Land of slope and glory
What Car? UK|May 2022
With their curvaceous roofs and electric power, these coupé-like SUVs are the height of fashion. Let's see which one will have us singing its praises the loudest
Land of slope and glory

Audi Q4 Sportback e-tron

50 quattro S line

List price £56,045 Target Price £56,045 The Sportback builds on the regular Q4's classy interior and refinement with sleeker looks and a slightly longer (298-mile) official range

NEW Volvo C40 Recharge

Twin Plus

List price £55,550 Target Price £55,550 Based on the XC40 Recharge, the all-new C40 is much more powerful than the Q4 but has a shorter official range of 274 miles

What could the all-new Volvo C40 Recharge and a pair of skinny Nudie jeans possibly have in common? Well, as it turns out, quite a lot, actually. Not only are they both very much bang on trend, but they also share the same design philosophy by being sleeker, more stylish variants of fundamentally practical products. Oh, and both are vegan.

Okay, we'll admit that's where our knowledge of fashionable jeans begins and ends, but we do know a thing or two about electric SUVs, and the C40 is one of the latest to enter the fold. Based on the XC40 Recharge, it sheds that car's square-cut looks, replacing them with a coupé-like roofline and a sloping tailgate to lend the C40 a sleeker appearance.

But the C40 is more than just a fashion statement. Not only is it the first exclusively electric Volvo, but it's also the first to entirely shun leather for its interior. As with the XC40 Recharge, you get the choice of a front-wheel-drive version with a single electric motor or a four-wheel-drive version with two motors - one for each axle. We're testing the latter.

This story is from the May 2022 edition of What Car? UK.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the May 2022 edition of What Car? UK.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM WHAT CAR? UKView All
Genesis GV60
What Car? UK

Genesis GV60

Does this plush newcomer deserve a slice of the premium electric SUV pie? The verdict is in

time-read
3 mins  |
November 2024
BYD Dolphin
What Car? UK

BYD Dolphin

Smallest BYD gets a smaller battery and a slimmer price tag to make it more competitive On sale Now Price from £26,195

time-read
2 mins  |
November 2024
BMW i5
What Car? UK

BMW i5

Our electric executive saloon disproves the notion that battery-powered cars aren't as efficient out of town

time-read
2 mins  |
November 2024
Kia EV6
What Car? UK

Kia EV6

Electric SUV gets a larger battery, revised suspension and a new infotainment system On sale October Price from £45,575

time-read
3 mins  |
November 2024
Maserati GranTurismo Folgore
What Car? UK

Maserati GranTurismo Folgore

Range-topping electric version of Maserati's four-seat coupé packs a 751bhp punch, along with an official range of 280 miles On sale Now Price from £179,950

time-read
2 mins  |
November 2024
Mercedes-Benz C-Class
What Car? UK

Mercedes-Benz C-Class

Looking for all the world like a shrunken S-Class limo, the latest C-Class executive saloon is a tempting used buy with a major trick up its sleeve

time-read
3 mins  |
November 2024
Cupra Terramar
What Car? UK

Cupra Terramar

Bigger sister to the Formentor completes Cupra's combustionengined SUV line-up On sale Early 2025 Price from £35,000 (est)

time-read
2 mins  |
November 2024
Skoda Kamiq
What Car? UK

Skoda Kamiq

We're finding out whether this updated small SUV makes a good workhorse for a high-mileage driver

time-read
3 mins  |
November 2024
Honda e:Ny1
What Car? UK

Honda e:Ny1

Should you consider this small electric SUV over a Smart or Volvo EX30? We're living with one to find out

time-read
3 mins  |
November 2024
PLUGS RETHINK
What Car? UK

PLUGS RETHINK

It may look radically different from before, but is the latest Toyota Prius a cut above its refreshed plug-in hybrid rival from Volkswagen?

time-read
8 mins  |
November 2024