Volvo vehicles have long been considered the safest luxury rides in the market.

Time and time again, the Swedish brand's latest models have received top, if not the highest, marks for safety from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration of the United States, not to mention the European New Car Assessment Program.

Aside from being a big name in vehicle safety, Volvo also wants to be known as an environment-friendly brand that uses sustainable materials that help lessen environmental impacts.

The launch of its XC40 Recharge pure electric crossover SUV in 2020, started Volvo's goal to be able to come up with more pure electric and hybrid luxury vehicle models that could protect the lives of vehicle owners and the planet as a whole.

Last week, Volvo Philippines presented its P4.19-million C40 Recharge model at the Alabang Town Center in Muntinlupa City, which is a twin of the XC40 Recharge but with a fastback (sloping) roofline.

This all-wheel drive compact luxury ride has dual electric motors that generate an outstanding 408 horsepower and 660 Nm of torque, enabling the C40 Recharge to reach 100 kilometers per hour from a standstill in just 4.7 seconds.

Its top speed is 180 km/h, which is in accordance with the vehicle maker's pledge in 2020, that all Volvos from then on would not go beyond the set speed restriction.

549-km range

What is interesting about the C40 Recharge is that it can travel 549 km on a single charge, equivalent to the distance from Manila to Baguio and back.