Test Car Specifications
Model: 2025 Volvo EC40 Single Motor Extended Range RWD Ultra
Price: From £52,555 (£58,355 as tested)
Motors: 185kW electric motor
Battery: 78kWh lithium-ion polymer
Transmission: single-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive
Power: 252hp
Torque: 420Nm
Emissions: 0g/km
Range: 341 miles
0-62mph: 7.3 seconds
Top speed: 112mph
Boot space: 404 litres
Styling
The EC40 may have a new badge, but the design is much the same as before. Not that that's a problem, because the EC40 (and the C40 before it) are both good-looking cars. The fastback-shaped body is nicely shaped, and it works surprisingly well with the SUV proportions and that chunky front end. There's still something very Scandinavian about it, and we aren't sure it's any more handsome than the EX40, but it's certainly worthy of its premium billing.
Interior
Just as the EC40’s exterior remains untouched, so too does the Volvo’s cabin. The clean and Scandinavian style is pretty minimalist, with only a handful of buttons on the dashboard, but that has been the case for years now. Volvo has upped the ante in terms of technology of late, though, with a sharper touchscreen and a cool new digital instrument display all arriving in the past couple of years.
The tech is generally quite Volvo-ish, in that it isn’t especially exciting, but it does the job. The instrument display isn’t all that configurable and the touchscreen isn’t that much more advanced than its predecessors, but there is good news. The inclusion of Google Maps is brilliant, allowing the car to work out when it’ll need charging and planning its route accordingly, and the other apps work well too. But with the screen responsible for driving modes, media and climate control, as well as navigation and phone connectivity, it almost inevitably becomes tricky to navigate at times. You get used to it, though.
More impressive, however, is the solidity with which the EC40 is made. Yes, there are some catches — some of the switchgear feels slightly plasticky in places — and the decision to use carpet in the doors is a bit odd, but the materials are generally good and the ambient lighting is cool. The whole thing is stitched together nicely, but it’s just a bit quirky. If you’re happy with that, you’ll have no problem living with the Volvo; playing it safe is the domain of the Germans.
Practicality
With the coupe body shape, the EC40 is unsurprisingly less spacious than the EX40, but it's still a fairly useful car. Rear cabin space is adequate, in that there's plenty of rear legroom, and headroom is decent, too, but tall adults might find it a little tight back there. On the other hand, while boot space looks decent on paper, with 404 litres of luggage capacity, figures only tell part of the story, and the shape of the tailgate means the EC40 has marginally less flexibility than the EX40 when it comes to carrying capacity. Not that either car's boot is massive in comparison with those of their rivals.
Performance
Like the EX40, the EC40 is offered with a choice of electric powertrains with either one or two motors, depending on whether you want rear- or all-wheel drive, and how big a battery you'd like. Arguably the most appealing option on paper, however, is the rear-drive, single-motor Extended Range version tested here.
With a 78kWh battery providing an official range of 340-odd miles, it'll appeal to those regularly covering long distances, but we have a word of warning about that: it won't do 340 miles. At least not on the motorway. We managed around 240 miles of real-world range at conventional motorway speeds, but you could probably stretch that with economical driving on a broader range of roads.
That's partly because the EC40's front end doesn't look all that aerodynamic, but it might also be because the EC40's electric motor is quite powerful. It isn't as thirsty as the twin-motor versions, of course, but the 252hp motor gives the EC40 plenty of punch. Getting from 0-62mph takes just over seven seconds, which is plenty fast enough, and it feels faster thanks to the immediacy of the power delivery.
And once you've used that power, and drained the battery, it charges pretty quickly, too. It'll accept charge at up to 155kW, so if you can find a suitable charger, you should theoretically be able to charge from 10 to 80 percent in a little over half an hour. Using a domestic charging point, you should be able to fill the battery completely overnight.
Ride & Handling
On the road, the EC40 feels much the same as the EX40, save for the slightly restricted rear visibility. The rear window is a bit of a letterbox, but with the reversing cameras, big mirrors and sensible dimensions, the EC40 isn’t too difficult to manoeuvre.
Nor is it difficult to drive. The steering isn’t exactly feelsome, but it’s accurate enough and the response it elicits is predictable and linear. When you turn it on, the regenerative braking is a bit sharp and takes some getting used to, but the one-pedal driving is quite handy around town.
And it’s around town and on the motorway where the EC40 is at its best. It isn’t the sportiest thing in the world — there’s a fair bit of body roll — but it’s comfortable enough. The ride isn’t perfect at lower speeds, where the weight of the battery seems to compromise it, but it’s quite smooth on the motorway and at higher speeds, which makes it pretty good over long distances. It’s fairly quiet, too, which helps to foster the relaxing atmosphere.
Value
With prices starting at £52,555, the EC40 is definitely not cheap. In fact, it costs about £6,500 more than the cheapest EX40. That said, it's on a par with the Genesis GV60, and the basic EC40 Plus comes with plenty of kit. There's a panoramic glass roof, wireless phone charging and 19-inch alloy wheels, not to mention the reversing camera, climate control and heated front and rear seats. A power-operated tailgate, the digital instrument display and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration tech also leave you wondering whether it's worth upgrading to the Ultra model tested here. Do that and you'll spend a few grand more, but you get the Extended Range battery as standard and you get the Harman Kardon premium sound system, as well as clever LED headlights and a 360-degree manoeuvring camera.
Verdict
The Volvo EC40's name may have changed, but the car is just as likeable and amiable as before. It may not have the biggest boot, the most performance or the longest range of any of its rivals, but it'll be really pleasant to drive and to live with, while the Volvo badge has this strange air of quality and class, but there's no snobbishness attached. It's a car that's somehow of the people no matter where you park it, and that's a very appealing quality.
