In 2021, Volvo boldly claimed that by 2030, it would abandon gasoline engines entirely and transition its lineup to electric vehicles only. The Swedish automaker was hardly alone in that effort. During that time, it seemed every notable manufacturer on the planet was committing to going fully electric by a certain date in the (then-)near future. To its credit, Volvo made good progress on this promise, and eventually electrified its entire lineup via mild hybrids, plug-in hybrids, and pure EVs.
Back in 2021, it seemed completely inevitable the entire world would eventually transition to electric vehicles. Automakers readied all manner of EV cars, pickups, delivery vans, and even semi-trucks. But a lot has changed in the last few years.
As Trump stocks the EPA with former oil lobbyists, it’s safe to say the Obama-era pro-environmental movement that began in the mid-2000s is truly dead. Nearly all the automakers that promised full-EV lineups have quietly walked those commitments back. Volvo threw in the towel September 2024, citing protectionist tariffs and an underdeveloped charging network. The future of EVs, in North America at least, no longer seems so bright.
What is the 2025 Volvo EC40?
The Volvo EC40 is the four-door “coupe” version of the boxy EX40 SUV. Both of these are EVs, but Volvo offers a mild-hybrid gasoline-powered twin to the EX40, dubbed the XC40. There is also the smaller EX30 EV positioned below the aforementioned cars, but the 40-series are the second-smallest offerings in the Volvo lineup.
I think the EC40’s most attractive feature is its design. Inside and out, thoughtful touches permeate the experience, and the EC40 is an architect’s car if there ever was one. The coupe roofline can be hard to visually pull off on a compact ute, but the EC40 does it better than most. I like the interesting roof treatment with two miniature spoilers that hang out over the rear glass. The taillights that run in a cascading line from the top of the roof down the C-pillars and across the rear hatch look very unique at night. It’s not a show-stopping design like a sports car, but for this segment, the EC40 is a supermodel.
Our test car came equipped with the “Black Edition” package, which basically includes all the luxury items from the top trim and plenty of black accents inside and out. The most visually obvious are the black wheels and that all the previously chrome badges and trim pieces around the car are now gloss black. When paired with the black paint and black interior, the result is a very black car. I am not personally a fan of these “blacked-out” trim packages, but if you are, this one is sure to meet your standards.
Inside, the trend of thoughtful design continues. It’s a small touch but I love the little Swedish flags stitched into the sides of the front seats. The dashboard features a textured inlay that somewhat resembles a digitized topography map. The sides of the transmission tunnel and parts of the door cards are made with a pleasingly coarse wool-like material. It’s a little odd, but I like seeing manufacturers experiment with interior textiles beyond leather and leather-like plastic. I love creativity like this!
But enough about textiles and Easter eggs. By far, my favourite part of the EC40’s interior is the infotainment system. I almost always use Apple CarPlay when I have a new car to test because it is almost always easier to use and clearer than the native infotainment system. But the Volvo system is so good, I don’t really need CarPlay. Firstly, the map system in the car is from Google. That means if you’ve ever used Google Maps on your phone or computer, you already know how this system works. It also has the ability to seamlessly re-route around traffic.
It also has terrific Spotify integration. I was able to easily add my account to the car via a scannable QR code. The map screen can be displayed in the gauge cluster right next to the speedometer, which meant I could have my Spotify music displayed on the main centre screen. It doesn’t sound like a huge deal, but just having my most-used apps well-integrated into the car’s infotainment system makes it much more enjoyable.
What made my drives less enjoyable was my inability to find a comfortable seating position while driving. I usually rank Volvo seats very highly for comfort, but these ones didn’t have the same nearly-magical feeling of test units prior.
How does the Volvo EC40 drive?
What was extremely pleasant was the ride quality. Even on wheels I’d deem too large by at least two inches, the EC40 rode calmly and smoothly on even the most broken and rough sections of pavement. I used it to commute to a city two-and-a-half hours away, and found it incredibly comfortable on the highway.
What powers the the Volvo EC40?
- Standard RWD single-motor with 248 hp and a range of 480 km
- Optional AWD dual-motor with 402 hp and a range of 431 km
- Both versions use an 82-kWh battery
There are two powertrains offered for the EC40. A RWD single-motor layout is standard, with 248 hp and a range of 480 km (300 miles). But our tester has the optional AWD dual-motor layout, which brings power to 402 and torque to 494 lb-ft. It also drops the range slightly to 431 km (267 miles). Both versions use the same 82-kWh battery.
You may think that because the dual-motor EC40 packs all this power that it’s a sporty experience, but it really isn’t. Sure, it can hustle to 100 km/h in just 4.7 seconds, but that’s the only thrill you’ll get behind the wheel. Load it into a corner and the handling is very typical for a compact CUV, which is to say good but hardly special. The EC40 isn’t a car to be driven in such rash ways, and prefers more tranquil driving styles.
How much is the Volvo EC40 in Canada?
- 2025 Volvo EC40 starts at $63,488
But the power figures aren’t the only big numbers in the EC40 spec sheet. For all this power, design, and refinement, you pay a hefty price. The EC40 and EX40 both have a starting MSRP of $63,488. This means you pay a $12,900 premium compared to the gas-engined XC40. Our test car’s aforementioned Black Edition package will run you a staggering $16,800!
Fortunately, it’s much more than a simple blackout package, and basically includes all the luxury and convenience items from the $12,500 “Ultra” trim, too. This includes things like radar cruise control, premium Harman Kardon sound system, heated front and rear seats, and those suede “Microtech” seats. The Black Edition also includes the $2,500 twin-motor upgrade, which is optional on the Ultra trim.
In all, our tester came in at an eye-watering $79,135 (including a pricey $2,620 destination charge). That puts it in the range of some pretty tough competition like the Genesis Electrified GV70 (silly name) which starts at $74,000.
The standard mild-hybrid XC40 is very efficient for a gas engine, and that means in terms of energy costs, it would take you just under seven years of electric driving to amortize the higher initial cost. The EC40’s $63,488 base price means it is just barely too expensive to qualify for Canada’s federal EV rebate, if that ever ends up coming back.
It’s also worth noting this EC40 uses a CCS-style charger, which is interesting because Volvo was the first European manufacturer to announce it was migrating to the Tesla-style NACS charger. Officially, 2025-model-year Volvos, like our test car, will still have the CCS port, but will be sold with an NACS adapter.
Final thoughts
The EC40 offers a premium experience, albeit at a truly premium price. I like the sharp exterior design and thoughtful touches found throughout the interior. The app integration is better than most of its peers’, and the ride quality is superb. I would perhaps forgo the Black Edition to make the MSRP a bit more reasonable.
Pros
✔ Sharp exterior design
✔ Superb ride quality
✔ Easy-to-use infotainment system
Cons
✘Uncomfortable seating position while driving
✘ Hefty pricing
✘ Black on black on black (needs more colour)
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