Several years ago, prospective EV buyers had every reason to feel nervous about how long the battery pack would last. Battery technology has come a long way since EVs went mainstream, though, and a new study out of Sweden puts a number on how much capacity new EVs hold onto after 62,000 miles, or 100,000 km, of driving. The results may surprise you.

The study, run by online car marketplace Carla, went through 9,954 battery tests of EVs sold in Sweden between 2022 and 2026, using a diagnostic tool from AVILOO that measures a pack’s true state of health instead of leaning on the estimates the car itself provides. That distinction matters, because in-car readouts can sometimes paint a rosier picture than reality.

Read: A Seven-Year-Old Tesla Model 3 Survived 380,000 Miles, Its Range Did Not

The Kia e-Niro came out on top, hanging on to an impressive 97.25 percent of its original capacity after 62,000 miles. It shares its 64 kWh battery with the Hyundai Kona, which nearly matched it at 97.18 percent, and the podium stayed within the Hyundai Motor Group family thanks to the Kia EV6 and its 77.4 kWh pack in third place.

Top-Performing EVs

The strongest European EV was the Volvo XC40 and its CATL-sourced 69 kWh battery, which held 94.70 percent of its capacity after 62,000 miles, trailed closely by the Polestar 2 and its 78 kWh CATL pack at 94.35 percent. The BMW i3 and the LG Chem version of the Polestar 2 landed close behind at 93.77 percent and 93.53 percent.

What About Tesla?

The best-placed model from EV leader Tesla was the Model 3 fitted with a 60.5 kWh LFP battery from CATL, retaining 93.34 percent of its capacity. This put it slightly above the Model 3 with an LG Chem-sourced NMC battery at 91.5 percent.

Among the other EVs ranked inside the top 20 were the Audi e-tron 50 and 55 at 93.02 and 92.93 percent, respectively, the Skoda Enyaq iV at 92.88 percent, the Tesla Model S with 92.80 percent, the VW ID.4 at 92.77 percent, and the Tesla Model X at 92.52 percent.

The bigger lesson here is that the old fear of an EV’s battery dying young no longer holds up. Every car in this ranking kept more than 90 percent of its capacity past 62,000 miles, and most owners will not even reach that figure until three or four years of driving. The pack is now likely to outlast the car wrapped around it.

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.

More: A Slate Designer Spent His Spare Time Redrawing Volvo’s Lost Wagon

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.

SH Proshots

Volvo is deep into development of a redesigned XC40, and the plan is to have it on sale in the US next year. Details are still thin, but its arrival confirms something else. The current XC40 and its electric counterpart, the EX40, are sticking around a little longer, with production expected to run through late this year.

Launched in late 2017 as Volvo’s smallest SUV, the XC40 has aged reasonably well, though it’s starting to feel its years. Updates have been minimal, limited to a single light facelift. The next-generation version is expected to widen its appeal with a plug-in hybrid option, sitting alongside the existing mild-hybrid lineup.

Read: Volvo’s New 400-Mile SUV Has One Feature Tesla Owners Will Be Jealous Of

There is more riding on this update than just keeping things fresh. Dealers are counting on the new XC40 to help steady the brand’s footing in the US. Total sales collapsed 32 percent in the first quarter to 22,651 vehicles, while Volvo’s share of the luxury segment slid to 5.8 percent, its lowest point since 2019. The XC40 has been hit especially hard, with sales down 47 percent to just 3,403 units.

More Updates Are Needed

To help keep the XC40 somewhat fresh for 2026, Volvo updated it with a new infotainment system. But if it wants to recapture buyers, it’ll need to make much more significant upgrades to the next-generation model. Auto News reports that the new EX40 will make a major step forward by sharing its SPA3 platform with the electric EX60.

While a new XC40 is just around the corner, some dealers believe Volvo would be better off prioritizing other models, like the XC60 and XC90, as they’re more profitable. “XC40 is a great car, and we appreciate the updates,” one dealer said, before adding that “the US is a big car market.”

Volvo is already putting effort into its larger lineup. The XC60 received updates last year and is set to be built at the brand’s Ridgeville, South Carolina plant starting in late 2026. The XC90, meanwhile, got a second facelift in 2024, with a full redesign also in development. That said, it may not arrive until 2029, leaving the current model to carry the load a while longer.