Lightning test | Does the Volvo Ex40 still have its place?

Volvo has recently offered the ex30, an electric subcompact SUV whose mission is to arouse the attention of more conscientious buyers financially. In parallel, the Swedish brand continues to offer its ex40 – previously called XC40 recharging – such an electric, but barely more imposing product. Can these two creations live well within the manufacturer's range?

If the envelope remains small – at least according to contemporary criteria – the cabin maximizes the available volume rather well. The good clearance for the head derives the space and the clearance for the legs is very good at the front, but a little less at the back – you had to expect it. The storage could also be larger, something that the ex30 succeeds better thanks to its more modern platform. The 410 L rear trunk is accessible by means of a large opening and has a good capacity for the vehicle template.

A cavalry provided

The livery at two engines testing A 402 hp in reserve and 494 lb-ft of torque, which ensures a 0-100 km/h in 4.8 s, according to Volvo. The maximum autonomy is 418 km, a figure that was not possible to reach during the test carried out during the two successive storms which recently blew on the large Montreal region. In such conditions, we can expect around 270 km in reserve.

The little ex40 has also managed rather well, but this weather of rare intensity highlighted a design defect. It is not possible to deactivate the traction control or stability control system, which has complicated navigation through the inevitable snow benches erected on our way. Nor can we select different driving modes, apart from the “off-road” configuration with fixed configuration which only works at low speed. To review.

Finally, let us note the greatest conviviality of orders compared to the ex30 who bets at all digital. This ex40 still has physical keys, which facilitates many manipulations. Its vertical screen, however, accuses age in terms of definition, but the interface in itself has gained maturity over time, without having the greatest intuitiveness. So, is it worth the detour, this ex40? Yes, if you want to benefit from a resolutely refined Volvo experience, but the starting start -up of $ 67,089 for the full cog variant is quite high for a model that competes with proposals from equal, or even better in their performance.