2026 Volvo EX40: Westport Buyers Guide
Quick Answer: The 2026 Volvo EX40 at a Glance
The 2026 Volvo EX40 is Volvo's fully electric compact SUV, sold in two trims at Volvo Cars Westport: Plus (MSRP from $55,150 as a rear-wheel-drive Single Motor, or $56,900 as an all-wheel-drive Twin Motor) and Ultra (MSRP from $60,750, Twin Motor AWD only, with Black Edition styling standard), before the $1,395 destination charge. The Single Motor is EPA-estimated at up to 296 miles of range; the quicker Twin Motor tops out around 260 miles but adds all-wheel drive and 402 horsepower. Every EX40 gets a panoramic roof, Google built-in, wired Apple CarPlay, and NACS charging access to the Tesla Supercharger network. It's the same body and platform as the gas-powered XC40, sold under its own name since Volvo retired "Recharge" from every fully electric model in 2025. It's on the floor now at Volvo Cars Westport, 556 Post Road East.
The XC40 you already know, minus the gas station
Volvo's compact SUV has been sold two ways for a few years now: gas-powered as the XC40, fully electric as what's now called the EX40. Same silhouette, same roomy-for-its-footprint cabin, same practical five-seat layout that made the XC40 a fixture in Westport driveways. What changed is the badge. Starting with the 2025 model year, Volvo dropped "Recharge" from its lineup entirely and gave every battery-electric model an E-prefix name, so the car once known as the XC40 Recharge, and briefly the C40 Recharge in its coupe-roofline form, is simply the EX40 now. Volvo says it plainly on its own site: "Yes, it's the same car with a new name." If a neighbor's 2023 sticker still says Recharge, it's the same lineage under a cleaner label.
What it isn't is a stripped-down commuter box. The EX40 wears Volvo's signature Thor's Hammer LED headlights, a color-coordinated front shield that lowers air resistance instead of housing a grille it doesn't need, and a roof spoiler that hides the brake light and rear wiper. Inside, a 9-inch center touchscreen and 12.3-inch driver display run Google built-in, so Maps, Assistant, and Play come standard with four years of data included, and the digital services keep the car current with over-the-air updates rather than a service-bay reflash.
Two ways to spec the electric part
The EX40's real decision isn't trim, it's powertrain, and it only comes up on the Plus. Order it as a Single Motor Extended Range and you get rear-wheel drive, 248 horsepower, and Volvo's longest EX40 range: up to 296 miles EPA-estimated, at 106 MPGe combined. Order the Twin Motor instead and you trade some range for all-wheel drive and real shove, 402 horsepower and 494 lb-ft, enough for a 4.6-second run to 60 against the Single Motor's more relaxed 6.9. Both share an 82.0 kWh battery and the same charging numbers: a DC fast charger takes them from 10 to 80% in as fast as 28 minutes, and a home Level 2 setup fills an empty pack in about 8 hours overnight. Every EX40 also supports NACS, Volvo's adapter-free access to Tesla's Supercharger network, which matters more here than the spec sheet suggests once winter thins out the reliable public chargers along I-95.
The Ultra skips this decision for you. It's Twin Motor and all-wheel drive only, no Single Motor option, which is the tradeoff for the trim that adds Black Edition styling as standard equipment: high-gloss black exterior details and 20-inch black alloy wheels nobody has to option in separately.
Pick your 2026 EX40
EX40 Plus
from $55,150 MSRP
The whole lineup's entry point, and the only trim with a choice of Single Motor range or Twin Motor AWD.
EX40 Ultra
from $60,750 MSRP
Twin Motor AWD only, with Black Edition black-out styling and 20-inch wheels standard.
What EV shoppers here actually say
The EX40 is new enough to the lineup that the store's 4.7-star, 2,000-plus-review record doesn't have model-specific quotes to point to yet, but the dealership's track record with electric Volvo buyers is well documented. One recent shopper described her husband stopping by "on a whim to test drive the ex30 fully electric compact suv" and driving home in one within days, crediting a team that was "honest and straightforward throughout the process." Another buyer, cross-shopping a used electric Volvo, asked specifically that the car be "fully charged and ready out front" before her test drive, and got exactly that: "He had the car fully charged and ready out front for us, and got us in it for a test drive right away. He answered all our many questions and was very knowledgeable about the car." That's the same team that will walk an EX40 shopper through range, charging, and the Single Motor versus Twin Motor call.
After the handshake
Ownership questions have their own guides. The EX40 service & repair guide covers what an EV actually needs (less than you'd think), the factory maintenance included on 2026 cars, and where to charge locally. The pricing & leasing guide walks through Connecticut's taxes and the current state of federal and state EV incentives, which have shifted in the past year and are worth getting straight before you sign anything.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Volvo EX40 only available as a fully electric SUV?
Yes. There's no gas or hybrid EX40; Volvo's own FAQ is direct about it: "The Volvo EX40 is only available as a fully electric car." If a full battery-electric doesn't fit your situation, the XC40 is the same body on a gas mild-hybrid powertrain, sold separately in the same showroom.
What's the range of the Volvo EX40?
Up to 296 miles EPA-estimated on the Single Motor Extended Range, or up to 260 miles on the Twin Motor, which trades some range for all-wheel drive and quicker acceleration. Cold weather and highway speeds both pull those numbers down, as with any EV, so budget a buffer for a Connecticut winter commute.
What's the difference between EX40 and XC40?
The powertrain, full stop. Same platform, same body, same cabin layout, but the XC40 is a gas mild hybrid and the EX40 is fully electric only. They're priced, marketed, and specced as separate models, not trims of one another.
Is the Volvo EX40 the same as the XC40 Recharge?
Yes, per Volvo directly: same car, renamed. Every Volvo EV lost the "Recharge" suffix and picked up an E-prefix name starting with the 2025 model year, so the XC40 Recharge became the EX40.
How does the EX40 compare to the EX30 and EX90?
They're Volvo's three electric SUV sizes. The EX30 is the smallest and least expensive; the EX40 sits in the compact middle, built on the familiar XC40 body; the EX90 is the full-size, three-row flagship. All three are on the floor at Volvo Cars Westport.
Where can I see both trims?
Volvo Cars Westport's electric inventory keeps the EX40 stocked at 556 Post Road East, with the Roadster Express Store available for pricing, trade-in, and home delivery online.
One test drive, both questions answered
The spec sheet argues Single Motor versus Twin Motor in numbers; a test drive argues it in seat time. Bring a real commute route, notice how the range estimate tracks against Connecticut speeds and hills, and let the car settle the range-versus-AWD question the way most buyers actually do. The Certified by Volvo pre-owned rows carry earlier electric Volvos if the budget conversation shifts.
MSRP figures exclude the $1,395 destination charge plus taxes, title, registration, and dealer-installed options; the dealer sets the actual selling price. Range, MPGe, and charging-time figures are EPA estimates and manufacturer figures; real-world results vary with temperature, driving style, and conditions. Equipment and availability can shift with configuration and production timing; confirm current specs with Volvo Cars Westport. Customer quotes are excerpts from public Google reviews of Volvo Cars Westport describing electric-Volvo purchases and service; none reference the EX40 by name, as it is a newly introduced nameplate.