- Volvo is working on another round of major updates for the XC40.
- A second facelift is expected in 2027, bringing fresh styling cues.
- Prototypes confirm combustion engines remain alongside the EV.
The Volvo XC40 has aged into one of the most stubbornly durable products in the Swedish lineup. It showed up as a concept in 2016, reached production in 2017, and got a facelift in 2022. A next-generation version is rumored to be in the works, but new spy shots tell a different story for the near term. The current car is lined up for another round of updates, with a possible reveal in 2027.
The hot weather testing season has already started in Spain, and Volvo’s engineering teams are making the most of the demanding conditions. Not long after we caught a facelifted XC60 prototype, our spy photographers have now bagged an updated XC40.
More: Volvo’s Decade-Old XC60 Just Got A Facelift, And Another One Is Already Coming
The lightly camouflaged prototype retains the signature side windows and sculpted profile of the existing model, but the front end has been redesigned. The headlights appear to be slimmer with heavier contours and Thor’s hammer LED graphics, while the revised grille is intentionally hidden under a piece of camo.
The front bumper adopts a cleaner design, doing without the side intakes of its predecessors and adding thicker cladding on the pronounced chin. At the back, the traditional L-shaped taillights are covered in black tape, an attempt to disguise the updated LED graphics.
SH Proshots
Other changes include the flatter surfacing on the tailgate and the smaller reflectors low on the rear bumper. The dual tailpipes poking out of the rear end are just provisional units, and they’ll be swapped for a different design on the production model.
A few spy shots also offer a glimpse inside the cabin. The biggest change looks to be a new portrait-oriented infotainment display, similar to the one in the EX30. Volvo could add new materials and upholstery options, too.
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The powertrain lineup will most likely carry over the existing mild-hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and fully electric (EX40) options. The combustion engines might get updates, though, to stay compatible with Europe’s strict emission rules for a few more years. Volvo’s engineers could also tweak the chassis setup in search of a more refined ride.
The XC40’s second facelift should land in 2027, the year the nameplate turns ten. The electric EX40 will almost certainly inherit the same updates, separated by a few styling cues that mark it as the zero-emission one. It competes with the BMW X1, Mercedes GLA, Audi Q3, and Alfa Romeo Tonale.
