Key highlights
- 2027 Volvo XC40 and EX40 receive revised styling and new cabin technology
- Lower-powered XC40 B3 petrol mild-hybrid confirmed for Australia
- Updated safety systems and larger infotainment screen join the range
Nearly a decade after it first went on sale, the Volvo XC40 is getting its second facelift, and its electric twin, the EX40, is coming along for the ride. Australian showrooms won’t see the updated pair until sometime next year, but Volvo has already pulled the covers off overseas, giving us a good look at what’s changing.
This matters more than it might sound, because the XC40 and EX40 aren’t some niche also-ran in Volvo’s Australian lineup, combined, they’re the brand’s best-selling model here, with 1656 sold so far this year. That’s comfortably ahead of the XC60, EX30 and XC90. So any update to this pair is worth paying attention to if you’re cross-shopping premium small SUVs.
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What’s new to look at?
The most obvious changes are up front, with new headlights, a redesigned bonnet and a fresh grille treatment. Round back, the tail-light internals have been tweaked too, a small but welcome refresh, given that the area of the car had gone untouched since launch.
Inside is where things get more interesting for day-to-day livability. Both the Volvo XC40 and Volvo EX40 gain a larger 11.2-inch infotainment touchscreen, bringing them into line with the bigger XC60 and XC90, which already received this upgrade in their own recent facelifts. There’s also an updated wireless phone charger and refreshed cabin lighting.
If you like a bit of luxury flair, there’s a new interior trim combining Arianne Cardamom leather with Brown Ash wood decor, a genuinely upmarket touch that should appeal to buyers cross-shopping against the likes of Audi’s Q3 or the Mercedes-Benz GLA.
A cheaper way into Volvo XC40?
Here’s the part that could actually matter for your wallet. Volvo is introducing a lower-output XC40 B3 to the range, something Australia hasn’t had before. It uses the same 2.0-litre turbocharged, 48-volt mild-hybrid four-cylinder as the existing B4, but detuned from 145kW/300Nm down to 120kW/265Nm.
In practical terms, that means a 0–100km/h sprint of 8.6 seconds, compared to 7.6 seconds in the B4. It’s not a huge gap, and interestingly, Volvo’s European WLTP figures show no meaningful difference in fuel use or emissions between the two states of tune.
Why would you want the less powerful engine, then? Simple; price. While Volvo hasn’t confirmed Australian pricing for the facelifted range, the arrival of a lower-spec B3 variant raises the real possibility of a starting price below the current XC40 B4 Plus’s $55,490 before on-road costs. The B4 will continue on in the range, alongside the existing Ultra Bright ($62,490) and Ultra Dark ($63,490) variants.
No changes under the Volvo EX40’s bonnet, or lack thereof
For EV buyers, it’s a simpler story. The EX40, sold locally in single-motor rear-wheel-drive P5 Long Range and dual-motor all-wheel-drive T8 guises, isn’t getting any hardware changes. It picks up the same styling, tech and safety updates as the petrol XC40, without any shakeup to range or performance.
Safety tech gets a solid bump
Volvo has also beefed up the driver-assist hardware across the board, adding new front, rear and corner radars, 12 extra ultrasonic sensors and upgraded parking cameras. That hardware unlocks features like door-opening alerts (handy for cyclist safety in busy city streets), lane-change assist, and a 3D surround-view camera for tighter carparks.
What we still don’t know?
Volvo hasn’t locked in exact Australian pricing, specification details or an on-sale date beyond “next year.” We’ll update this story as soon as local details are confirmed, for now, this is shaping up as a sensible, if not dramatic, refresh for one of the segment’s most consistent sellers.
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