Al-Qalam 
By Imraan Buccus
There are moments in life when a car doesn’t just take you from A to B, but rather changes the entire way you think about driving. The Volvo C40 Recharge Twin is one of those rare gems. It’s striking, it’s rapid, and in true Scandinavian fashion, it’s uncluttered and honest. You’re not being sold a gimmick here. Volvo simply asks: Do you want the future, or not?
Volvo has committed to going all-electric by 2030, no maybes, no loopholes. Whether or not South Africa – or the world – is fully ready is another discussion, but Volvo’s putting its sleek, aerodynamic foot down.
The Volvo C40 quietly positions itself as the brand’s electric icon. And it’s not shouting for attention either — the C40 doesn’t need to. Its coupe-style silhouette is graceful and commanding all at once -it turns heads on highways and coffee shop parkings alike.
The C40 still carries a confident SUV stance. There’s nothing meek about it, especially when it rolls in on those muscular 20-inch five-spoke alloys.
The real party trick, however, is in the way the C40 moves. You get in — no start button, no unnecessary ritual. Just foot on the brake, gear selector into D, and you’re off in silence. It’s eerie the first few times. But like Swedish design itself, it quickly becomes something you wonder how you ever lived without.
But don’t let the quiet fool you. With dual electric motors — one at each axle — you’re dealing with 300kW and a hefty 660Nm of torque. That 0-100km/h claim of 4.7 seconds? It feels even quicker in the real world. Because with electric power, there’s no delay. No waiting for revs or turbos to spool. Just an instant, face-melting surge that pushes you back into your seat like you’ve just been launched off an aircraft carrier. And all without a single drop of petrol or a fake engine roar piped through the speakers—just clean, honest propulsion.
Now, I’ll admit, the braking does take some getting used to. But once you’ve mastered it, you find yourself rarely needing to touch the brake pedal at all — true one-pedal driving in its most intuitive form.
Inside, it’s typically Volvo — that means a serene cabin, minimalistic design, and a high level of functionality. And don’t let the fact that it’s leather-free fool you into thinking it’s not luxurious. The upholstery feels premium, and everything is thoughtfully put together. You’ve got Google built right into the infotainment system, with seamless voice navigation, maps, and apps — a vast improvement over the older Volvo systems.
Rear passengers are well catered for with generous legroom, and the boot, at 489 litres, is more than practical for everyday life or a weekend escape to the Midlands from my home just north of Durban.
Battery-wise, the C40 houses a 78kWh pack, with an official range of up to 450km. But real-world figures are closer to 330–380km, especially if you’re doing more highway than city driving. Charging times vary — at a fast-charger, it’ll top up in under two hours. But on a regular wall plug at home? You’ll need patience and a good 24 hours.
At under R1.5m, it’s not exactly pocket change, but it’s far from the most expensive EV in town. It is worth the money, and I’d say worth paying more to get the C40 over the XC40, if the creative and bold styling is your taste. The C40 isn’t just about commuting — it’s about redefining what a luxury car can be in a changing world.
Volvo doesn’t scream for your attention. It whispers elegantly. And the C40? It’s an electric love letter on wheels.
