Volvo EC40

One of the Swedish automaker’s highly sought-after models, updated for the year 2025, presenting the new Volvo EC40.

A Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV), the e-crossover underpins Volvo’s Compact Modular Architecture (CMA) platform (Volvo-Geely).

Locally assembled (CKD - Shah Alam), available via Volvo Car Malaysia (VCM) is one variant (EC40 Ultra - MYR 288,888).

Price (OTR, w/o insurance) includes a complimentary (five years) Volvo Service Plan (VSP - five years/unlimited mileage vehicle warranty, eight years/160,000 KM battery warranty, five years/100,000 KM free service package, five years free roadside assistance) and a complimentary (five years) Digital Service Package (DSP).

Five (two-tone - Black roof) exterior colours (Crystal White, Onyx Black, Sage Green, Silver Dawn, Cloud blue).

The new EC40 gets a symmetrically tiered dashboard, linked to a wide-high-rising centre console (sculpted gear shifter - Satin Silk-Gloss Black, wireless charger).

Soft-/hard-touched (dash, centre console, steering wheel, doors), it sees a single-tone (Black) colour scheme with contrast trims (Charcoal, Gloss Black, 3D backlit topography).

Filling-in the spaces are driver/central displays (instrument cluster/infotainment) and vertically rectangular air-conditioning vents.

Inclusively, the layout is airy and non-cluttered with accessibilities ergonomically arranged (driver-centric, passenger-oriented).

Installed is a 12-Inch digital driver display (instrument cluster), supporting two selectable display modes (CALM, NAVI).

High-quality, the interior sees suede-leatherette (Connect Suede textile/Microtech leather) upholstery in a single-tone (Charcoal) with contrast stitching (White) colour scheme.

The front gets electric-powered (driver/passenger - multi-way, height-adjust, four-way lumbar, driver-memory) Comfort Seats. The rear gets a manual-operated (button - 60:40 split-flat-fold) bolstered bench.

Included are panoramic glass sunroof (fixed - dark tint, UV protect), headliner (Charcoal), textile floor mats (Charcoal), armrests (front - centre console, rear - centre seat fold-out) and seat cushion extensions (front - manual).

Albeit with a raked rear roofline (coupe roofline), the e-crossover offers generous cabin space, providing ample interior mobility for the occupants (front, rear).

Sufficient head-, shoulder- and leg-room.

Mounted is a three-spoke sport steering wheel. Leatherette (leather-free) in a single-tone (Charcoal) with contrast trims (Satin Silk-Gloss Black) colour scheme.

Features are multi-switches (Bluetooth, Media, Vehicle Telematics, Voice Recognition), column adjustments (tilt, telescopic) and heating. 

Drive is aided by an Adaptive Electric Power Steering (A-EPS) system.

Practical storage areas. E.g., side door/seat back pockets, centre console partitioned/caverned/under-stowage spaces, driver-dash card holder and glove box (extensible hook-integrated).

Provided are four cup holders (two - front, rear) and four bottle holders (two - front, rear).

Multiple power outlets. E.g., four USB ports (two - front, rear), one 12 V socket (front) and one wireless charger (front).

Accessing its electric-powered (contactless - remote/key fob, buttons, kick-sensor - height-adjust) tailgate, opens to 404-Litres (rear seats up) and 1,205-Litres (rear seats down) of load capacities. 

Also included is a 31-Litre two-sectioned front trunk (frunk).

Weighing in at 2,185 KG, the new EC40 stands at 4,440 MM in length, 2,034 MM in width, 1,591 MM in height and with a wheelbase spanning 2,702 MM.

Distinctively electric, it exudes an angularly solid exterior, emphasised by symmetrically aligned and straightly cut creases.

The front-end sees a squared bonnet, mildly flared quarter panels and sculpted bumper (covered grille - body-colour, Volvo emblem, lower central intake).

Accentuations, body clad/trims (Matte Charcoal - bumper, fenders, side sills/High-Gloss Black - side mirrors, window surrounds), contrast roof (High-Gloss Black) and Volvo emblem (High-Gloss Black-Chrome).

Sharply electric, it continues the angularly solid profile, emphasised by horizontally aligned and clean-cut contours.

The rear-end sees a coupe roofline, flared quarter panels, a roof-edge/tailgate spoiler (dual-element/integrated wing), an upright tailgate (Volvo script) and a covered bumper.

Accentuations, body clad/trims (Matte Charcoal - bumper, fenders, side sills/ High-Gloss Black - spoiler, wing, window surrounds, shark fin antenna), contrast roof (High-Gloss Black) and Volvo script (Chrome).

Angularly sharp, the headlamps are framed inward-narrow with pointed edges. Installed are Pixel LED units. 

Features are Thor’s Hammer LED Daytime Running Lights (DRL), automatic On/Off/high-beam/cornering, low-speed manoeuvre, welcome lights and sequential turn signals (LED). Included is a set of fog lamps (LED). 

Strikingly unique, the tail lamps are S-shape framed, running down the C-pillar and wrapping-around the tailgate. Installed are LED combination units.

Features are automatic On/Off, welcome lights and sequential turn signals (LED). Included is a set of fog lamps (LED). 

The side mirrors (frameless - High-Gloss Black) are electric-powered (auto-fold, adjust), featuring sequential turn signals (LED), blind spot-indicators (Blind Spot Information System - BLIS), automatic-dimming and memory.

Fitted is a set of ventilated (front) and solid (rear) disc brakes. 

Drive is aided by an Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) with Auto Brake Hold system and a regenerative braking system (One-Pedal Driving).

Aerodynamically designed, mounted is a set of 19-Inch five-double-spoke (Diamond Cut - High-Gloss Black, Polished Aluminium) alloy rims, rubbered-up in 235/50 R19 (front) and 255/45 R19 (rear) Continental EcoContact 6 VOL tyres.

The new EC40 gets the following suite of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS).

Grouped are City Safety suite (collision avoidance & mitigation with intersection support for pedestrian, cyclist and large animal detection with steering support and braking), front and rear collision warning and mitigation support, Driver Alert Control, Lane Keeping Aid (LKA), Run-Off Road Mitigation with Road Edge Detection, Oncoming Lane Mitigation, Blind Spot Information System (BLIS) with Steer Assist, Cross Traffic Alert (CTA) with Autobrake, Adaptive Cruise Control with Traffic Jam Assist, Pilot Assist, Park Assist 360-degree camera and Run-Off Road Protection.

Other systems include 540-degree HD Panoramic Camera, Anti-lock Brake System (ABS), Electric Brake Force Distribution (EBD), Brake Assist System (BAS), Brake Override System (BOS), Electronic Stability Program (ESP), Traction Control System (TCS), Hill-start Assist Control (HAC), Hill Descent Control (HDC) and Indirect Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (i-TPMS).

Passive safety includes seven airbags (driver-passenger, front sides, driver-knee, front-rear curtains), Side Impact Protection System (SIPS) with Dual Chamber SIPS Airbags, front seat Whiplash Protection System (WHIPS), seatbelts (anchors, reminders, pre-tensioners), ISOFIX (two - outer-rear-seats), parking sensors (six - front-rear), parking cameras (reverse - dynamic guidelines/360-degree/540-degree), door ajar warning, security windows (tempered glass), automatic headlamps (On/Off/high-beam/cornering), automatic wipers (rain sensing, intermittent), automatic door locks (speed-sensing, central-locking), automatic-dimming rear-view mirrors (frameless - interior, exterior), emergency brake signal and anti-theft system (security alarm, immobiliser).

Three selectable drive modes (PASSIVE, COMFORT, DRIVE).

Equipped is a 9.0-Inch portrait-mounted touchscreen central display (infotainment), running on an Android Automotive Operating System (Android Auto OS). 

The system supports Google Automotive Services (Google Assistant, Google Maps, Google Play Store), Apple CarPlay/Android Auto (wireless), Volvo Cars mobile app (remote control), Bluetooth and voice recognition.

Entertainment is channelled via a Harman Kardon premium sound system (600 W - 13 speakers), featuring an air-ventilated subwoofer.

The new EC40 underpins Volvo’s Twin Motor powertrain, featuring a dual-electric-motor (front-rear-mounted) setup. Total system output reads at 300 KW (402 HP) and 670 NM.

Fused to the setup is a single-speed automatic transmission (Shift-by-Wire).

Power is sent to all four wheels, via an All-Wheel Drive (AWD) system.

0 to 100 KM/H acceleration is done in 4.7 seconds. Top speed is 180 KM/H. 

Juicing-up the e-motors is a Lithium-Ion battery (82 KWH), enabling a pure electric driving range of 554 KM (WLTP).

AC charging (Type 2 - 11 KW), takes 8.0 hours for a 0% to 100% State of Charge (SoC). DC charging (CCS2 - 200 KW), takes 27 minutes for a 10% to 80% SoC.

The new EC40 features these conveniences.

E.g., keyless entry system (keyless entry, engine Start/Stop button), electric-powered (contactless - remote/key fob, buttons, kick-sensor - height-adjust) tailgate, dual-zone Electronic Climate Control (ECC - rear air vents, clean zone PM2.5 air purifier), electric cabin heater/cooler, humidity sensor, electric-powered (driver/passenger - multi-way, height-adjust, four-way lumbar, driver-memory) Comfort Seats (front), panoramic glass sunroof (fixed - dark tint, UV protect), headliner (Charcoal), textile floor mats (Charcoal), armrests (front - centre console, rear - centre seat fold-out), seat cushion extensions (front - manual), steering wheel (multi-switches, column adjustments, A-EPS), parking sensors (six - front-rear), parking cameras (reverse - dynamic guidelines/360-degree/540-degree), door ajar warning, security windows (tempered glass), automatic headlamps (On/Off/high-beam/cornering), automatic wipers (rain sensing, intermittent), automatic door locks (speed-sensing, central-locking), automatic-dimming rear-view mirrors (frameless - interior, exterior), Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) with Auto Brake Hold, wireless charger, interior lighting (ambient, foot, reading, boot) and infotainment (Google Automotive Services - Google Assistant, Google Maps, Google Play Store, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto - wireless, Volvo Cars mobile app - remote control, voice recognition).

Installed is a dual-zone Electronic Climate Control (ECC - rear air vents, clean zone PM2.5 air purifier) system.

Ride comfortability feels flexible and firm at the same time. The vehicle delivers a comfortable yet connected steering feel. 

Underpinned is a Touring Chassis, featuring a suspension setup of MacPherson strut (front) and multi-link (rear).

The overall drive has been tuned to provide complete stability and grip to the driver.

Good sound insulation, covering all the NVH (noise, vibration, harshness) aspects. The cabin experience is refined and peaceful, courtesy of the fitted tempered glass (side windows).

The Volvo EC40 exudes a sleek and energy filled outlook. Its angularly solid body contours just speak electric.

Interior-wise, its shell envelopes a tech-savvy cockpit, featuring advanced connectivity, safety systems and creature comfort features.

Ultimately, the build quality is excellent, and with its distinctive outlook and energising powertrain, the new EC40 is surely an e-crossover to consider.