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Ford Explorer vs Volvo EX40
Selected trimSingle Motor Extended RangeChange trim355 mi · 82 kWh · £39,610
At a glance
In this comparison, Ford Explorer counters with the lowest price, while the Volvo EX40 leads on value for money, motorway range and charging speed.
Which should you choose?
Choose the Volvo EX40 if...
- you want the most for your money - best overall spec per pound
- you do long motorway journeys - it has the best estimated real-world range at speed
- you need the fastest charging of these options
How we reached the recommendation
Verdict
Our take
The Volvo EX40 leads in the most categories, but each car here has its strengths.
ValueVolvo
Ford
6.1
Volvo
6.9
Motorway RangeVolvo
Ford
3.5
Volvo
4.1
Family
Ford
6.7
Volvo
6.9
Too close to call
ChargingVolvo
Ford
4.6
Volvo
6.6
Cost Per Mile
Ford
3.5
Volvo
3.3
Too close to call
City Driving
Ford
5.4
Volvo
5
Too close to call
What each car does better
See the specification differences behind the verdict, with supporting figures for each advantage.
Volvo EX40
Single Motor Extended Range
- 83 miles more WLTP range
- 95 kW faster rapid charging
- 45 kW more power
- 500 kg more towing capacity
Key specifications
Compare the key specifications for your selected trims.
| Measure | Ford ExplorerStyle 58kWh | Volvo EX40Single Motor Extended Range |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £35,185 (better) | £39,610 |
| Official range | 273 miles | 355 miles (better) |
| Boot space | 470 L (better) | 410 L |
| 10-80% rapid charge | 25 min (better) | 28 min |
| 0-62 mph | 8 sec | 7.3 sec (better) |
Size Comparison
View:
Align by:
Ford Explorer
Volvo EX40
Length
Ford Explorer4,468mm
Volvo EX404,440mm-28mm
Width
Ford Explorer1,872mm-1mm
Volvo EX401,873mm
Height
Ford Explorer1,630mm-21mm
Volvo EX401,651mm
Space, size & parking
Parking & manoeuvring
Compare exterior dimensions to assess how each car fits UK parking spaces.
| Measure | Ford ExplorerStyle 58kWh | Volvo EX40Single Motor Extended Range |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 4,468 mm | 4,440 mm |
| Width (mirrors folded) | 1,872 mm (better) | 1,873 mm |
| Width with mirrors out | 2,063 mm | 2,034 mm (better) |
| Height | 1,630 mm | 1,651 mm |
| Turning circle | 10.9 m (better) | 11 m |
| Clearance in a standard bayA standard UK parking bay is 2,400 mm wide. | 528 mm spare (better) | 527 mm spare |
People & luggage
Compare seating, child-seat mounting points, boot space and towing capacity.
| Measure | Ford ExplorerStyle 58kWh | Volvo EX40Single Motor Extended Range |
|---|---|---|
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Rear legroom | 916 mm | 917 mm (better) |
| ISOFIX child-seat points | Not available | 4 |
| Boot space (seats up) | 470 L (better) | 410 L |
| Boot space (seats down) | 1460 L (better) | 1400 L |
| Frunk | Not available | 31 L |
| Towing capacity (braked) | 1,000 kg | 1,500 kg (better) |
Full specifications
| Specification |  Ford Explorer Style 58kWh |  Volvo EX40 Single Motor Extended Range |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4.47m | 4.44m-28mm |
| Width | 1.87m | 1.87m+1mm |
| Width (mirrors) | 2.06m | 2.03m-29mm |
| Height | 1.63m | 1.65m+21mm |
| Wheelbase | 2.77m | 2.70m-65mm |
| Ground Clearance | 193mm | Not available |
| Capacity | ||
| Boot (seats up) | 470L (better) | 410L |
| Boot (seats down) | 1460L (better) | 1400L |
| Frunk | Not available | 31L |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Rear Legroom | 916mm | 917mm (better) |
| Practicality | ||
| Turning Circle | 10.9m (better) | 11m |
| Kerb Weight | 1,908kg (better) | 2,075kg |
| Towing Capacity | 1,000kg | 1,500kg (better) |
| Electric | ||
| Battery | 58kWh | 82kWh (better) |
| Range (WLTP) | 273 mi | 355 mi (better) |
| Max DC Charge | 105kW | 200kW (better) |
| Pricing | ||
| UK MSRP | £35,185 (better) | £39,610 |
| Price after EV grant | £33,685 (-£1,500) | £39,610 (not eligible) |
| Details | ||
| Body Style | SUV | SUV |
| Available | 2026+ | 2024+ |
Range & charging
Range, charging & battery
Check official and estimated driving range alongside charging speeds, efficiency and battery technology.
| Measure | Ford ExplorerStyle 58kWh | Volvo EX40Single Motor Extended Range |
|---|---|---|
| Official range (WLTP) | 273 miles | 355 miles (better) |
| Estimated motorway rangeEVcarsguide estimate at sustained motorway speed. | 183 miles | 242 miles (better) |
| 10-80% rapid charge time | 25 min (better) | 28 min |
| Max rapid charge rate | 105 kW | 200 kW (better) |
| Home AC charging | 11 kW | 11 kW |
| Energy consumption | 164 Wh/km (better) | 167 Wh/km |
| Usable battery capacity | 58 kWh | 82 kWh (better) |
| Battery chemistry | NMC | NMC |
| Battery architecture | 400V | Not available |
| Heat pump | Not standard | Not available |
Driving & everyday use
Performance & drivetrain
Compare acceleration, power and drivetrain specifications for the selected trims.
| Measure | Ford ExplorerStyle 58kWh | Volvo EX40Single Motor Extended Range |
|---|---|---|
| 0-62 mph | 8 sec | 7.3 sec (better) |
| Power | 140 kW | 185 kW (better) |
| Torque | 310 Nm | 420 Nm (better) |
| Drivetrain | RWD | RWD |
What the critics say
See how UK motoring publications rate each car in their road tests.
Ford Explorer
Style 58kWh
Volvo EX40
Single Motor Extended Range
Watch the reviews
Watch selected video reviews here, or visit each model page for the full collection.
Ford Explorer
All 3 videos
Reviews and videos discuss each model overall; the specifications above apply to your selected trims.
Prices & deals
Calculate your real costs
For a useful running-cost comparison, factor in your mileage, charging access and current petrol or diesel car alongside the EV estimate.
Compare with petrol or diesel
Compare purchase price, energy, road tax and maintenance with a petrol or diesel alternative.
Calculate company-car tax
Work out monthly Benefit-in-Kind using current and future HMRC rates.
Cost per mile
Compare EV charging costs per mile with petrol and diesel using your charging options.
Check a lease quote
Assess the effective monthly cost alongside the list price and expected depreciation.
Safety & ownership confidence
Euro NCAP - Ford Explorer Style 58kWh
Tested 2024
Adult Occupant89%
Child Occupant86%
Vulnerable Road Users80%
Safety Assist72%
Full result on euroncap.com (opens in new tab)
Euro NCAP - Volvo EX40 Single Motor Extended Range
Tested 2018
Adult Occupant97%
Child Occupant87%
Vulnerable Road Users71%
Safety Assist76%
Full result on euroncap.com (opens in new tab)
Warranty
Check the published battery warranty cover for each selected trim.
| Measure | Ford ExplorerStyle 58kWh | Volvo EX40Single Motor Extended Range |
|---|---|---|
| Battery warranty | 8 years | 8 years |
| Battery warranty distance | 160,934 km | 160,934 km |
Buying options
Get a quote
Ford Explorer
Used on AutoTraderLease deals
Volvo EX40
Used on AutoTraderLease deals
Live used listings
Active inventory from independent UK dealers.
Ford Explorer
No active listings.
Volvo EX40
- £38,0582025Car360View
- £36,8872025Car360View
- £35,0372024Car360View
Frequently asked questions
Is the Volvo EX40 worth the extra £4,425 over the Ford Explorer?
The Volvo EX40 costs £4,425 more than the Ford Explorer. For that premium it adds 83 miles more WLTP range, 95 kW faster peak rapid charging and 45 kW more power. The Ford Explorer is not just cheaper - it also offers 60 litres more boot space. On EVcarsguide's combined category scores, the Volvo EX40 comes out ahead overall.
Which is cheaper to own over 5 years, the Ford Explorer or the Volvo EX40?
The Ford Explorer is £4,425 cheaper to buy. Running costs are almost identical - about £176 a year either way, at 8,000 miles on an off-peak home tariff. Add 5 years of charging and the Ford Explorer comes out roughly £4,465 cheaper overall. These figures cover list price and home charging only - insurance, servicing, tyres and depreciation will move the real total.
What are the Ford Explorer and Volvo EX40 like on a long motorway trip?
EVcarsguide estimates a real-world motorway range of about 183 miles for the Ford Explorer and 242 miles for the Volvo EX40 - both below their WLTP figures, because sustained high speed is the hardest case for an EV. The Volvo EX40 goes roughly 58 miles further between charging stops. Both rapid-charge to 80% in a similar time, around 25-28 minutes.
Which is easier to park and drive in town, the Ford Explorer or the Volvo EX40?
The two are within 1 mm on width, so neither is meaningfully easier to thread into a tight space. In a standard 2,400 mm bay that leaves about 528 mm of total clearance for the Ford Explorer and about 527 mm of total clearance for the Volvo EX40.
Which battery will hold up better as a used buy, the Ford Explorer or the Volvo EX40?
Over a 8-year ownership window EVcarsguide's degradation model projects roughly 84% battery health for the Ford Explorer and 84% for the Volvo EX40. That is close enough that capacity loss should not decide between them. Both use NMC-type cells, so for daily use keep the charge limit near 80% to slow degradation. Both batteries carry a 8-year manufacturer warranty.
Go deeper on each car
Visit the full model pages for owner feedback, expert reviews, used prices and battery-health information.
Compare against other rivals
Compare similarly sized and priced electric cars before finalising your shortlist.
More Ford Explorer comparisons
More Volvo EX40 comparisons
See both cars in our rankings
EVcarsguide scores every verified EV on price, range, family use and running costs. Here is where this pair appears.
Where the Ford Explorer and Volvo EX40 rank among the best family EVsWhere the Ford Explorer and Volvo EX40 rank among EVs under £40,000Where the Ford Explorer and Volvo EX40 rank among the best electric SUVsWhere the Ford Explorer and Volvo EX40 rank among the best motorway EVsWhere the Ford Explorer and Volvo EX40 rank among the best city EVsWhere the Ford Explorer and Volvo EX40 rank among the cheapest EVs to run
Further reading
Explore buying and ownership guides to help you choose between these electric cars.
GuideBuying a Used Ford Explorer EV (2024 on): Standard or Extended Range, RWD or AWD, Recalls & What to Pay
A used electric Ford Explorer buyer’s guide: Standard and Extended Range, RWD and AWD explained, the 2026 battery change, recalls, warranty, real-world range, what owners report, what to pay against a new one with the grant, and a printable checklist.
GuideBuying a Used Volvo EX40 or EC40 (2024-on): Versions, the Braking Recall & What to Pay
A used Volvo EX40 and EC40 buyer’s guide: Single Motor, Extended Range and Twin Motor compared, real-world range, warranty left, the B-mode braking recall, what to pay and a printable checklist.
Data accuracy
Specs are sourced from manufacturer websites and manually reviewed. These figures were last verified .