We’re digging into the August 2025 LEGO® Technic sets, starting with the massive 42215 Volvo EC500 Hybrid Excavator. Although this digger looks big, with 2359 parts it sits at number 18 on the list of biggest-ever LEGO Technic sets. Yet, according to Brickset, the RRP of US$429.99/ £349.99/ 399,99€/ AU$599.99 ranks it number 7 out of the most expensive LEGO Technic sets ever. Is that price warranted?
Products in this article were gifted by The LEGO Group; the author's opinions are their own.
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42215 Volvo EC500 Hybrid Excavator
- Release date: 1 August 2025
- Pieces: 2359
Price:
- US$ 425.99 on LEGO.com US
- CA$ 499.99 on LEGO.com Canada
- GB£ 349.99 on LEGO.com UK
- AU$ 599.99 on LEGO.com Australia
- NZ$ .99 on LEGO.com New Zealand
- DE€ 399,99 on LEGO.com Deutschland
- NL€ 399,99 on LEGO.com Nederland
- FR€ 399,99 on LEGO.com France
- PLN 1749.99 on LEGO.com Polska
- NOK 4899,90 on LEGO.com Norge
- DKK 3149.95 on LEGO.com Danmark
Background
Both the excavator and the Volvo brand are a familiar sight in the LEGO Technic universe, and both are present in my personal collection.
Excavators go all the way back to 1984 with set 8851 Excavator, while my first – 8837 Pneumatic Excavator from 1992 – provided me with my first-ever pneumatic elements. Another digger that is special to me is the 8043 Excavator from 2010. This beautiful set came out right as I was emerging from my Dark Ages. At that point, I was shocked to find out that those weird, studless beams that popped up sometimes when I was a teenager were now the standard, along with many new connector types and things called "Technic panels". I was not sure what to think of it, but set 8043 showed me those panels can be utilised along with LEGO® System bricks to create the right shape for a model, and despite the many new and alien elements, these elements still do what attracts me to LEGO Technic: building models with complex functions. I am even willing to admit they might even do it better, due to the advantages of the more versatile 1:1 size of a beam, compared to the 5:6 size of studded bricks.
Volvo drove into the LEGO Technic universe in 2014 with 42030 Remote-Controlled Volvo L350F Wheel Loader. For a lot of people this is a great set, but for me, this was my first post-Dark Age disappointment. The issue is not the set itself: it looks great, is impressively big, and the functions work flawless. My personal issue is how the vehicle operated: each function is controlled by its own motor, resulting in a less complex model with short drivetrains.
A similar issue which for instance the 42100 Liebherr R 9800 Excavator and more recently the 42146 Liebherr Crawler Crane LR 13000 carry; both impressive in size and operations, but limited in what I am looking for in a LEGO Technic set. The 42082 Rough Terrain Crane is probably the best example of what I need: a single motor operating multiple functions. Another great example is 42043 Mercedes-Benz Arocs 3245, which added pneumatics as a special treat, and the previously mentioned 8043 Excavator brings the best of both worlds: using multiple motors that can switch between functions through a complex gearbox.
The set we’re building today is the eighth LEGO® Volvo and, like the others, keeps the brand exclusive to LEGO Technic. It falls in the ‘single-motor, multiple functions’ category, immediately scoring some points with me. With some impressive predecessors to compare it to, adding to this score will require more effort, so let's break earth and see how many more points the excavator can scoop up.
Before we start: a look at the interesting elements found in the box.
New molds
Technic Panel 3 x 3 Triangle (6613)
- 6x Technic Panel 3 x 3 Triangle in Black (6558403 | 6613)
- 6x Technic Panel 3 x 3 Triangle in Yellow (6508521 | 6613)
This new addition to the array of LEGO Technic panels is an interesting one. Although looking versatile at first glance, the connection options seem limited. I’ve explored this triangular panel from all sides in our August 2025 LEGO Technic parts review.
Technic Digger Bucket 10 1/2 x 9 x 14 with 5 Teeth (6619)
This beast measures 10 1/2 x 9 x 14 studs and appears in black (6508527 | 6619). It is the second large digger bucket that Volvo has brought us this year, after 42209 Volvo L120 Electric Wheel Loader introduced one, as seen in Alex's parts review for the June wave of LEGO Technic sets.
The bucket is big enough to cradle the yellow 4 x 7 bucket (24120) from 42055 Bucket Wheel Excavator as a little infant.
Recolors
The following elements are new to these colors.
- 3x Technic Linear Actuator with Dark Bluish Gray Ends Long in Black (6526465 | 40918)
- 1x Technic Panel Curved and Bent 6 x 3 in Dark Turquoise (6562832 | 24116, 35396)
- 1x Bar Holder with Clip and 90° Angle (Mechanical Leg) in Orange (6551886 | 72869)
- 2x Bar Holder with Hole and Bar Handle in Orange (6551698 | 23443, 49755)
- 3x + spare Hose Rigid 3mm D. 5L / 4.0cm in Orange (6551719)
- 2x Hose Rigid 3mm D. 9L / 7.2cm in Orange (6551718)
- 3x Technic Beam 1 x 5 Thin with Axle Holes on Ends in Orange (6551715 | 11478, 44864)
Decorations
There are no printed parts to be found, new nor old. All decorations are handled by a large sticker sheet instead.
I noticed most of the stickers were hard to pull off, as they didn’t seem to be cut out fully from the sheet.
Rare elements
- 3 x Bar 4L (Lightsaber Blade / Wand) in Orange (6494202 | 21462, 30374) only appeared in 42196 Lamborghini Huracán Tecnica Orange before
- 4 x Technic Beam 3 x 5 L-Shape with Alternating Holes in Yellow (6546795 | 2477) showed up for the first time in June in 42209 Volvo L120 Electric Wheel Loader
- 3 x Technic Steering / CV Ball Joint, Cardan Ball with Cross Hole 3L in Light Bluish Gray (6338424 | 77590) has appeared in 3 sets since its introduction in 2021
- 1 x Technic Beam 1 x 9 Thick with Alternating Holes in Black (6521101 | 6612) only appeared in 31216 Keith Haring - Dancing Figures. Read my review of set 31216.
- 1 x Technic Linear Actuator with Dark Bluish Gray Ends in Black (6368625 | 43097). While the big sibling is marked as a recolor, the standard size was used in 42131 Cat D11 Bulldozer in 2021. Read Alex's review of set 42131.
The model
I’ll describe the build process first, with a video showing off all functions at the end.
We start at the bottom with tracks occupying a 25 x 26cm footprint. This stage is pretty straightforward, as the tracks are not connected to any drivetrain.
From the turntable up, we add the body. In the center sits a wall of beams, on which we add gears on both sides. In the back sits the gearbox directing the power of the engine through the wall to the different functions. So many gears crammed into a tight space, going in all directions... all I can say is: this is why I love LEGO Technic!
The gearbox is covered up, and a gear selector is added. The selector sits on a long axle, selecting only a single function at the time. Due to the length of the axle, the selector tends to jam easily, so you need some fiddling to get it in place. I think it will be easy to modify this, giving each function its own selector. This will allow multiple functions to be activated simultaneously, giving a more realistic operation. I can’t guarantee the L-motor will be able to handle the load though.
From left to right in the above picture we have: rotating the top boom, rotating the bucket, locking the bucket, and raising the main boom. The stickers are applied a bit awkwardly, with the center two not sitting directly under the selector.
After this section is finished, the instructions advise to run a motor check to confirm all gears are in the right place. See the video at the end of the review.
On to the boom, which is raised by two long linear actuators. As you can see, the drivetrain to these actuators runs through two 28-teeth bevel gears (in light grey), which are placed in a mirrored fashion. It is better practice to have these gears face the same way: as the boom lifts, the 28-teeth bevel gears will rotate the 12-teeth bevel gears (tan) on the linear actuators slightly. Depending on the orientation of the 28-teeth gear, this will either extend or retract the actuator. If the gears are facing the same way, both actuators will extend or retract. If they sit symmetrically, like they do here, one will extend and the other will retract, twisting the boom. The effect is small, but it will add some stress to the build, so it’s better to avoid. See the start of the video to see the effect in motion.
Through the boom, 3 drivetrains provide power to the functions, adding to my LEGO Technic pleasure. Usually, these drivetrains run through the rotation point of the boom. However, two of them are sitting a bit higher. This means that as the boom rises, the drivetrain needs to become shorter.
Here, the Technic Steering / CV Ball Joints, Cardan Ball with Cross Hole 3L (77590) come in handy. They feature a long shaft without friction, allowing an axle to slide around freely, shortening and lengthening the drivetrain. This is the first time I remember seeing this trick used in a set.
With the first section of the boom added, we get a better idea of the model's size.
The following bags add the bodywork to the excavator, including a cabin that can just fit a LEGO Technic figure (not included!).
As explained in my parts overview of the wave, it is not possible to connect two of the triangle panels on their long sides with an axle. Instead, they are not connected together at all.
The switch for the hub is hidden behind a door, while the lid to replace the batteries is accessible through the underside.
The final part of the boom comes into place. At the tip, a release mechanism is installed, and we can choose to either add the bucket or a jackhammer.
The jackhammer works, using a rubber band to push the hammer down. Unfortunately this is done by manually rotating a gear on the jackhammer itself, instead of on the gear selector on the body of the model.
The finished model looks great and is impressively large. With the boom folded, the vehicle measures 25 x 57 x 27cm. Extending the boom to its maximum height adds 23cm to the height, totalling 50cm. Extending the boom forward adds 14cm to a full length of 71cm.
Video
Lets see all the details in motion.
Conclusion
This set offers everything I personally look for in a LEGO Technic set. It’s complicated, and loaded with gear. I assume some people would prefer a remote controlled model with more motors, or a more detailed representation of the real-life vehicle, but for me, most bases have been covered, at least as far as the build process and the LEGO Technic are concerned. However, there are some aspects that dampen my enthusiasm.
For starters, the movements are too slow and seem meant for showing off the functions and posing the model, rather than really playing with it. Added functions like driving the tracks and rotating the upper structure would be welcome. As mentioned the gear selector is tricky to operate, requiring a fine touch, and makes operating the model pretty annoying. Aside from being slow, the movements can be jerky, and despite the addition of clutch gear, it feels the drivetrains get strained when reaching their outer limits.
And of course we have to address the major elephant in the room, and that is the price tag. With an RRP of 399,99€ for 2359 parts, the price per part comes to 17 cents. That is just too high, even taking into account the electronics.
By comparison, the 42082 Rough Terrain Crane has 4057 parts, also including a motor and battery box, for 5.7c per part. Of course that one didn’t have an IP license, but the 42100 Liebherr R 9800 does have a license as well as 7 motors and 2 hubs, for 11c per part. Since that set's release in 2019, inflation has taken its toll, but even so I think the Volvo is just not worth the RRP. And that’s a shame, as I truly enjoyed the build process.
READ MORE: LEGO® Pick a Brick: new elements added in August 2025
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what a bargain.
ReplyDeleteThanks for this review! I love the complexity also, that's something l look for in a Technic set. That said, the more gears in a train, the more backlash, which must contribute to jerky movements and general feeling of imprecision.
ReplyDeleteThis isn't in my budget in any case, but I will say that learning that the tracks don't drive and the cab doesn't slew is a major disappointment considering the price.