Should you buy one?

If you’re considering a first foray into the world of electric SUVs then the Volvo EX40 would make a great place to start. It continues to be an excellent choice in the compact electric SUV market, as it’s a safe, secure and practical offering that will easily slot into family life, with a more intuitive interior than more advanced EVs, not least Volvo’s new high-tech EX30.

But there’s no escaping that Volvo perhaps hasn’t pushed the updates on this EX40 far enough, especially next to more modern rivals like the Audi Q4 E-Tron Sportback and best-selling Tesla Model Y. But don’t let that put you off, as there are plenty of options to choose from, as well as the option of two- or four-wheel drive.

What’s new?

The name, for one – you might know this car as the Volvo XC40 Recharge. But since 2024, and to tie in with new electric models, such as the EX90 and EX30, this popular model has been rebranded to match. Other than that, little has changed, as Volvo continues to develop its reputation as a premium player. They’re still among the safest on the market, just as they always have been, only now with a Skandi-cool essence that’s unrivalled.

It sits in the middle of the electric SUV range, above the smart but less practical EX30 and below the gargantuan EX90 seven-seater. Right off the bat it feels like the Goldilocks option: a proper SUV with imposing proportions and great practicality, but one you can still whip around multi-storey car parks without weeping in fear for your poor bumpers and wheels. 

Only trouble is, there are several alternatives in the fecund mid-sized electric SUV market that can also do the same. There’s the sensible but excellent Skoda Elroq at the bottom end, but really it’s premium German offerings like the BMW iX1, Mercedes EQA and Audi Q4 E-Tron in Volvo’s crosshairs.

There are three EX40 variants on offer: a single-motor option, a long-range single-motor option and a twin-motor car at the top end. They churn out 238hp, 252hp and 408hp respectively, with combined ranges of up to 296.4 miles, 355.4 miles and 331 miles according to WLTP figures. Trims are split into two basic categories, regular and Black Edition.

The latter, as the name would suggest, bathes the car in full black paint from the roof rails to the bumpers, but within both are more subcategory trims. The four on offer for the regular car range from Core to Ultra, while the three Black Edition trims range from Plus to Ultra. 

To find out what the Volvo EX40 is like to live with, read on for the full review from Parkers, as we cover its handling ability, interior quality and price before reaching a final verdict. Want to know how we conducted our examination? Head over to our how we test cars page to find out.