The Volvo C40 is the chopped-roof “coupe” model of the Volvo XC40, albeit with out the inner combustion powertrain choices. It is Recharge or nothing. As an electrical automobile, the C40 (or EC40 because it’s apparently being renamed) is sort of agreeable, with ample vary and efficiency, plus a refined driving expertise indicative of a Volvo that’s fairly clearly extra refined than the Hyundais, Kias and Volkswagens of the world. The inside up entrance is extremely useful, too, with intelligent storage and good tech. Oh, and the grey wool upholstery is simply lovely.
However good grief, is the rear visibility atrocious. The again window is akin to a pillbox and the blind spot is big. Worse, the varied cameras supposedly on board to counter these flaws are simply not efficient. The rearview digital camera is mounted so low that its subject of view is poor. The rearview digital camera mirror is vulnerable to water droplets and condensation, and worse, the mirror housing is successfully pointed on the ceiling. That ceiling is glass and there’s no shade. Ergo, if the solar is behind you, the quantity of glare on the mirror renders it unviewable. If the roof is roofed in condensation and the solar is behind you, there may as properly be a brick mounted to the ceiling.
OK, I’ve gone off the rails right here, however I simply needed to get that off my chest. The XC40 Recharge (or EX40 because it’ll be referred to as sooner or later), did not have that drawback, and I am certain this is not precisely a spoiler, it has a extra usable cargo space, too.
Simply in case it isn’t apparent, the C40/EC40 and XC40/EX40 is on the appropriate. I am executed doing that / enterprise, so I am simply going to make this future-proof from right here on out.
Volvo’s specs say the EC40 has 17.3 cubic-feet of cargo house and particularly signifies that features the underfloor storage space. When seemingly utilizing that very same measurement, the EX40 has 20.4. Actually, I do not know how that equates to the sometimes reported cubic-foot quantity variety of different producers, however as a degree of reference to one another, I am going with these figures.
Each have an underfloor storage space, together with a lid that cleverly props itself up so you’ll be able to divide the cargo space for the needs of preserving smaller gadgets in place. There’s additionally two little tabs that stick up particularly supposed to loop grocery baggage onto.
Now, I wrote off this space within the XC40 baggage take a look at because it wasn’t sufficiently big to carry the smallest (fancy) bag, proven above in blue. I should not have been to so fast to write down it off, although, so I will be updating the XC40 baggage take a look at in accordance. However extra on that in a second.
The EC40 has the very same inflexible cargo cowl because the EX40. Per Baggage Check guidelines when coping with such cargo covers, I will be testing with and with out.
OK, now let’s carry on the boilerplate bag description, now up to date with Crew Baggage Check’s latest member, Inexperienced Bag …
As with each Baggage Check, I take advantage of two midsize curler suitcases that will must be checked in on the airport (26 inches lengthy, 16 broad, 11 deep), two black roll-aboard suitcases that simply barely match within the overhead (24L x 15W x 10D), and one smaller inexperienced roll-aboard that matches simply (23L x 15W x 10D). I additionally embrace my spouse’s fancy in a single day bag simply to spruce issues up a bit (21L x 12W x 12D).
Seems the 2 subcompact Volvos held the very same baggage in the very same formation underneath the cargo cowl. This actually is not shocking contemplating it is actually what’s above that cargo cowl that is completely different.
After chucking the quilt within the EX40, it was fairly straightforward to maneuver the baggage round to liberate house for the dearly departed small blue bag. That simply wasn’t taking place within the EC40.
Discover how the larger blue bag is standing upright within the EX40? As you’ll be able to clearly see above left, that is simply not attainable within the EC40. As such, I used to be initially simply the very same baggage in the very same formation as with the cargo cowl in place. I assume I may’ve plopped the flamboyant bag on high and loaded to the roof (what, was I going to make the visibility dangerous???), however that’s technically towards Baggage Check guidelines.
However then I remembered the underfloor storage. What the hell, let’s examine if it may make any distinction.
I began off by squeezing the 2 medium black baggage behind the partition. The underfloor space itself is not flat, neither is the underside sufficiently big to properly accommodate any of the baggage standing up. That is why I wrote it off.
You will additionally discover the massive foam casing for the jack and tire iron that takes up WAY an excessive amount of house given the dimensions of the 2 gadgets it is tasked with carrying. I relocated it and you may see the place it went shortly.
Nicely, that is the most effective I may do. It definitely is not fairly. Fancy bag couldn’t match since it might be smashed unacceptably by the liftgate, in order that’s the most effective I may do right here.
Now, I do not know for certain, however had I utilized the underfloor storage space within the EX40, I am pretty sure that the flamboyant bag may have certainly match inside. Subsequently, all the baggage would have match within the EX40. Once more, that is an edit I am going to should make.
Oh, and this is one other.
They each have a frunk, which Volvo says has 0.7 cubic-foot of quantity. That is sufficient for the cost wire and the 120V and 240V adapters (a really good contact) positioned atop a felt-covered plastic divider. Additionally, you will observe that I relocated the jack and tire iron right here, sans needlessly massive foam thingy. That is how I would depart the automobile if it was mine.
So there you’ve it. Whether or not you name it C40 or EC40, it does certainly have a much less helpful cargo space than the XC40/EX40. And yeah, the visibility actually is the pits. In that it is such as you’ve fallen right into a superbly upholstered pit.
