The strength of fuel vehicles is still there. Is the pure electric XC40 better to drive?
Editor’s introduction: Currently, every fuel SUV model sold by Volvo has its own new energy version. However, unlike the plug-in hybrid chosen by the XC60 or XC90, the new energy version of the XC40 directly delegates all the tasks of driving the vehicle to the motor.
Not long ago, the abnormal heat wave had burned to pieces the beautiful filter of "the crystal curtain moves in the breeze, and the roses on the shelves fill the courtyard with fragrance". So much so that "it's so hot" is by no means an exaggerated joke. According to reports from many media, cases of heat stroke have appeared in many provinces in my country. Data from the National Climate Center shows that high temperatures across the country have lasted for 30 days, affecting more than 900 million people.
Yes, the heat wave has swept not only the southern cities vying for the top spot in the stove city rankings, but Beijing has also not been able to escape the scorching heat.
Even though, in these days when roads are cracked by the sun, air-conditioned rooms have become a utopia, social animals still have to go out. At the same time, this also poses a test for daily commuting transportation. Especially the pure electric model I tested during the hottest days in Beijing this time, because it comes from Northern Europe, which has nothing to do with high temperatures. And this land is far away from the equator, and it has also been given a cold image.
Probably, summer is more suitable for driving a Volvo. At least the cool Thor's Hammer light strips, tough fold lines, and Scandinavian-style cold luxury interior style at least visually reduce the heat at a temperature of 38.5 degrees Celsius. Especially the XC40 pure electric version (XC40 RECHARGE) I test drove is wrapped in a flash of silver gray paint.
What really cools down the body is the rapid cooling of the air conditioning system. Under direct sunlight, the body temperature inside the car is significantly higher than outside. After turning on the power, the cold wind hit me faster than I expected. When the temperature is set at 24°C and in AUTO mode, the air conditioning system does not cause the discomfort of blowing directly on the forehead.
More importantly, under the high temperature, there was no obvious odor in the entire cabin. This is thanks to the Volvo brand's meticulous attention to cabin materials. Yes, Volvo's intensive efforts in occupant safety are not only reflected in active and passive safety, but also in terms of occupant health. Even some of the materials Volvo provides for the XC40 pure electric model are recyclable. This is also in line with the Swedish brand’s ambitions for sustainability.
Of course, high temperatures place high demands on a pure electric vehicle not only in terms of air conditioning system, but also in terms of battery life. Going straight to Xicheng District along the Jingtong Expressway, the final meter showed that the power consumption was 16.2kWh/100km, and the entire journey was on a relatively congested road section. On a 38.5°C afternoon, with the air conditioner set at 24°C and air volume 3, the long-range Pro version I tested this time, which is a 170kW single-motor model, was able to achieve such results. Stunning.
Under high-speed conditions, it may be due to the XC40's more upright body posture and the larger rolling resistance brought by the 235mm front and 255mm wide Pirelli P ZERO tires, which provide this compact SUV with a greater rolling resistance. energy consumption is holding back.
Under CLTC operating conditions, the long-range Pro version has a cruising range of 529 kilometers and a power consumption of 14.8kWh/100km. The performance range after the battery is fully charged under slow charging conditions is 520 kilometers, which is close to the CLTC cruising range. However, the Volvo XC40 pure electric version does not use the remaining mileage calculation method related to recent driving power consumption. This causes the battery to lose power faster than the mileage increases during the test drive.
However, as a front-wheel drive vehicle, it is a bit abnormal that the front wheels are wider than the rear wheels. This may be to take into account the dynamic performance of the four-wheel drive model. Although wider tires and the sporty attributes of Pirelli P ZERO are not conducive to battery life, they are of great benefit in terms of dynamic control. This also echoes the extremely supportive suede-covered seats of this XC40 pure electric car.
It is not difficult to see that in terms of control performance, the XC40 pure electric is by no means an ordinary person.
In fact, this is exactly the case. The steering wheel is pointed accurately, the damping torque changes linearly, and the suspension's support for the body is robust and impeccable. Yes, the steering wheel has a strong sense of returning to center, and as the speed and steering angle change, the damping torque changes very smoothly. After three consecutive days of test driving, the steering wheel has always been handy for me. The chassis also has clear feedback to the road surface, but when faced with small bumps, it has a high-end sense of isolation, and there are no obvious aftershocks when passing speed bumps. The complementation of the suspension and steering wheel also makes the XC40 perform particularly neatly when changing lanes at high speeds.
In fact, in the compact SUV market that luxury brands compete for, Volvo XC40 also boasts better handling when facing Cadillac XT4, Audi Q3 and other models. Obviously, the excellent handling genes of the XC40 pure electric vehicle are in the same vein as those of fuel vehicles.
And the similarities between the XC40 pure electric and fuel models don’t end there. For example, the vehicle does not recover kinetic energy when the accelerator pedal is released. In addition, there is no complex transmission mechanism and resistance to push the piston, so the XC40 pure electric sliding distance can be longer; another example is smooth and silky acceleration. There is no uncomfortable sudden acceleration like other pure electric models when you step on the accelerator, but the heavy feeling of acceleration is something that the fuel version does not enjoy...
Not only that, this Nordic company The brand's luxury genes also coexist with its sports genes: the outstanding sound insulation and quietness are even better with the help of the motor, so the notes played by the 13 Harman Kardon speakers become even more mesmerizing. It's intoxicating; there are also the elegant decorative panel textures and the illumination of the ambient lights; the exquisite double-stitching technology to grasp the texture of details; the armrest box and the large and very ingenious storage space inside the door panels; of course, the comprehensive active Safety configurations and extremely clear surround-view cameras are also not absent. However, some of the disadvantages of fuel vehicles also extend to pure electric vehicles, such as the relatively cramped rear space and steep rear seat backrests.
However, the XC40 pure electric model is not without a kinetic energy recovery function. After the brake pedal is depressed, the kinetic energy recovery will also increase according to the depth of the brake pedal, and the excellent feeling of matching electric braking and mechanical braking makes you never miss the intervention of electric braking. This makes it very easy for consumers who are used to driving fuel vehicles to get started. In addition, if the driving mode is adjusted to off-road mode, the vehicle will provide a certain amount of kinetic energy recovery after releasing the accelerator pedal. However, the off-road mode will automatically exit within a short period of time during normal driving on the road.
Of course, the XC40 pure electric also provides a single-pedal mode, but for someone who is more accustomed to driving a fuel vehicle, this mode is obviously not suitable for me.
Written at the end
As Volvo’s first pure electric SUV, the excellent genes of fuel vehicles are not absent. This young compact SUV and an even younger pure electric version, the XC40 pure electric driving performance is as sophisticated as the brand's long history! It is worth mentioning that this compact SUV, which starts with 231 horsepower, does not have a superior attitude. The starting price of the 2023 model is 267,000, while the B3-powered fuel version is 269,800.
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