Volvo EX40 (2024 - )

Just to avoid any confusion from the off, the Volvo EX40 was previously known as the XC40 Recharge so they are essentially the same car but with a number of updates. It’s a five-door chunky SUV that’s very big on style, drives beautifully, covers all practicality bases and has a decent enough driving range too.

It’s available in trims called Core, Plus and Ultra with recently-introduced Black Edition versions to the Plus and Ultra grades. Prices start from £45,955 so it’s not exactly a bargain-basement model and, if you venture further up the trim grades, the range-topping EX40 Ultra Black edition will set you back £63,105.

There are single motor versions for rear-wheel drive or twin motor versions that introduce all-wheel drive to the mix, and with a choice of battery sizes too, some models offer in excess of 300 miles driving range between charges.

In recent years, Volvo has been battling it out against more premium rivals and this is another vehicle that will take on big-hitters including the likes of Audi, BMW, Mercedes and Tesla to name just a few.

We opted for the EX40 Single Motor Extended Range RWD version in high-end Ultra grade for our test drive.

The EX40 is a family SUV that looks great from any approach with a smoothed-out grille area, Thor’s hammer signature front lights, black pillars and wheel arch cladding, dark tinted windows, a tapering roofline, upright tail lights and 20-inch alloy wheels.

Moving inside, the interior is clutter-free and feature rich with super-comfy powered seats that can be heated along with the steering wheel. There are memory settings to save favourite driving positions which is useful if the car is shared between drivers and even the outer rear passengers benefit from heated seats.

Light floods into the cabin thanks to the panoramic sunroof and there is a wealth of on-board tech to explore via the portrait infotainment screen or by using the voice-activated Google assistant. There is sat nav, DAB radio, Bluetooth, full Apple CarPlay or Android Auto smartphone connectivity, and our high-end Ultra car featured a superb 12-speaker Harman Kardon Dolby surround sound system. 

A 12.3-inch driver information screen displays all the vital numbers such as speed and range, while there is a 360-degree camera offering an overhead view of the vehicle, which is great when squeezing into tight parking spaces where a raised kerb could easily scuff an expensive alloy.

We would like to see a few more physical buttons, especially to control the climate functions, but the temperature can be raised or lowered in a single press of the touchscreen, which is far simpler than some rival models. You do get a volume dial which is good and we liked the chunky gear selector too.

Powering Our Single Motor Extended Range EX40 was the larger 78kWh battery with an electric motor on the back axle for rear-wheel drive. It delivered 252hp and 420Nm of torque which resulted in a 0-62mph sprint time of 7.3 seconds and a top speed of 112mph. That’s pretty impressive for a family vehicle weighing in at just over one tonne.

The lesser-powered models feature a 69kWh unit and while the performance figures are the same, the range takes a bit of a hit at 270-295 miles between charges, whereas our Extended Range test car could deliver from 309 to 343 miles between charges. We should point out that these are the official WLTP figures and you would need to drive in an extremely restrained manner and make the very most of any regenerative braking opportunity to get anywhere close to those figures.

When it comes to performance, the EX40 is deceptively agile with impressive manoeuvrability in busier town centres where the cameras and parking aids prove useful. And the One-pedal Drive mode works really well in stop-and-go traffic and will help boost the battery by recouping energy as the car slows down.

Then when faced with the open road, the acceleration through the automatic transmission is smooth and responsive with ample grip through twisting bends. It’s possible to switch between a Standard and Off-road mode as well as adjusting the steering feel. The EX40 is a comfortable motorway cruiser too and will sit effortlessly at 70mph. It also includes Volvo’s excellent Pilot Assist system that will maintain a safe distance from the car in front while keeping the vehicle within the lane markings.

I wouldn’t say the EX40 is particularly dynamic to drive, but it’s no slouch either. In fact, it’s typically Volvo-esque in its approach – safe, comfortable, steady and accomplished. 

Refinement levels are impressive with very little noise filtering into the cabin, while the highly effective suspension set-up smooths out the bumps and dips along the way.

The five-door, five-seat Volvo EX40 is a well-sized family SUV that can accommodate five occupants and still have room for luggage too. It stretches 4,440mm in length, 2,034mm wide (including extended mirrors), is 1,651mm tall and has a wheelbase of 2,702mm.

Up front, there is ample space for a couple of six footers to sit comfortably and the powered seats make it easy to find the perfect driving position.

Tall occupants can easily fit in the back too, but three adults would certainly feel a bit too squashed, especially as the middle passenger needs to straddle a fairly large hump. The space is ideal for a trio of youngsters though.

The boot is accessed via a powered tailgate and can swallow 536 litres of kit, extended to a capacity of 1,286 litres with the 60:40 split-folding rear seats dropped flat. There is additional storage beneath the boot floor, along with a frunk to keep all the charging cables safe beneath the bonnet.

Throughout the car are plenty of well thought-out storage options, including a glovebox, front and rear cup holders, seat back nets, deep door bins, a central cubby, wireless charging pad, plus a clip at the end of the dashboard to keep any tickets safe.

Charging the EX40’s Single Motor Extended Range 78kWh battery via a 155kW fast charger takes 33 minutes for a 10 to 80 per cent boost, or from eight hours from zero to 100 per cent if plugged into an 11kW wallbox.

The rear-wheel drive versions of the EX40 can tow a braked trailer or caravan weighing up to 1.5 tonnes, but this increases to a limit of 1.8 tonnes for AWD models.

The EX40 costs from £45,955 for the Single Motor Core model with the smaller 69kWh battery and increases to £63,105 for the Ultra Black Edition Twin Motor Performance model.

Our test car, the EX40 Single Motor Extended Range Ultra, cost £58,355 and there were no optional extras added to the price.

Day-to-day running costs of the EX40 can be kept low by charging at home or work when tariffs tend to be a lot cheaper, although fast charging is an option on this model. 

With zero tailpipe emissions the EX40 is exempt from road tax, Congestion Charge and Ultra Low Emission Zone fees. And while owners of combustion powered models costing in excess of £40,000 are subjected to a premium car tax which adds £410 to the annual bill from years two to six, EV owners are also exempt from paying this too.

On the downside though, most if not all of these Government-led incentives are being reduced or withdrawn from next year.

For fleet drivers considering the EX40 as a business car, it has a very attractive Benefit in Kind tax savings rate of two per cent.

The car comes with a three-year, 60,000-mile warranty, extended to eight years or 100,000 miles for the battery.

While the EX40 is essentially a rebadging process to ditch the Recharge name and bring the model in line with other EVs in the Volvo stable, it still has plenty of all-round appeal. Yes, there are faster, more dynamic family SUVs out there, but few will cover as many areas as well as the EX40. It looks great without being garish, is practical with room for five occupants, has a decent range between charges and drive well.

It's not cheap, but in all honesty, few things of this quality ever are.