Volvo has made it clear that electric vehicles (EVs) are a big part of its future, and to that end, the Swedish brand offers a complete lineup of battery-electric SUVs. That EV push started with the introduction in 2020 of Volvo's first fully electric model, the XC40 Recharge. For 2025, Volvo renames its compact crossover the EX40, and it continues with its impressive powertrain, advanced safety features, and stylish cabin.
Photo: Perry Stern
Volvo offers the new EX40 compact crossover in three trim levels: Core, Plus, and Ultra. Each is available with single- or twin-motor drivetrains. Base prices range from $53,795 to $60,295, including the destination charge.
For this 2025 EX40 review, Volvo provided a Twin Motor Ultra in Dexter, Michigan. My test vehicle had no additional optional equipment. It carried a manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) of $62,045, including the $1,295 destination charge to ship the crossover to your local dealership from the Ghent, Belgium, assembly plant.
Photo: Perry Stern
Climbing into the 2025 Volvo EX40 brings the car to life. There is no key to turn or button to push. The minimalist Swedish-themed design is immediately apparent, with stylish driftwood trim on the dashboard and doors and the simple vertical display screen that fits well with the vertical HVAC vents.
Continuing the clean look, the EX40 has almost no physical controls, with just defroster buttons next to the large volume knob and a Home button below the portrait-style infotainment touchscreen. This frees up space in the center console for a wireless phone charger, dual cupholders, and a sizable storage bin under the center armrest.
Front seats have a premium, sporty look, featuring a synthetic Microtech material that stands out with contrasting recycled coarse textile inserts. Like other Volvos I've driven, the EX40's seats are among the most comfortable and supportive on the market, reducing fatigue on long drives. And in case anyone didn't know that the Volvo is a Swedish automobile, there's a small Swedish flag on the inner seams of the front seats.
Rear seats get a similar style, offering reasonable legroom and headroom. However, there's a hump that limits legroom for middle-seat passengers that is typically only seen in a gas-powered vehicle to house the driveshaft. The EX40 shares its body with the gas-powered XC40, but for the EV, this space stores the battery. Outboard seats are heated, and the panoramic roof adds to the roomy feeling.
The compact EX40 also offers good cargo space with enough room for a few suitcases or multiple grocery bags. Fold the seats down, and the space increases to almost 60 cubic feet—ideal for that trip to the home store. While the battery is below the floor, cargo space remains the same as the gas-powered XC40. Under the hood, the EX40 features about one cubic foot of additional secure, water-tight storage in the frunk.
Photo: Perry Stern
The Google Built-in infotainment system is becoming more common in new vehicles, but Volvo came to market with this Google integration before anyone else. In 2019, the Swedish car company announced its tie-in with Google, and the first Volvo to showcase this system was the all-electric XC40 Recharge (now the EX40).
Displaying on a vertical 9-inch screen, the infotainment system integrates nicely into the dashboard. Adding to the high-tech look is the configurable 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster that provides a clear display and can show the full navigation map between the gauges.
The Google-based infotainment system includes:
Incorporating Google Maps and Google Assistant provides an intuitive experience that works well. Activate the assistant with the familiar phrase "Hey, Google," and you can ask for directions to a specific destination. I told the system I wanted some Mexican food, and it provided options to satisfy my need for tacos. I especially liked that the destination information not only showed the distance and ETA but also indicated the expected remaining charge upon arrival.
Google Assistant can also adjust the climate, change the audio source, play a requested tune on Spotify (if you have it installed), make a call, or even tell you a joke. "Why did the baker rob the bank? He kneaded the dough." They're not good jokes, but I did chuckle.
While the systems work well, the Home screen is less useful than I would have liked. The screen shows four tiles representing the most recently used features, but ultimately, they are shortcuts without providing much additional information. Additionally, there is no split-screen option, meaning you can view the navigation screen or media information, but not at the same time.
Access to climate functions is also available through the display screen, which can be frustrating when adjusting while driving. Changing the cabin temperature, airflow, or fan speed is all done through the climate submenu—a task that would be much easier with physical buttons and knobs.
Photo: Perry Stern
The 2025 Volvo EX40 Twin Motor gets a dual-motor electric powertrain delivering a plentiful 402 horsepower and 494 pound-feet of torque. A 248-hp single-motor variant is available for those who prefer not to pay the $1,750 premium for the twin-motor. Volvo says the Twin Motor EX40 will reach 60 mph in just 4.6 seconds, but as quick as that figure is, it seems conservative based on my experience.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates the range of the EX40 Twin Motor to be 260 miles with a combined rating of 94 MPGe. The Single Motor bumps up to 296 miles and 106 MPGe. After fully charging the EX40 Twin Motor with my Level 2 home charger, it showed 240 miles of range. Throughout my time with this electric Volvo, the trip computer showed 37.2 kilowatt hours/100 miles, or about 91 MPGe. That’s quite good for a 400-hp crossover SUV.
I was impressed with the Volvo's performance from the moment I got on the road. Power is strong from the start, and the smooth, quiet delivery inherent in an EV makes it all the more appealing. Departing the Detroit airport and heading west on Michigan's Interstate 94, the compact SUV sprinted to 70 mph effortlessly.
Wind and road noise are almost nonexistent at highway speeds, and while the ride got a bit bumpy on the rough Michigan highway, the EX40 felt confident and comfortable. Power continued to impress; full throttle at 60 mph shoved me back in my seat.
It may have more than 400 hp on tap, but the EX40 is perfectly content to use a fraction of that to motor through town. The throttle is easy to modulate for a smooth ride, even in stop-and-go traffic, and the excellent one-pedal driving aids the drive. With one-pedal driving, lifting off the throttle uses brake regeneration to slow the car gradually, ultimately to a complete stop, without applying the brakes.
The idea of a Volvo crossover SUV being fun to drive is not what I would expect. However, with all-wheel drive (AWD), instant torque delivery, a low center of gravity (due to the battery placement below the floor), and excellent steering feedback, the EX40 is quite enjoyable when pushed hard on a winding back road. The small SUV feels light and agile, and with one-pedal driving, it's easy to slow for a corner by lifting off the throttle. The car practically squirts out the other end of the corner when your right foot goes down.
As fun as the EX40 is to drive, it also works quite well as a utility vehicle. I drove the Volvo to the garden store in a rural Southeast Michigan area. The EX40 easily handled the muddy, rutted route as the AWD system delivered excellent traction, and the ride was surprisingly smooth, even on the rough surface. With the EX40's wide cargo opening and low load-in height, filling it up with new plants and flowers was easy.
Photo: Perry Stern
Volvo has long held a reputation as a brand prioritizing safety, and the EX40 is no exception. The small EV has an extensive list of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) that include:
The top-level Ultra also gets adaptive cruise control (ACC) with Pilot Assist. Pilot Assist uses ACC and lane-centering assistance to provide steering corrections to keep the EX40 in the lane while maintaining speed and distance from the vehicle ahead. In stop-and-go traffic, it can come to a complete stop when the car ahead does, and if it only stops for a moment, the Volvo will follow along automatically when the other vehicle starts moving again.
The system alerts the driver if they need to take over, and if there's no response, the EX40 will assume something is wrong. At that point, it will slow the EX40 to a complete stop, activate the emergency flashers, and contact emergency services.
While cruising along I-94, I engaged the Pilot Assist system. A small steering wheel icon illuminated in the driver display to show that the system was active. Pilot Assist worked smoothly; the vehicle did not weave back and forth in the lane. The steering input was enough to keep the EX40 in the lane, even when negotiating curves in the road. Still, this is not a hands-free system; it will quickly alert you if it doesn't detect steering input.
Only partial crash-test scores for the EX40 are available from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). However, the compact crossover scored the highest-possible “Good” rating in the Institute’s small overlap front, moderate overlap front, and side crash tests. As of this writing, no safety ratings are available from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
According to the JD Power 2024 Initial Quality Study (IQS), the Lexus UX ranks highest in the Small Premium SUV segment. The Audi Q3 is the next-highest-ranked model.
According to the JD Power 2024 Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) Study, the Genesis GV60 ranks highest in the Small Premium SUV segment. The BMW X1 and the Alfa Romeo Tonale are the next-highest-ranked models.
Other 2025 EX40 competitors include the BMW X2 and Mercedes-Benz GLA.
Compact crossover SUVs are not typically exciting vehicles to drive, but with its powerful electric drivetrain and excellent handling, the 2025 Volvo EX40 stands out in this crowded market segment.
The EX40 doesn't skimp on the features expected of this premium Swedish brand, boasting a stylish, comfortable cabin, an intuitive infotainment system, and good utility. Thanks to its outstanding performance and impressive fuel efficiency, the EX40 is an ideal example of how an electric powertrain can transform a vehicle into something you'll look forward to driving every day.
Perry Stern has worked in the automotive industry for over 30 years and has always been a car enthusiast. Driving almost every new car on the market, Perry has written for multiple publications in addition to his work for JDPower.com. Recently relocated to southeast Michigan, Perry remains passionate about cars, especially his 2006 Mazda MX-5 Miata.
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