Oh Volvo, how I love your safe, stylish ways. This Swedish car brand is very much in the Muddy sweet spot – I freely admit I’ve spent the last 15 years driving two whopping 7 seater family XE90s (not at the same time, that would be silly) as chief shopping delivery expert, child herder and everyday pootler. I did give up the XE90 during Covid when my kids no longer needed ferrying around, in favour of a small knock around but now, like so many others with an eye on the environment, I’m seriously considering switching to an electric car. I need something that isn’t going to bankrupt me, is safe for the kids, but looks and feels less slippers and more stilettos.

Could the XC40 Recharge Pure Electric be the one? Read my review below (and hey, send it to a friend of two), or alternatively hop in here for our first Muddy Car Video Review – honest and spritely as you’d expect from Muddy, plus it’ll give you everything you need to know about the XC40 Recharge Pure Electric in 2 minutes flat!

THE CAR

Elegant, grown-up and oozing class. But that’s enough about me. Volvo’s first all-electric vehicle, the XC40 Recharge Pure Electric arrived in the UK In early 2021, a compact 5 seater SUV whose petrol and hybrid versions had already won it international plaudits on its 2018 launch. This version is small enough to nip around the city, boasts an interior that comfortably seats four adults (or two adults and three small children), and has an acceleration that feels a bit saucy for its size, so it offers broad appeal. There are three equipment levels available and 5 colour ways – Onyx Black, Fjord Blue, Crystal White, Sage Green and Thunder Grey.

THE DRIVE

Car experts will chew on the top of their Bic biros and bemoan the lack of the XC40 Recharge Pure Electric’s adaptive suspension but it felt plenty smooth to me. I took it first for a city jaunt into the mean streets of Oxford – pretty spires I grant you, but the roads are not car-friendly and a good test of the kind of nimble city-driving that saw me gain Best Speed Reverser North London 2002 (OK, that’s a lie but you get my drift). I was fast out the blocks at the lights – if you’re new to electric cars you’ll be gobsmacked at how quickly they accelerate generally this one’s nippier than most. I also found it compact enough to find a roadside park close to the University Parks and the Natural History Museum (thanks to the as-standard rear parking sensors and a rear-view camera) – some kind of miracle right there.

Then it was foot down on the motorway to see how it fared for an overnight review at The Wild Rabbit in the Cotswolds. Honestly, the motorway was a doddle – the seat height in the Volvo really helps with visibility and the car definitely felt nimble and sporty on country roads. With nearly 260 miles per charge, the 90 minute trip each way held no fear for me.

INSIDE

Clearly you get what you pay for when it come to car finishes but even the entry level equipment here feels slick and stylish, with a digital dashboard that that looks flashy but is luddite friendly, stylish stitching on the non-leather seats (all models of the XC40 eschew leather altogether) and a boot which holds 452 litres, which I know will mean nothing to you (me neither) but sounds good. To translate, with the back seats up, you’ll pack two middle sized suitcases and a carry on. With the seats down, you’ll pack more of a punch with four middle-sized suitcases. All said, the XC40 is more appealing with a weekender bag in mind. Shopping bags or supervillain children will also work nicely.

THE TECH

Tech, you say? (*stifles yawn*). Don’t worry, here’s the stuff you’ll actually want to know about.

Pace: The Volvo XE40 goes 0-62mph in 7.3-second – definitely, shall we say, alert to the accelerator.

Emissions: Are you kidding me?

Comes with:  Google Maps as standard in the digital interface, and an advanced air purifier which prevents up to 80 per cent of hazardous PM 2.5 particles entering the cabin.

Pay more for: How deep are your pockets? An extra £8,925 will give you a whole raft of glossy extras, including panoramic glass roof, 360 view parking, roof rails, tinted rear windows.

COOL STUFF

Sometimes it’s the little details that make the difference. Clearly there’s a female hand in the design that’s decreed a bag hook on the glove box, and a removable waste bin with a lid to keep the rubbish from cascading into door alcoves and the floor (guilty as charged). The 360 parking was mighty handy.

THE MUDDY VERDICT

Good for: Weekends away, stylish business use, child-collecting, shopping trips, a family run-around. Certainly you could drive the Volvo XE40 as a guy and not feel effete, but it has strong female creds – I’d really like one.

Not for: Family holidays – the boot won’t do it for you.

£££: XE40 prices start at £35830.