Arrival in the Fahner Heights: A Place Made for Driving
There’s something poetic about driving an electric vehicle through an area so untouched. The Fahner Heights are a lesser-known German treasure, rolling hills blanketed in orchards, ancient forests, and endless birdcalls. You can hear everything when you’re driving electric. No roaring engine. No grumbles from the exhaust. Just the crunch of gravel, the hum of rubber, and the occasional whisper of wind.
The Volvo EC40, the coupé-styled sibling of the XC40, joined me later in the day. It looked sleeker, slightly more youthful, and just as capable. But for the bulk of my drive, it was the XC40 Recharge Extended Range that did the heavy lifting. And what a day it was.
A Quiet Beast with 252 Horses Underfoot
Volvo doesn’t scream performance, but it delivers. Especially with the Extended Range model. This version comes with a 185 kW (252 hp) electric motor pushing 420 Nm of torque to the rear wheels. It’s fast. Not Tesla-ludicrous fast, but fast in that satisfying, solid Scandinavian way.
As I took the first major ascent out of Töttelstädt, the car pulled steadily without breaking a sweat. Zero to 100 km/h in 7.3 seconds feels plenty brisk on these forest roads. But the real magic happens between 20–80 km/h, the speed band you use most in real-world driving. The throttle was buttery-smooth, and the power delivery always felt immediate but never harsh.
Even with its nearly 2.1-ton curb weight, the car never felt heavy. That’s down to the 82 kWh battery pack nestled into the floor, dropping the center of gravity and keeping the SUV composed even when the roads got tight and twisty.
Steering Feel, Ride Comfort, and Braking: Balanced, but Not Perfect
If there’s one area where the XC40 Recharge could use a touch more finesse, it’s the steering feedback. At the center position, it felt a little vague. Not disconnected, but slightly soft. As I tackled hairpin turns near Döllstädt, I found myself wishing for a bit more resistance, more precision. Sport mode improves this, but even then, the response lag is something you need to get used to.
However, the ride quality is excellent. There’s a Scandinavian firmness to the suspension, but it never punishes you. Over patchy roads and cobbled village paths, the XC40 remained settled. The brakes, too, deserve a gold star. The transition from regenerative braking to friction braking is nearly seamless, no weird jumps, no synthetic feel. One-pedal driving was intuitive and made the downhill twisties of the Fahner Heights feel effortless.
Inside the Cabin: Scandinavian Zen
Climbing into the XC40 feels like stepping into a well-designed lounge in Stockholm. It’s not flashy, it’s calm, minimal, and quietly luxurious. The cabin uses leather-free textiles, with soft-touch gray materials and recycled plastics. It’s ethical, but it doesn’t feel like a compromise.
Despite the underfloor battery, space inside is generous. At just under 4.5 meters in length, the XC40 doesn’t look massive, but it swallowed my camera gear, laptop bag, a coat, and two backpacks without a problem. The rear legroom is respectable for adults, though the sunroof eats into the headspace slightly.
The 12.3-inch digital cluster and the 9-inch portrait-style touchscreen work in harmony. It’s clean and clutter-free, with Android Automotive powering the infotainment. Google Maps is integrated natively, and voice commands work remarkably well. Saying “Hey Google, navigate to Fahner Höhenblick” sent me directly into the heart of the highlands.
However, the climate control interface being baked into the screen is less than ideal. Changing the temperature while on the move is fiddly. Volvo needs to rethink this. That said, the air purification system worked wonders, the cabin air felt crisp even when parked near a farm road surrounded by pollen-heavy orchards.
Real-World Range and Charging: Better Than You Think
Here’s where things get interesting. Volvo claims 575 km WLTP range for this model. On a chilly 10°C spring morning, I set off with 100% charge and finished my 278 km test loop with 48% left. That’s well over 500 km in projected real-world range, impressive considering I wasn’t driving slowly.
Average consumption for the day? 18.9 kWh/100 km. That’s right in line with ADAC figures and better than many rivals in similar terrain.
Charging-wise, I stopped briefly at a DC fast charger in Gotha. The car peaked at 208 kW and jumped from 12% to 78% in just over 30 minutes. Not groundbreaking, but certainly efficient.
Volvo’s battery thermal management helps here. The car warms up the battery if you input a charging station into Google Maps, a detail that makes a difference on cold days. Unfortunately, the heat pump is only optional unless you opt for higher trims.
Towing, Safety, and Real Usability
Later in the afternoon, I met a local farmer who asked if the XC40 could tow. Yes, and how! The towing capacity is 1,800 kg with AWD, or 1,500 kg with RWD. That’s enough for a small horse trailer or a boat. I didn’t tow anything during my trip, but it’s comforting to know it’s capable.
On the safety front, the XC40 remains a Volvo through and through. The Pilot Assist system, adaptive cruise control, and collision mitigation tech all worked subtly and effectively. It’s a car that doesn’t just protect you, it calms you.
Technical Specifications: Volvo XC40 Recharge Extended Range
| Specification | Detail |
| Drivetrain | Rear-Wheel Drive |
| Motor Output | 185 kW (252 hp) |
| Torque | 420 Nm |
| Battery Capacity | 82 kWh (79 kWh usable) |
| WLTP Range | 575 km |
| Real-World Range (Tested) | ~500 km |
| 0-100 km/h | 7.3 seconds |
| Top Speed | 180 km/h (electronically limited) |
| Charging Power (DC) | Up to 208 kW |
| Charging Time (10–80%) | ~32 minutes |
| AC Charging | 11 kW onboard charger |
| Towing Capacity | 1,500–1,800 kg |
| Trunk Capacity | 320–1265 liters (ADAC measured) |
| Frunk Capacity | 31 liters |
| Infotainment System | Android Automotive with Google Services |
| Climate Control | Dual-zone automatic |
| Interior Materials | Leather-free, recycled textiles |
| Weight | Approx. 2,100 kg |
Conclusion
The XC40 Recharge, and by extension, the EC40, is not just a smart electric SUV. It’s a car that brings together real-world usability, charming design, and technical competence into one refined package. It’s not trying to out-Tesla Tesla. It’s playing the long game, quiet, clean, and confident.
Driving through the Fahner Heights, with every corner revealing a new view and every climb testing the torque, the Volvo XC40 proved itself not just as a tool for mobility, but as a companion for the road. The only thing I wish? That more roads were like these, and more cars like this.
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