Back in the days when the only thing that powered cars were dead dinosaurs, Carroll Shelby (father of the Cobra, the Mustang GT 350, GT 500 and others) used to say:
"Speed costs money. How fast do ya want to go?"
The implication was that less fast was less money. But things have gotten complicated in this brave new world when it comes to electric vehicles. Speed still costs money.
But less speed and more range costs almost as much.
That, at least is the case with the Volvo XC40 Recharge, Volvo's compact electric SUV.
We've reviewed the most powerful version, the XC40 Recharge Twin AWD, before---most recently in March of 2023. It packs 402 horsepower and 486 pound-feet of torque. It's all-wheel-drive. It'll go zero to 60 in 4.3 seconds.
That power comes at the expense of range. The Recharge Twin gets a below-average 223 miles per charge.
This is the 2024 Volvo XC40 Recharge Single Motor Extended Range. As the name says, it's one motor (powering just the rear wheels). Power drops to 248 horsepower. Zero to 60 takes 6.5 seconds.
But range per charge gets healthy---293 miles. And efficiency's good, an EPA-estimated 106 MPGe, as opposed to 85 MPGe for the Recharge Twin AWD Ultimate.
But the difference in price isn't as wide as it was 65 years ago when Chevy offered you a "Rugged Thrifty 6" or a "Power-Packed V8".
Going faster still costs more, but the difference in price between the XC40 Recharge Single Motor Extended Range and the Recharge Twin...is $1,750.
That's not nuthin', but on a car that, in base trim, starts at $53,745, it's also not a lot.
Our tester was the 2024 Volvo XC90 Recharge Single Motor Ultimate Extended Range. Base price $58,800 not including destination (for 2025, there's a price hike to $60,650).
Standard features include 20-inch wheels, pixel headlight technology, fog lights, a comprehensive active safety suite, a panoramic sunroof with sunshade, power front seat with driver memory, two-zone climate control, keyless entry, power liftgate, four-way lumbar support and mechanical cushion extensions for the front seats, heated front and rear seats, a heated steering wheel, an air purifier, auto-dimming interior and exterior mirrors, a Harman Kardon premium audio system, four USB ports, a 12-volt power outlet in the cargo area, a heat-pump based HVAC system, and a 360-degree camera.
There were no extra-cost options, so, with $1,195 destination charge, the bottom line on the window sticker reads $59,995 (again, a reminder that ours was a 2024 model. An identical 2025 Volvo XC40 Recharge Single Motor Ultimate Extended Range will cost $61,845).
So---go faster or go farther? Given the limited usefulness of an EV with less than 250 miles range, I'd personally pick farther, and bank the $1,750.
