Volvo EX40 Review: Price & Specs | Electric SUV Test

The Volvo XC40 came to Norway’s first time in 2018, then with gasoline or diesel engine under the hood.

Just before Christmas in 2020, it was so clear for what was going to be a really bestseller: the electric edition.

So it has been on the market for five years. There have been many strong competitors over the five years, yet sales so far this year are up as much as 275 per cent.

How is it possible? Well, with what is perhaps the oldest trick in the seller’s book: to put down the prices. In recent months you have received the EX40 (which the XC40 has changed its name) and the sister model EC40 at the promotional price. Prices are cut over NOK 128,000.

Ex40 Twin Motor Plus for you now for NOK 489,000 while the top edition Twin Motor Ultra costs from 519,900,-.

NB: This is a short test, click here to read our test of XC40/EX40

What’s new?

It’s not just the prices that are new. A lot has also happened with the EX40 and the EC40 along the way, although the cars on the outside appear quite unchanged.

One thing is the name change, which was done to make them slide better into Volvo’s new namesake system. There have also been several technical upgrades along the way. Most important for buyers is probably increased range. When the XC40 came as an electric car, the 4×4 range had up to 417 kilometers.

Now this has increased significantly, to 517 kilometers. The car also charges l faster: up from 150 to 205 kW.

In addition, a new and Google-based infotainment system has come to name a few.

XC40 got longer reach than Volvo first thought

How does it work?

After seven years, there is not much signaling “new car” when you see an EX40 or EC40 in traffic. Volvo has admittedly refined a bit on the design, but there are enough changes that pass most houses.

Very new it doesn’t feel behind the wheel either. The dashboard design is virtually unchanged from the start. If you come from little brother ex30 (or big brother ex90), this is quite solid and conservative. Yes, some will probably think for solid and conservative. But at the same time it looks good, the quality feeling is good and in the familiar Volvo style, everything is worked out and functional.

The 442 horsepower provides a solid push. At the same time, the driving characteristics are safe and competent. You never get any surprises, the car does exactly what you want it to. This is good at Volvo, as is everything around safety.

Many competitors are larger on the outside, but Volvo has utilized the space in the right -hand car well. Here there is sufficient space for four adults, 419 liters of luggage compartment and frunk of 31 liters. In addition, you can have 75 kilos on the roof and pull the 1800 kilos hang. It works as a family car for most.

This XC40 variant disappeared quickly from Norway

… and what is the conclusion?

The EX40 is not the only Volvo that has grown up well. But as we have determined both the XC60 and the XC90: They stay well. So does the ex40. There are some timeless qualities here, which means that it still attracts buyers who have much more and more new to choose from, if they wish.

Longer range and increased charging speed comes very well. Without these changes, the car would have been drained compared to most competitors in the class. Now it is fine in this area.

But most important of all is price cut. With some accessories and winter tires, the test car would previously cost more than NOK 700,000. It is simply too much. NOK 519,900 is easier to defend, although it is also more than many newer and often larger competitors. But Volvo has managed to establish itself as a premium mark and priced its cars accordingly.

Volvo, by the way, calls it promotional price. But it will surprise if they set up prices again. In that case, they can probably forget about sales figures at the level they are experiencing now.

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This is the means the owners

Broom has its own section called “The owners think”. Here, many thousands of Norwegian car owners have left an assessment of their car, with comments and score from 0-10.

First, choose a car brand, model and generation from the front page, to read about this particular car. You can also share your own car experiences here.

Rather choose used? Check out Brooms used car tests

Was Upgraded: Here we tested the XC40 in Sweden

Latest news from Volvo: Read more in the article below

See what the top boss reveals