As a lifelong admirer of Volvo—a brand I’ve owned, championed, and rooted for over the years—I’ll be the first to admit: writing a critical review of a Volvo stings a little. I prefer to highlight the charm in every vehicle, particularly when it bears the iron mark of Gothenburg. I am, by nature, an optimist. So know this: what you’re about to read comes not from cynicism, but from a place of reverence for a brand with a heritage as stoic and dependable as a Swedish stone cottage.
But let’s call this one what it is. The 2025 Volvo EX40 Dual Motor Ultra is a tool—a sleek, sustainable, fairly quick urban utility vehicle with a minimalist soul. It is not a car for enthusiasts, nor is it trying to be. There are things it excels at, and things it was clearly never intended to accomplish. And within that candid reality lies both its usefulness and its limitations. It will not set your pulse racing on a twisty country road, but it will get you to your Pilates class, farmers market, or midtown meeting on time, quietly and with a clean conscience.
Designed for Urban Utility
Finished in the very on-trend “Sand Dune” exterior, the EX40 Ultra looks like it belongs parked outside an architect’s brownstone in Cambridge or beside a Pilates studio in Highland Park Village. And to its credit, the EX40 earns its place visually. The exterior, with its confident stance, wide shoulders, and distinctive front, is well-proportioned and smartly styled. In fact, I rather like the look of it. It balances forward-thinking design with just enough presence to avoid looking anonymous.
Dimensionally, it’s compact enough for urban living (174.8″ long, 65″ high), yet substantial enough to feel protective, especially with Volvo’s hallmark safety features in place. It carries itself well and fits easily into tight parking garages or narrow townhome driveways. It remains, at its core, a Volvo…a name still spoken with respect at any tennis or country club in River Oaks, and unquestionably welcomed throughout New England. It signals both thoughtfulness and taste, if not indulgence.
Minimalism or Missed Opportunities?
Step inside and you’re greeted by the expected Scandinavian restraint. The cabin is sparse, synthetic, and styled to whisper sustainability rather than shout luxury. There is no start/stop button. Merely sitting in the driver’s seat with the key fob in pocket awakens the car. This sensory start method aligns with the Volvo approach to intuitive design—clean, understated, and automatic. It’s one of those features that sounds gimmicky until you get used to it, then suddenly feels bloody brilliant.
And yet, there’s an air of cost-consciousness here that feels less like eco-luxury and more like a dressed-up compromise. The seats, crafted from recycled polyester, feel startlingly close to a wetsuit. The trim materials appear refined at first glance but lack any tactile reward. There is wool, however—a detail I actually enjoy. It’s different, and there’s a certain tailored eccentricity to it that makes you think twice before dismissing the cabin entirely. It offers some texture and warmth in a space that otherwise leans heavily toward the synthetic.
Still, you can’t shake the feeling that the interior has more in common with an IKEA showroom than a premium car. This isn’t inherently bad, many adore IKEA for its clever efficiency and value. But it reinforces that the EX40 is more of a tool than an indulgence. It’s durable and well-intentioned, but not particularly elegant.
Performance & Ride: Quick but Unrefined
Let me say this clearly: it is fast. With dual motors underfoot, the EX40 rockets from a standstill with that delightful, neck-snapping immediacy only an electric powertrain can deliver. As experienced on The Woodlands Parkway, it will keep any BMW M3 at bay. And it’s hilarious in doing so. It is responsive, agile, and quick enough to dart through traffic or merge assertively onto highways. That instantaneous torque reminds you there is real capability lurking beneath the Swedish restraint.
But speed isn’t everything. The ride quality, as noted by every passenger who joined me front or rear, was remarkably poor. The suspension seems tuned for responsiveness over comfort, which is unfortunate, especially in a vehicle that will primarily operate in cities where imperfect pavement is the norm. Even over mild surface variations, the cabin transmits an unfiltered harshness. The effect is especially noticeable on longer trips, where the lack of damping begins to wear thin.
To make matters more challenging, the EX40’s seats lack the plushness or support you expect from Volvo. Combine that with the neoprene-esque texture and you get a driving experience that feels more utilitarian than enjoyable. It’s quick, yes, but not comfortable. Those who prioritize comfort will likely find the daily commute a little too abrasive.
Tech & Features: Some Hits, Some Misses
Volvo’s infotainment suite—powered by Google—is crisp, clean, and familiar for anyone with an Android device. Navigation is seamless, voice commands are responsive, and updates happen in the background. The Harmon Kardon sound system is a genuine bright spot, delivering rich, enveloping audio that compensates for the cabin’s otherwise restrained ambiance. Wireless charging is onboard, but curiously, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto still require a cord. It feels like an odd oversight in a vehicle that seems otherwise future-focused. Especially at this price point in 2025 (Price As Tested was $62,045). In a car that aspires to modern simplicity, this tethered detail feels like a backward step.
Another standout is the generous cargo capacity. Despite its modest footprint, the EX40 offers ample room for everything from grocery hauls to weekend luggage, or even a medium-sized antique chest, should your adventures take you to Round Top. The cargo area is well-shaped and flat, making loading and unloading a breeze.
And of course, safety remains unimpeachable. This is a Volvo after all. The brand continues to deliver top-tier safety ratings, a fact that alone makes the EX40 a worthy candidate as a first car for a teenager or a trusted personal runabout. From collision mitigation to lane keeping assist, the full suite of Volvo’s latest protective tech is onboard and quietly working in the background.
The Range Dilemma
No matter how you slice it, the EX40’s biggest flaw is its limited range. With an EPA-estimated 94 MPGe combined, it sounds efficient on paper. But in real-world terms, the battery’s usable range feels painfully short. Range anxiety isn’t just a theory with this vehicle, it’s a companion. It hangs over every outing like an uninvited guest, urging you to pre-plan every errand and Google every available charger.
Urban commuters with access to home or workplace charging will fare better, but for those without reliable charging infrastructure, this limitation becomes a daily inconvenience. The 2,000-pound towing capacity, while respectable, is also unlikely to matter much in a car where you’d hesitate to drive a hundred miles without a top-off. The EX40 desperately needs more range to better compete with rivals in this increasingly crowded segment. As it stands, it’s ideal for city dwellers but a nerve-wracking proposition for weekend warriors.
Who Is It For?
The 2025 Volvo EX40 Dual Motor Ultra isn’t for the car enthusiast. That’s for sure. It’s for the responsible professional, the “eco-conscious” parent, the uptight mid-Atlantic, the young adult upgrading to something safe and stylish. It’s a tool. A high-designed answer to the question: “What should I drive if I don’t really care about cars, but still want to make a good choice?”
And in that context, it performs admirably. It’s easy to maneuver, wonderfully quiet at low speeds (it’s electric), appropriately quick, and dressed in a badge that still carries weight. You may not love it, but you’ll most certainly appreciate it. And in a world where so many EVs are still trying to prove themselves, the EX40 has the benefit of a trusted brand and a track record of safety.
Final Thoughts: A Brand in Transition
Driving the EX40 Ultra feels a bit like watching a gifted pianist play only scales. You know the talent is there, but the performance doesn’t quite stir the soul. That doesn’t mean it’s a bad car. In fact it’s a great car. It simply means it’s built with a different set of values.
Volvo, under its Chinese parent company Geely, is evolving. There are bright spots in that evolution—namely design, sustainability, and safety. However, some soul has been lost in translation. Still, the EX40 has its place. It belongs in smart cities, in refined suburbs, in garages where the owner’s priorities lean more toward ethics and convenience than driving dynamics.
And for what it’s worth, it is fast. Delightfully so. In a straight line, from a traffic light, in a pinch to get across town, this little Volvo delivers. That underlying quickness is perhaps its greatest party trick.
As Volvo continues to electrify and refine its offerings, one hopes a little more warmth and polish return to future models. Until then, the EX40 Ultra stands as a well-executed, purpose-built vehicle for the pragmatic modern driver. Not thrilling, not indulgent, but capable, safe, swift—and accepted anywhere from Dallas to Darien.
Sometimes, that’s enough.
The Unofficial Ambassador for the State of Texas
