Earlier this year, Volvo Car Malaysia launched the XC40 Recharge Pure Electric, its first electric vehicle. It’s now doubled that up with its sportier coupé-style sibling, the C40, taking the SUV’s mechanicals and tech—including that car’s impressive performance and range—and repackaging them in a more rakish form.
Volvo C40 Malaysia price and availability
The second CKD locally-assembled EV from VCM, the C40 is available in the same configuration as the XC40, the all-wheel-drive Recharge Twin. It’s priced at RM288,888 on-the-road without insurance, making it RM10,000 more expensive than the XC40. Orders will be opened on VCM’s new online store starting at 8pm tonight.
This pricing includes of a five-year, unlimited-mileage warranty, an eight-year/160,000km battery warranty, five years or 100,000km of free service and a four-year subscription to Volvo’s digital services. A Type 2 charging cable is also part of the purchase price.
Volvo C40 power output and charging
As with the XC40 Recharge Twin, the C40 Recharge Twin comes with a 201hp electric motor on the front and rear axle, together delivering a total system output of 402hp and 660Nm of torque. As the C40 is slightly lighter than the XC40, it’s actually even quicker, sprinting from zero to 100km/h in 4.7 seconds. The top speed is limited to 180km/h, as is typical Volvo fashion.
Juicing the twin motors is the XC40’s 78kWh lithium-ion battery that delivers a range of up to 450km on the WLTP cycle. Users can charge their C40 at a DC fast charging station at up to 150kW, bringing the battery from 10 to 80% in 28 minutes. Alternatively, the car accepts up to 11kW of AC charging through a wallbox, taking eight hours for a full charge.
An XC40 with a lower roof
Based on the same Compact Modular Architecture (CMA) as the XC40, the C40’s lower half is all but identical to its boxier sibling. The main difference is the sloping roofline that makes the car 56mm lower. Overall, the car measures 4,440mm long, 1,873mm (+10mm) wide and 1,591mm tall, with a wheelbase of 2,702mm.
Along with the low-slung roof comes a few other changes, including distinctive C-shaped taillights that sweep into the tailgate and a roof and tailgate spoiler to reduce lift. At the front, you’ll find more assertive triangular headlights, a flush closed-off grille and a sharper front bumper—items that have already been added to the XC40 as part of a 2023 model year refresh.
The C40 is available in five colours—Thunder Grey, Sage Green, Crystal White, Black Stone and the exclusive Fjord Blue shown here. Unlike the XC40, the car loses out on a black roof but retains 19-inch two-tone alloy wheels.
Identical interior but with panoramic glass roof
Inside, the C40 is practically identical to the XC40, sporting the same three-spoke steering wheel, 12.3-inch digital instrument display, nine-inch portrait touchscreen and stubby gearlever. The extra ten grand buys you a panoramic glass roof, which unfortunately cannot be opened and does not come with a retractable sun blind. The C40 also gets dashboard and door trims with lines that are reminiscent of contour maps.
As with the XC40, the C40’s displays run on an interface based on the Android Automotive OS, replete with Google services such as Google Maps and the Play Store. It features Apple CarPlay connectivity and plays music through a 14-speaker, 600W Harman Kardon sound system.
Passengers will feel a little tighter in the C40 than in the XC40, as the lower roofline and glass roof conspire to rob 11mm of headroom, with rear occupants receiving 62mm less headroom. The middle passenger will also have to straddle a large central tunnel, as is the case with the XC40. As for the boot, it measures 413 litres—expandable to 1,205 litres with the rear seats folded—while the bonnet opens up to reveal a 31-litre front boot.
Standard kit includes keyless entry, dual-zone automatic air-con with rear air vents, power-adjustable front seats with driver’s side memory, a 360-degree camera system and a hands-free powered tailgate. Like the XC40, the C40 starts up immediately once you enter the car, saving you from having to faff about with a starter button.
Usual Volvo safety features and assists
Like all other Volvos sold in Malaysia, the C40 comes fully featured when it comes to safety, incorporating seven airbags, stability control and autonomous emergency braking. It also receives adaptive cruise control with stop and go and lane centring assist, providing Level 2 semi-autonomous driving capabilities.
Other features include evasive steering assist, lane keeping assist, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert with auto brake, Emergency Stop Assist and Run-off Road Protection. The latter includes impact-absorbing functionality built into the seats to protect the occupants in the event the car leaves the road in a crash.
Want to know how the C40 drives? You can read or watch our review of the mechanically-identical XC40 Recharge Pure Electric, which you can find here.
