The electric Volvo EX40 at the price of the gasoline version, good deal?

To support its electric car sales, Volvo is discounting its only model eligible for the ecological bonus, the SUV EX40.

The promising claims of manufacturers always deserve attention. Volvo’s assertion that electric cars cost the same as gasoline is intriguing.

What does the proposal say? It concerns the SUV EX40 Single (formerly XC40) in the Start trim, whose price, after deducting the ecological bonus and discount, aligns with that of the XC40 B3 also in Start trim. This offer is only valid until April 30, 2024.

In fact, the famous B3 Start is a mid-size SUV whose micro-hybrid engine develops 163 horsepower with a consumption of 6.6 liters per 100 km. Priced at €43,900, it also incurs an ecological penalty of €2,049 in 2024 (149 g CO2/km). Finally, with a weight of 1,688 kg when in operation, it will face a very high parking fee in Paris starting September 2024 due to the tripling of rates for thermal vehicles exceeding 1,600 kg.

Therefore, we can estimate the final price of an XC40 B3 to be €45,949.

Is it really an amazing deal?

Returning to the EX40 (the electric one), whose Start trim is initially priced at €48,950, which is €5,050 more than the gasoline B3… before the ecological bonus of €4,000. Through a fiscal sleight of hand, Volvo applies a discount that makes it eligible for the ecological bonus (less than €47,000). Let’s remember that the EX40 is the only Volvo model eligible for the bonus in France in 2024.

In the end, Volvo’s effort amounts to €1,050, and for the customer, the price of €43,900 is therefore €2,000 more attractive than the penalized gasoline option.

In terms of power, the EX40 Single develops 238 hp (175 kW) with a range of 478 km. Alas, like the thermal version, its weight is symbolically too high to avoid the tripling of parking fees in Paris. This limit is set at 2,000 kg for an electric vehicle, but the Volvo weighs… 2,021 kg.

From a more pragmatic perspective, the Volvo EX40 feels outdated, and at such a price, there are far more compelling electric alternatives. Starting with a Renault Scenic Grande Autonomie (600 km) or a Tesla Model Y (€38,990).

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