• Plenty of room for passengers
• Boot isn’t the biggest
• Packed with clever storage solutions

How much space is there?

The Volvo XC40 Recharge is quite large for a compact SUV (we know) and its boxy silhouette liberates more space for passengers than the slinky Mercedes EQA. Up in the front seats, not only is there loads of space but there’s plenty of adjustment to the driving position. Entry-level Core models come with seat height and tilt adjustment while Plus models and those above are electrically adjustable and come with an extendable cushion.

Rear-seat passengers are well-treated too. The bench is more suited to two passengers than three, as the middle seat is quite high and narrow. But stick to the two outer seats and they’re ergonomically shaped with a reasonable amount of under-thigh support – not always a given in electric car rear seats which often have very high floors. Headroom is good throughout and there’s legroom for four six-footers to sit in comfort.

Boot space and storage

There’s a 452-litre boot round back, which is large, but not the biggest in the class – it has the Mercedes EQA licked, but doesn’t trouble the Ioniq 5, Kia EV6 or Audi Q4 e-Tron.

It is, however, a square and unobstructed space. With 31 litres of space under the bonnet providing a perfect sanctuary for those annoying charging cables, the full boot capacity is available. The clever adjustable floor combines a load divider with hooks for shopping bags, while every model has a powered tailgate.

Storage options are excellent throughout. Volvo’s moved the speakers from the door pockets to the dashboard, which means the door bins on the XC40 are vast – easily large enough to accommodate a laptop bag. You get clever touches, like a fold-down curry hook in the glovebox and a neat little flip-top waste bin in the centre console. For your phone, there’s a prominent wireless charging pad underneath the infotainment screen – though if this was sited on one side it’d leave space on the other for more oddments.

Is it easy to park?

Rear parking sensors come as standard, while Plus models gain front sensors and a reversing camera. Ultimate cars come with the full 360-degree camera setup that makes parking an absolute doddle.

Not that it’s particularly hard without these features. The XC40 is a nice square shape and visibility is pretty good – except over your shoulder, where the rising window-line and thick C-pillar restrict your view. Notwithstanding, it shouldn’t prove too onerous to park.

Safety

Few brands are as synonymous with safety as Volvo so it should come as no surprise that not only does the XC40 Recharge qualify for a full five-star Euro NCAP crash safety rating, it’s loaded with a plethora of driver assistance and safety systems as standard.

All models come with autonomous emergency braking, lane-keeping aids, traffic sign recognition and a glut of airbags including side pelvis and driver’s knee protection.

From the Plus model upwards, the XC40 is fitted with Pilot Assist – Volvo’s assisted driving package, which has some of the most predictable and smooth responses of any of these systems we’ve tested. Blind-spot monitors and cross traffic alert also feature. All models come with LED headlights and two Isofix points on the outer rear seats and the front passenger seat.