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Polestar 4 Coupé vs Volvo C40 Recharge
Selected trimRear motorChange trim385 mi · 100 kWh · £56,750
Selected trimSingle Motor FWD · 2022-23Change trim272 mi · 69 kWh · £48,355
At a glance
The Volvo C40 Recharge was replaced by the Volvo EC40 in 2024. Compare the Polestar 4 Coupé with the Volvo EC40
In this comparison, Polestar 4 Coupé leads on value for money, motorway range and family practicality, while the Volvo C40 Recharge leads on running costs and city driving.
Which should you choose?
Choose the Polestar 4 Coupé if...
- you want the most for your money - best overall spec per pound
- you do long motorway journeys - it has the best estimated real-world range at speed
- you need the most family-friendly option with good safety and space
- you need the fastest charging of these options
Choose the Volvo C40 Recharge if...
- you want the lowest running costs - from just 2.2p per mile on off-peak electricity
- you need the best car for city driving and tight parking
How we reached the recommendation
Verdict
Our take
The Polestar 4 Coupé leads in the most categories, but each car here has its strengths.
ValuePolestar
Polestar
6.2
Volvo
5.5
Motorway RangePolestar
Polestar
6.3
Volvo
3.9
FamilyPolestar
Polestar
6.4
Volvo
5.4
ChargingPolestar
Polestar
8.2
Volvo
2.6
Cost Per MileVolvo
Polestar
3.8
Volvo
4.5
City DrivingVolvo
Polestar
1.8
Volvo
4.7
What each car does better
See the specification differences behind the verdict, with supporting figures for each advantage.
Polestar 4 Coupé
Rear motor
- 113 miles more WLTP range
- 113 litres more boot space
- 70 kW faster rapid charging
- 30 kW more power
Key specifications
Compare the key specifications for your selected trims.
| Measure | Polestar 4 CoupéRear motor | Volvo C40 RechargeSingle Motor FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £56,750 | £48,355 (better) |
| Official range | 385 miles (better) | 272 miles |
| Boot space | 526 L (better) | 413 L |
| 10-80% rapid charge | Not available | 37 min |
| 0-62 mph | Not available | 7.4 sec |
Size Comparison
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Polestar 4 Coupé
Volvo C40 Recharge
Length
Polestar 4 Coupé4,840mm
Volvo C40 Recharge4,440mm-400mm
Width
Polestar 4 Coupé2,008mm
Volvo C40 Recharge1,863mm-145mm
Height
Polestar 4 Coupé1,534mm-62mm
Volvo C40 Recharge1,596mm
Space, size & parking
Parking & manoeuvring
Compare exterior dimensions to assess how each car fits UK parking spaces.
| Measure | Polestar 4 CoupéRear motor | Volvo C40 RechargeSingle Motor FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 4,840 mm | 4,440 mm |
| Width (mirrors folded) | 2,008 mm | 1,863 mm (better) |
| Width with mirrors out | 2,139 mm | 2,034 mm (better) |
| Height | 1,534 mm | 1,596 mm |
| Turning circle | 11.6 m | 11.4 m (better) |
| Clearance in a standard bayA standard UK parking bay is 2,400 mm wide. | 392 mm spare | 537 mm spare (better) |
People & luggage
Compare seating, child-seat mounting points, boot space and towing capacity.
| Measure | Polestar 4 CoupéRear motor | Volvo C40 RechargeSingle Motor FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| ISOFIX child-seat points | Not available | 2 |
| Boot space (seats up) | 526 L (better) | 413 L |
| Boot space (seats down) | Not available | 1205 L |
| Frunk | Not available | 31 L |
| Towing capacity (braked) | Not available | 1,500 kg |
Full specifications
| Specification |  Polestar 4 Coupé Rear motor |  Volvo C40 Recharge Single Motor FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4.84m | 4.44m-400mm |
| Width | 2.01m | 1.86m-145mm |
| Width (mirrors) | 2.14m | 2.03m-105mm |
| Height | 1.53m | 1.60m+62mm |
| Wheelbase | 3.00m | 2.70m-297mm |
| Ground Clearance | 166mm | 175mm+9mm |
| Capacity | ||
| Boot (seats up) | 526L (better) | 413L |
| Boot (seats down) | Not available | 1205L |
| Frunk | Not available | 31L |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Practicality | ||
| Turning Circle | 11.64m | 11.4m (better) |
| Kerb Weight | 2,230kg | 2,010kg (better) |
| Towing Capacity | Not available | 1,500kg |
| Electric | ||
| Battery | 100kWh (better) | 69kWh |
| Range (WLTP) | 385 mi (better) | 272 mi |
| Max DC Charge | 200kW (better) | 130kW |
| Pricing | ||
| UK MSRP | £56,750 | £48,355 (better) |
| Details | ||
| Body Style | Coupe SUV | Coupe SUV |
| Available | 2026+ | 2022–2023 |
Range & charging
Range, charging & battery
Check official and estimated driving range alongside charging speeds, efficiency and battery technology.
| Measure | Polestar 4 CoupéRear motor | Volvo C40 RechargeSingle Motor FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Official range (WLTP) | 385 miles (better) | 272 miles |
| Estimated motorway rangeEVcarsguide estimate at sustained motorway speed. | 321 miles (better) | 227 miles |
| 10-80% rapid charge time | Not available | 37 min |
| Max rapid charge rate | 200 kW (better) | 130 kW |
| Home AC charging | 11 kW | 11 kW |
| Usable battery capacity | 100 kWh (better) | 66 kWh |
| Battery chemistry | Not available | NMC |
| Battery architecture | Not available | 400V |
| Heat pump | Not available | Standard |
Driving & everyday use
Performance & drivetrain
Compare acceleration, power and drivetrain specifications for the selected trims.
| Measure | Polestar 4 CoupéRear motor | Volvo C40 RechargeSingle Motor FWD |
|---|---|---|
| 0-62 mph | Not available | 7.4 sec |
| Power | 200 kW (better) | 170 kW |
| Torque | Not available | 330 Nm |
| Drivetrain | RWD | FWD |
What the critics say
See how UK motoring publications rate each car in their road tests. One car has more review coverage than the other - we show that rather than guessing.
Polestar 4 Coupé
Rear motor
No critic reviews gathered yet for this car.
Volvo C40 Recharge
Single Motor FWD
Watch the reviews
Watch selected video reviews here, or visit each model page for the full collection.
Reviews and videos discuss each model overall; the specifications above apply to your selected trims.
Prices & deals
Calculate your real costs
For a useful running-cost comparison, factor in your mileage, charging access and current petrol or diesel car alongside the EV estimate.
Compare with petrol or diesel
Compare purchase price, energy, road tax and maintenance with a petrol or diesel alternative.
Calculate company-car tax
Work out monthly Benefit-in-Kind using current and future HMRC rates.
Cost per mile
Compare EV charging costs per mile with petrol and diesel using your charging options.
Check a lease quote
Assess the effective monthly cost alongside the list price and expected depreciation.
Safety & ownership confidence
Euro NCAP - Polestar 4 Coupé Rear motor
Tested 2025
Adult Occupant92%
Child Occupant85%
Vulnerable Road Users81%
Safety Assist79%
Full result on euroncap.com (opens in new tab)
Euro NCAP - Volvo C40 Recharge Single Motor FWD
Tested 2022
Adult Occupant92%
Child Occupant89%
Vulnerable Road Users70%
Safety Assist89%
Full result on euroncap.com (opens in new tab)
Warranty
Check the published battery warranty cover for each selected trim.
| Measure | Polestar 4 CoupéRear motor | Volvo C40 RechargeSingle Motor FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Battery warranty | 8 years | 8 years |
| Battery warranty distance | 160,934 km | 160,934 km |
Buying options
Get a quote
Polestar 4 Coupé
Used on AutoTraderLease deals
Volvo C40 Recharge
Used on AutoTraderLease deals
Live used listings
Active inventory from independent UK dealers.
Polestar 4 Coupé
No active listings.
Volvo C40 Recharge
- £20,9292023Car360View
- £20,5312023Car360View
Frequently asked questions
Is the Polestar 4 Coupé worth the extra £8,395 over the Volvo C40 Recharge?
The Polestar 4 Coupé costs £8,395 more than the Volvo C40 Recharge. For that premium it adds 113 miles more WLTP range, 70 kW faster peak rapid charging and 113 litres more boot space. On EVcarsguide's combined category scores, the Polestar 4 Coupé comes out ahead overall.
Which is cheaper to own over 5 years, the Polestar 4 Coupé or the Volvo C40 Recharge?
The Volvo C40 Recharge is £8,395 cheaper to buy. Running costs are almost identical - about £176 a year either way, at 8,000 miles on an off-peak home tariff. Add 5 years of charging and the Volvo C40 Recharge comes out roughly £8,395 cheaper overall. These figures cover list price and home charging only - insurance, servicing, tyres and depreciation will move the real total.
What are the Polestar 4 Coupé and Volvo C40 Recharge like on a long motorway trip?
EVcarsguide estimates a real-world motorway range of about 321 miles for the Polestar 4 Coupé and 227 miles for the Volvo C40 Recharge - both below their WLTP figures, because sustained high speed is the hardest case for an EV. The Polestar 4 Coupé goes roughly 94 miles further between charging stops.
Which is easier to park and drive in town, the Polestar 4 Coupé or the Volvo C40 Recharge?
The Volvo C40 Recharge is the easier car for tight UK car parks: it is 145 mm narrower than the Polestar 4 Coupé. In a standard 2,400 mm bay that leaves about 537 mm of total clearance for the Volvo C40 Recharge and about 392 mm of total clearance for the Polestar 4 Coupé.
Go deeper on each car
Visit the full model pages for owner feedback, expert reviews, used prices and battery-health information.
Compare against other rivals
Compare similarly sized and priced electric cars before finalising your shortlist.
More Polestar 4 Coupé comparisons
More Volvo C40 Recharge comparisons
See both cars in our rankings
EVcarsguide scores every verified EV on price, range, family use and running costs. Here is where this pair appears.
Where the Polestar 4 Coupé and Volvo C40 Recharge rank among the best family EVsWhere the Polestar 4 Coupé and Volvo C40 Recharge rank among the best motorway EVsWhere the Polestar 4 Coupé and Volvo C40 Recharge rank among the best city EVsWhere the Polestar 4 Coupé and Volvo C40 Recharge rank among the cheapest EVs to runWhere the Polestar 4 Coupé and Volvo C40 Recharge rank among EVs with the biggest bootsWhere the Polestar 4 Coupé and Volvo C40 Recharge rank among Best Used Electric Cars Under £10,000 (UK)
Further reading
Explore buying and ownership guides to help you choose between these electric cars.
Data accuracy
Specs are sourced from manufacturer websites and manually reviewed. These figures were last verified .