Newbury and Thatcham Advertiser

Friday, November 26, 2021 11

Newbury & Thatcham Advertiser Motoring

DEADLINE

PHONE IT

ADVERTISING E-MAIL

Telesales: (01635) 550444 Switchboard: (01635) 524111

motors@newburynews.co.uk 5pm Monday

!!! CARS WANTED !!! Top Cash Paid for Unwanted Cars, Vans, 4x4’s, Write-Offs & MOT Failures FRIENDLY SERVICE - Immediate Cash and Removal Guaranteed Best Price in Area 07387 630637

SUN GARAGE (Barber & Reynolds) MOT Testing & Service Centre Repairs Family Run Business - Established for over 60 years 0118 971 3237 Bath Road, Woolhampton, Reading, RG7 5RH

get ahead

Volvo’s sleek new crossover

of the competition with an adver tisement in the motoring section of the Newbury Weekly News If you would like to place an adver tisement in the Newbury Weekly News or for fur ther information please call (01635) 550444

VOLVO certainly isn’t hanging around when it comes to electric vehicles. Spurred on by the release of its first fully electric model – the XC40 Recharge – it has introduced the C40 Recharge, Volvo’s ‘first compact crossover’ and effectively a lower and more dynamic- looking version of the XC40, for those who want a car with an extra focus on style. It’s driven by the same dual- motor setup as the XC40. So, should you opt for the C40 instead? What’s new? The bulk of the changes between the XC40 and C40 reside around the looks. The rear end is far sharper, with a raked roofline giving the whole car a more concept- like appearance. It also arrives as the first Volvo to be leather-free and has an entirely Google-based infotainment system. All C40s boast a fixed panoramic sunroof, which transforms the cabin. What’s it like inside? As mentioned, the C40 is Volvo’s first leather-free car, but there’s no less premium feel as a result. In fact, the combination of natural and recycled materials gives the C40 a robust, well-made feeling. There are also cool new inlays which have topography-style graphics etched into them. Space in the rear is decent too, while boot space stands at 413 litres with the rear seats in place and 1,205 litres if you were to load the car to the roof with the seats down. That’s quite a bit down on the 540 and 1,290 respective litres you get from the XC40 as a result of the sloping roof,

out on the road. The sharp rear end gives the car a little more edge compared with the rather square XC40, with the heavily-raked rear screen adding to the whole effect. The only real issue comes in terms of usability. As we’ve seen on other crossover-style SUVs, the C40 struggles with rearward visibility. Because that rear screen is so narrow, your view behind is compromised and nowhere near as open as in the XC40. What’s the spec like? As a tip-top Volvo model, the C40 gets plenty of standard equipment. In fact, there are no options to select other than a tow bar. So you get a nine-inch central touchscreen running Google Maps and a variety of other Google-based functions – it’s just a shame Apple CarPlay isn’t included. Elsewhere, you’ve got a 12.3-inch driver display, a premium sound system by Harman Kardon and heated front and rear seats. There’s an all-encompassing amount of standard equipment, but, given its £57,400 starting price, you’d expect there to be. The verdict The C40 is an attractive car that enhances Volvo’s presence in the battery- powered segment. But given its shortfalls when it comes to practicality – and a chunky price – we’d be surprised if people didn’t opt for the XC40 Recharge. That said, if a less powerful and cheaper version of the C40 were introduced, we could see it being a hit.

so it does falter somewhat in terms of outright practicality. However, the boot is easy to access and doesn’t have an awfully high load height, so placing heavier items in there shouldn’t be too tricky. The C40 is the latest car in Volvo’s electric line- up, but what has it got to offer? Jack Evans finds out. What’s it like to drive? The C40 is pleasantly understated in its driving mannerisms to begin with. The ride can feel a little fidgety at lower speeds, but gain some momentum and it’s composed and well supported, with enough suppleness to the suspension that it just glides through long bends. The steering is well-weighted too, while very little road or wind noise means that the cabin is quiet and refined. But boy, is this car quick. In fact, the merest hint of throttle application can leave you rocketing forwards in a time that’ll leave the average hot hatch wondering what has happened. It feels a little over-powered for a car of this type, but you can’t help but smile as the C40 races towards the horizon. How does it look? The C40 looks really striking C40 Recharge Twin AWD Price: £57,400 Engine: Twin electric motors linked to 75kWh battery

NOW EXTENDED THROUGH AUTUMN

Power: 402bhp Torque: 660Nm

Max speed: 112mph 0-60mph: 4.5 seconds MPG: NA Emissions: NA Range: 273 miles