Volvo EX40: performance, motor & drive

The Volvo EX40 still offers the same fantastic refinement as the XC40, which means it’s still a very relaxing motorway cruiser. While it isn’t as quiet as an Audi Q4 e-tron, it’s not far off. There’s very little whine from the motor and wind and road noise are kept in check, too. Plus, for a relatively small car, it can certainly shift. 

Volvo EX40 0-62mph, top speed and acceleration

The EX40 is available with either a single-motor or dual-motor powertrain. The base model uses one electric motor to power the rear wheels (previously front-wheel drive in older XC40 Recharge models) and produces 235bhp in standard form or 249bhp in the extended range variant. Both single motor cars produce the same 420Nm of torque, and will sprint from 0-62mph in 7.4 seconds, which is plenty fast enough for a family car. It’s this version that we recommend.

Meanwhile, the EX40 Twin Motor gets an extra motor on the front axle and produces a total of 402bhp and 670Nm of torque. With that much power on tap, this compact SUV can go from 0-62mph in just 4.8 seconds. That shove is available instantly, too – just put your foot down and the EX40 takes off.

There are two levels of regenerative braking: a coasting mode and a ‘one-pedal’ mode which slows the car quite dramatically when you lift off the throttle. We prefer this style of driving, though some may find the sensation is a little too exaggerated.

Handling

The suspension of the EX40 has been tuned for comfort, so more often than not you just sit back and relax, making it a fantastic commuter and motorway cruiser. But off the motorway, we noticed that the Volvo isn’t as sharp to drive as its sister model, the Polestar 2, so you might not feel compelled to exploit all of the 402bhp you have on tap if you’re driving the all-wheel-drive version.

We’d recommend the Single Motor variants anyway, as this version strikes a better balance between performance and running costs. It still feels quick enough, and grip is good despite not offering the reassurance of a second motor for all-wheel drive. 

One thing we’d do our best to avoid is the 20-inch wheels fitted to top-spec Ultra models. The smaller wheels and deeper-profile tyres on Core and Plus versions offer a much plusher ride and improved refinement, too.