The Volvo EX40 is a fully electric SUV which has been manufactured by the brand since 2017, previously under the XC40 badge. It was renamed in 2024 alongside some considerable changes for the new model, making it one of the most exciting cars in the Volvo range.
The previously named model was named the European Car of the Year in 2018, Car of the Year Japan for 2018/2019, and Women’s World Car of the Year 2018 whilst the EX40 has been named the Mid-Sized SUV of the Year for 2024 by the News UK Motor Awards, continuing the legacy. The build quality of the EX40 is exceptional, and Auto Express has praised the Volvo EX40 for this and its overall performance.
The Volvo EX40 continues to use the Geely CMA Platform that the previous Volvo XC40 badged models used, ensuring that if you’re moving into the same car electric car from the XC40 its dimensions will feel familiar.
The Volvo EX40 front has the standard closed grille look that the other electric models in the range have, which emphasises at a glance that it uses an electric motor rather than a combustion engine. The other key focal point is the signature daytime running lights in Volvo’s distinctive “Thor’s Hammer” shape, which complement the Pixel LED headlights on the higher trim models.
Top trim models have a power glass tilt and slide panoramic roof with a sun curtain, ideal for enjoying good weather or shutting out bad weather! It’s also great for small children who can occupy themselves watching clouds or the night sky whilst on the road. The Plus model and Black Edition versions feature a contrasting black roof, enhancing the vehicle's sporty and stylish appearance.
The Volvo EX40 embodies the Volvo aesthetic with its confident road presence and with strong lines around the entire exterior, most evident with the prominent shoulder line along the side profile. At the rear you’ll find the vertically stacked stacked LED tail lights which emphasise the shoulder line perfectly.
Volvo have a commitment to sustainability and many of their materials inside the cabin reflect this. Throughout the range you’ll find materials that redefine luxury by taking recycled plastic bottles, plastic waste, or even rescued pairs of jeans to create their natural, certified, and premium quality interiors. The door linings, for instance, are made from 97% recycled plastic bottles, emphasizing the eco-friendly design.
The 9 inch touchscreen in the centre console comes prepared with Google Automotive Services and unlimited mobile data for four years to accommodate them. This includes Google Automotive Services enabled entertainment apps, navigation with Google Maps, and voice recognition with Google Assistant which can be used for vehicle functions, voice controlled web searches, and Google connected home appliances.
These work alongside the Volvo Cars Services with its app that allows you access to Volvo Public Charging Service, driving journal, emergency and breakdown call function, remote door lock and unlocking, vehicle dashboard, and vehicle preconditioning.
The driver then benefits from a 12.3” progressive driver display which displays the most important information to you and allows you to see it at a glance. This can be directions from the integrated sat nav, fuel information, or driving data if its your preference.
There’s plenty of space in the front seats with 1030mm of headroom and 1040mm of leg room whilst the rear seats have 994mm of headroom and 917mm of leg room, making it comfortable for taller passengers.
Storage space is also more than ample in the Volvo EX40 with 410 litres of boot space with all five seats in use which then opens up to 1286 litres with the rear seats folded down. There’s also a front load compartment, or frunk, which is common on a fully electric SUV. It’s split into two sections; an upper compartment which will store your charging cables or washer fluid bottles and a lower compartment which houses the puncture repair kit.
Additionally, the Volvo EX40 features a ski hatch, allowing you to transport long items from the boot to the passenger area without needing to fold down the rear seats, increasing versatility in boot space while still accommodating passengers.
As well as this there are several clever storage points around the cabin such as hooks to hang bags from, holders throughout the cabin, and the speaker shave been relocated from the doors to give you larger door pockets to comfortably store larger items like water bottles or laptops.
Volvo highlights the versatility of the EX40 in its powertrain choice. Opting for the Single Motor version gives you the power and agility of rear wheel drive whilst opting for the Twin Motor version gives a more powerful performance and all wheel drive experience. However, during high-speed cornering, the EX40 does exhibit noticeable body lean, which can affect the overall driving dynamics compared to sportier competitors.
They also highlight that the current model powertrains have improved range and charging times thanks to new battery packs and electric motor options when compared to previous generations of the fully electric powertrain in the EX40, referring to the models under the XC40 badging. The electric motors in the EX40 provide a significant performance boost over traditional petrol engines, making it a standout in its class.
Currently the EX40 is available with a range of electric power options: Single Motor, Single Motor Extended Range, Twin Motor, and Twin Motor Performance.
The Single Motor Volvo EX40 gives you 238hp and 420Nm from the 69kWh battery and an all electric range of up to 295 miles in rear wheel drive with a 0-62mph time of 7.3 seconds. It’s more than ample as the entry level option and would guarantee you’d be able to drive your normal routes and trips without range anxiety. It charges on a 7kW AC home charger in 11 hours and can use a DC pubic charging point up to 135kW to charge 10-80% in just 33 minutes.
The Single Motor Extended Range Volvo EX40 uses a larger 82kWh battery for a 252hp output with 420Nm of torque and a 7.3 second 0-62mph time. The real difference comes in the real world range which can be up to 357 miles, depending on driving style and conditions, and that a DC public charging point up to 155kW can be used for the 33 minute charge to 80%.
If you want a four wheel driving experience, the Twin Motor Volvo EX40 is the option you’ll need to look at. 150hp comes front the front axle drive motor and 258hp comes from the rear axle drive motor for a total output of 408hp and 670Nm of torque. The extra power provided by the dual-motor configuration significantly enhances acceleration and makes it much more suitable for towing. The official range is estimated at 331 miles. As a slightly larger battery it does take a little longer to charge on an AC home charging point, estimated at 13 hours from 0-100%, but it can use DC public charging points up to 205kW which then decreases the up to 80% charge to 28 minutes.
The most powerful of the Twin Motor cars is the Twin Motor Performance. It gives you 184hp from the front axle drive motor and 258hp from the rear axle drive motor for a combined output of 442hp with 670Nm of torque. Volvo estimates the same 13 hour charging time from 0-100% as the Twin Motor version for AC home charging and can also utilise DC charging points up to 205kW for a 28 minute charge up to 80%. The Twin Motor Performance has an estimated range of 326 miles and 0-62mph is drastically reduced to 4.8 seconds. The addition of a second motor in the Twin Motor versions not only improves acceleration but also enhances the overall driving experience and range.
Thanks to one pedal driving, its an exceptionally easy car to drive and easy to use the regenerative braking mode to put power back into the battery to extend each charge further. Additionally, the current battery technology allows for much larger ranges, which makes electric cars absolutely comparable to petrol engine cars or cars with other combustion engine types. At motorway speeds, the EX40 handles noise and vibration well, though it does impact battery consumption during long journeys.
Currently the EX40 is available in four different trim levels: Core, Plus, Plus Pro, Ultra.
The entry level Core trim is incredibly well equipped, with 19" 5 double spoke alloy wheels, colour co-ordinated front covered grille, high gloss black rear skid plate, low speed exterior sound speaker, integrated black roof rails, automatic LED headlights with high beam that incorporates daytime running lights, and Black Stone autofolding, front and rear parking sensors, a rear park assist camera, automatic wipers, heated power door mirrors all found on the exterior of the model.
Inside, heated front seats, a height adjustable passenger seat with manual adjustment and multi-directional lumbar support, a height and tilt adjustable driver seat with multi-directional lumbar support, and front seat cushion extensions are all standard whilst the upholstery is the brand's City Canvas Textile. Front metal tread plates engraved with EX40, ambient interior lighting, and a 3 spoke tailored steering wheel with chrome trim completes the cabin space.
Technology includes the aforementioned Google Automotive Services, wired Apple Carplay and Android Auto, Volvo Cars Services with app connection, Bluetooth, DAB radio, wireless phone charging, an 8-speaker high performance sound system, the 9" centre touchscreen, and 12.3" driver display.
Upgrading to the Plus trim introduces a range of enhancements focused on comfort, convenience, and safety. Enjoy a cleaner cabin with the Air Purifier PM and optimized climate control with a heat pump. Added comfort features include a heated steering wheel and heated outer rear seats. Convenience is boosted by front LED fog lights, a hands-free power tailgate, keyless entry and start, and puddle lights. For enhanced safety and ease of driving, the Plus trim includes Pilot Assist, rear collision warning and mitigation, high-level illumination, and a power driver's seat with memory linked to the exterior mirrors, along with a practical flexible load floor with a grocery bag holder.
Plus Pro models add active bending pixel LED headlights with adaptive shadow technology, front LED fog lights with cornering function, headlight cleaning system, parking 360 degree camera surround view with side proximity sensors, and rear dark tinted windows, on top of the features of the Plus model.
The Ultra is, as the name suggests, the ultimate trim for those who want every piece of equipment available across the range. As well as the Plus Pro features you'll also have 20" 5 spoke black, diamond cut alloys, power glass tilt and slide panoramic sunroof fitted with sun curtain, Fusion Microtech textile upholstery, power folding rear headrests, power passenger seat, and a premium Harman Kardon sound system which is made up of 12 speakers with Dolby Pro Logic II surround sound and a subwoofer.
The Black Edition focus on enhancing the aesthetics of the Volvo EX40 on either the Plus Pro or Ultra trims. It adds 20" 5 spoke high gloss black alloy wheels, Connect Suede textile/Microtech upholstery, dark tinted rear windows, high gloss black front grille strikethrough and Ironmark, high gloss black rear model, engine, and Volvo logo badges, and performance drive mode in Twin Motor Performance models.
Volvo are often held as pioneers in automotive safety and their vision since 2007 has been that no one should be seriously injured or killed in a new Volvo car. They have analysed over 50,000 cars from real-world accidents since the 1970s in order to further their ability to keep occupants safe.
The Volvo EX40 is currently awaiting testing from Euro NCAP, the previous XC40 model had a five star safety rating, but has been tested by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) where it received the highest rating in their crash tests and received the "Advanced" rating for the front crash prevention test .
Standard safety equipment on the Volvo EX40 includes adaptive cruise control, hill start assist, hill descent control, automatic emergency braking, oncoming lane mitigation, lane keeping aid, whiplash protection system, adjustable steering force, front and rear parking sensors, reversing camera, city safety with steering support which includes pedestrian and cyclist detection and front collision warning, driver alert control, and intelligent speed control.
Volvo warranty on new cars is 3 years or 60,000 miles, whichever comes first whilst the Lithium battery pack is covered for 8 years or 100,000 miles, again whichever comes first. Both of these cover any component failure attributed to faulty materials or material defect itself and will be rectified free of charge by an authorised Volvo dealer.
At the time of writing, the EX40 Core trim starts at £44,760 with the Single Motor drivetrain, the Plus trim starts at £50,410, the Plus Pro starts at £52,410, and the Ultra starts at £55,910 but comes with the Single Motor Extended Range as standard.
Upgrading the powertrain, changing the paint colour, or adding additional equipment or packs will increase the price accordingly so please take it into consideration when placing your order.
The Volvo EX40 is an excellent option as a fully electric car. Lots of storage space, passenger space, and useful features make it a good car for potential buyers, offering great value for money. Additionally, the EX40 offers more range compared to other electric SUVs, making it a practical choice for those seeking better performance and efficiency.
For more information about the new Volvo EX40, please contact John Clark Volvo today. Our teams in Aberdeen, Dundee, and Edinburgh will happily answer any questions you might have about the Volvo EX40, finance and purchase options available, and take you on a test drive.
