tensioners in both the front seats and rear outboard positions, anti-lock braking system (ABS), autonomous emergency braking (AEB) for the city, Interurban and VRU, automatic headlights, automatic high beam, blind spot monitoring (BSM), daytime running lights (DRL), hill launch assist, electronic brake-force distribution (EBD), electronic data recorder (EDR), electronic stability control (ESC), emergency brake assist (EBA), emergency stop signal (ESS), fatigue reminder and fatigue detection, forward collision warning (FCW), lane departure warning (LDW), lane keep assist (LKA), pre-crash systems, rear cross-traffic alert (RCTA), reversing collision avoidance camera, roll stability system, secondary/multi-collision brake, speed assistance auto/intelligent/manual speed limiter, speed sign recognition and warning and trailer stability control and tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS) all come as standard.
Optional extras are adaptive cruise control (ACC), and adaptive headlights.
Some of these safety features are also features that drive me crazy as a mum! Like the lane departure and forward collision alert or the parking sensor beeping sound. I want all the safety technology AND to be able to mute the sound when Tulsi’s asleep!
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