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Smart #5 vs Volvo EX40
Selected trimSingle Motor Extended RangeChange trim355 mi · 82 kWh · £39,610
At a glance
In this comparison, Smart #5 leads on family practicality, while the Volvo EX40 leads on value for money, motorway range and charging speed.
Which should you choose?
Choose the Smart #5 if...
- you have a family - it has the best combination of boot space, safety, and rear legroom
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
- you want the lowest running costs - from just 2.3p per mile on off-peak electricity
- you need the best car for city driving and tight parking
How we reached the recommendation
Verdict
Our take
The Volvo EX40 wins almost every category - it's the clear choice unless price is the deciding factor.
ValueVolvo
Smart
6.4
Volvo
6.9
Motorway RangeVolvo
Smart
2.7
Volvo
4.1
FamilySmart
Smart
9
Volvo
6.9
ChargingVolvo
Smart
5
Volvo
6.6
Cost Per MileVolvo
Smart
1.6
Volvo
3.3
City DrivingVolvo
Smart
3.2
Volvo
5
What each car does better
See the specification differences behind the verdict, with supporting figures for each advantage.
Volvo EX40
Single Motor Extended Range
- 68 miles more WLTP range
- 50 kW faster rapid charging
- 18 Wh/km more efficient
Key specifications
Compare the key specifications for your selected trims.
| Measure | Smart #5Pro | Volvo EX40Single Motor Extended Range |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £39,800 | £39,610 (better) |
| Official range | 288 miles | 355 miles (better) |
| Boot space | 630 L (better) | 410 L |
| 10-80% rapid charge | 30 min | 28 min (better) |
| 0-62 mph | 6.9 sec (better) | 7.3 sec |
Size Comparison
View:
Align by:
Smart #5
Volvo EX40
Length
Smart #54,695mm
Volvo EX404,440mm-255mm
Width
Smart #51,920mm
Volvo EX401,873mm-47mm
Height
Smart #51,705mm
Volvo EX401,651mm-54mm
Space, size & parking
Parking & manoeuvring
Compare exterior dimensions to assess how each car fits UK parking spaces.
| Measure | Smart #5Pro | Volvo EX40Single Motor Extended Range |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 4,695 mm | 4,440 mm |
| Width (mirrors folded) | 1,920 mm | 1,873 mm (better) |
| Width with mirrors out | 2,169 mm | 2,034 mm (better) |
| Height | 1,705 mm | 1,651 mm |
| Turning circle | Not available | 11 m |
| Clearance in a standard bayA standard UK parking bay is 2,400 mm wide. | 480 mm spare | 527 mm spare (better) |
People & luggage
Compare seating, child-seat mounting points, boot space and towing capacity.
| Measure | Smart #5Pro | Volvo EX40Single Motor Extended Range |
|---|---|---|
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Rear legroom | Not available | 917 mm |
| ISOFIX child-seat points | Not available | 4 |
| Boot space (seats up) | 630 L (better) | 410 L |
| Boot space (seats down) | 1530 L (better) | 1400 L |
| Frunk | 47 L (better) | 31 L |
| Towing capacity (braked) | 1,600 kg (better) | 1,500 kg |
How each stacks up
Percentile ranks against UK EVs of the same body style.
Smart #5
- Boot space of 630 L is bigger than 90% of SUVs we track.
- One of 33 of 232 UK EVs in our catalogue with V2L (vehicle-to-load) support.
Volvo EX40
Not enough peers to make confident percentile claims.
Full specifications
| Specification |  Smart #5 Pro |  Volvo EX40 Single Motor Extended Range |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4.70m | 4.44m-255mm |
| Width | 1.92m | 1.87m-47mm |
| Width (mirrors) | 2.17m | 2.03m-135mm |
| Height | 1.71m | 1.65m-54mm |
| Wheelbase | 2.90m | 2.70m-198mm |
| Ground Clearance | 190mm | Not available |
| Capacity | ||
| Boot (seats up) | 630L (better) | 410L |
| Boot (seats down) | 1530L (better) | 1400L |
| Frunk | 47L (better) | 31L |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Rear Legroom | Not available | 917mm |
| Practicality | ||
| Turning Circle | Not available | 11m |
| Kerb Weight | 2,200kg | 2,075kg (better) |
| Towing Capacity | 1,600kg (better) | 1,500kg |
| Electric | ||
| Battery | 76kWh | 82kWh (better) |
| Range (WLTP) | 288 mi | 355 mi (better) |
| Max DC Charge | 150kW | 200kW (better) |
| Pricing | ||
| UK MSRP | £39,800 | £39,610 (better) |
| Details | ||
| Body Style | SUV | SUV |
| Available | 2025+ | 2024+ |
Range & charging
Range, charging & battery
Check official and estimated driving range alongside charging speeds, efficiency and battery technology.
| Measure | Smart #5Pro | Volvo EX40Single Motor Extended Range |
|---|---|---|
| Official range (WLTP) | 288 miles | 355 miles (better) |
| Estimated motorway rangeEVcarsguide estimate at sustained motorway speed. | 202 miles | 242 miles (better) |
| 10-80% rapid charge time | 30 min | 28 min (better) |
| Max rapid charge rate | 150 kW | 200 kW (better) |
| Home AC charging | 11 kW | 11 kW |
| Energy consumption | 185 Wh/km | 167 Wh/km (better) |
| Usable battery capacity | 76 kWh | 82 kWh (better) |
| Battery chemistry | LFP | NMC |
| Battery architecture | 800V | Not available |
| Heat pump | Not standard | Not available |
Driving & everyday use
Performance & drivetrain
Compare acceleration, power and drivetrain specifications for the selected trims.
| Measure | Smart #5Pro | Volvo EX40Single Motor Extended Range |
|---|---|---|
| 0-62 mph | 6.9 sec (better) | 7.3 sec |
| Power | 250 kW (better) | 185 kW |
| Torque | 373 Nm | 420 Nm (better) |
| Drivetrain | RWD | RWD |
What the critics say
See how UK motoring publications rate each car in their road tests.
Smart #5
Pro
Volvo EX40
Single Motor Extended Range
Watch the reviews
Watch selected video reviews here, or visit each model page for the full collection.
Smart #5
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 - Smart #5 Pro
Tested 2025
Adult Occupant88%
Child Occupant93%
Vulnerable Road Users84%
Safety Assist92%
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 | Smart #5Pro | Volvo EX40Single Motor Extended Range |
|---|---|---|
| Battery warranty | 8 years | 8 years |
| Battery warranty distance | Not available | 160,934 km |
Buying options
Get a quote
Smart #5
Used on AutoTraderLease deals
Volvo EX40
Used on AutoTraderLease deals
Live used listings
Active inventory from independent UK dealers.
Smart #5
No active listings.
Volvo EX40
- £38,0582025Car360View
- £36,8872025Car360View
- £35,0372024Car360View
Frequently asked questions
Which is cheaper to own over 5 years, the Smart #5 or the Volvo EX40?
The Volvo EX40 is £190 cheaper to buy. Running costs are almost identical - about £184 a year either way, at 8,000 miles on an off-peak home tariff. Add 5 years of charging and the two land within £270 of each other - effectively the same to own. These figures cover list price and home charging only - insurance, servicing, tyres and depreciation will move the real total.
What are the Smart #5 and Volvo EX40 like on a long motorway trip?
EVcarsguide estimates a real-world motorway range of about 202 miles for the Smart #5 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 40 miles further between charging stops. Both rapid-charge to 80% in a similar time, around 28-30 minutes.
Which is easier to park and drive in town, the Smart #5 or the Volvo EX40?
The Volvo EX40 is the easier car for tight UK car parks: it is 47 mm narrower than the Smart #5. In a standard 2,400 mm bay that leaves about 527 mm of total clearance for the Volvo EX40 and about 480 mm of total clearance for the Smart #5.
Which battery will hold up better as a used buy, the Smart #5 or the Volvo EX40?
Over a 8-year ownership window EVcarsguide's degradation model projects roughly 90% battery health for the Smart #5 and 84% for the Volvo EX40. That gives the Smart #5 a modest edge in retained real-world range. The Smart #5's LFP-type pack tolerates daily 100% charging, while the Volvo EX40's NMC-type pack lasts longest kept to about 80% for everyday use. 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 Smart #5 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 Smart #5 and Volvo EX40 rank among the best family EVsWhere the Smart #5 and Volvo EX40 rank among EVs under £40,000Where the Smart #5 and Volvo EX40 rank among the best electric SUVsWhere the Smart #5 and Volvo EX40 rank among the best motorway EVsWhere the Smart #5 and Volvo EX40 rank among the best city EVsWhere the Smart #5 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.
Data accuracy
Specs are sourced from manufacturer websites and manually reviewed. These figures were last verified .