Volvo just pulled the plug on the EX40 in the United States. Its replacement costs more before you even touch the options list. The automaker confirmed to Car and Driver that the 2026 model year is the EX40’s last in America. That ends a run that started back in 2019 as the XC40 Recharge. If you want one, the clock is already ticking on dealer inventory.
The bigger question isn’t whether the Volvo EX40 discontinued news is real — it clearly is. It’s whether you should grab a leftover EX40 at a discount now. Or wait and pay more for the EX60 that’s taking its place as Volvo’s cheapest EV.
Is the Volvo EX40 discontinued for good in the US?
Yes. Volvo has stopped building the EX40 for the American market, and it will not return for the 2028 model year. Dealers are simply selling down existing stock until it’s gone. Once the current inventory clears, that’s it for good.
The EX40 isn’t disappearing everywhere, though. A refreshed version with new headlights, bumpers, and a redesigned tailgate will keep selling in Europe. American shoppers just won’t get that update, or the car at all, going forward.
Why did Volvo kill the EX40?
Volvo axed the EX40 for a few reasons. It’s built on an aging combustion-derived platform. It sells in relatively low numbers compared to the gas XC40. And it doesn’t fit where Volvo’s EV lineup is headed. The company is shifting entirely to its new dedicated SPA3 electric architecture, which underpins the EX60.
Timing made the decision easier, too. The federal EV tax credit expired at the end of September 2025. EV sales have cooled noticeably since. Industry data pegged battery-electric vehicles at just 6% of new light-duty sales in the first half of 2026. Volvo already cut the entry-level EX30 and the coupe-style EC40 before the EX40. If you’re curious how that EX30 saga played out, including its own recall drama, check our take on whether the EX30 was still worth buying.
How does the EX60 actually compare to the outgoing EX40?
The EX60 costs more to start. But it also delivers meaningfully more range, power, and charging speed than the EX40 ever did. Here’s the side-by-side:
| Spec | 2026 EX40 (outgoing) | EX60 (new entry EV) |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $56,545 | $59,795 (P6 Plus) |
| EPA range | 260–296 miles | 307 miles (P6), 330 miles (P10), up to 400 miles (P12, later) |
| Horsepower | 248–402 hp | 369 hp (P6), 503 hp (P10), 670 hp (P12) |
| 0–60 mph | 4.6–6.9 seconds | 5.7 seconds (P6) down to 3.8 seconds (P12) |
| Fast charging | 10–80% in ~28 minutes | 10–80% in as little as 16 minutes (800-volt) |
| Available now? | Yes, while dealer stock lasts | P10 deliveries start fall 2026; cheaper P6 not until 2027 |
You can see the full official range and charging figures straight from Volvo’s EX60 specifications page.
Is the EX60 worth $3,250 more than the EX40?
Yes, if you can actually get one. The EX60 rides on a purpose-built EV platform with real 800-volt charging. It offers more range across every trim. And it brings far more power. That $3,250 buys a genuinely newer generation of technology, not just a badge change.
Here’s the catch nobody mentions upfront: the cheapest EX60 trim, the P6, isn’t the one arriving first. Volvo is starting deliveries with the pricier P10 all-wheel-drive version this fall. The base P6 won’t show up until sometime in 2027. So the “entry-level EV” headline price is a bit of a mirage in the short term. Early buyers will likely pay closer to $62,145 for the P10.
Should you buy a leftover EX40 now instead?
If budget matters more to you than having the newest platform, buying a leftover EX40 now makes real sense. Dealers typically get more aggressive with discounts as a discontinued model’s inventory ages. You’d be getting a proven, five-year-old design with decent range and a lower sticker price today. That beats a wait-list position for next year.
This is essentially the same calculus we walked through with the discontinued Honda Prologue: buy the outgoing model at a discount now, or pay more and wait for something newer. Automakers are making this same bet across the industry right now. We covered a similar wait-or-buy dilemma in our look at Cadillac’s shifting EV lineup.
My honest take: unless you specifically need the EX60’s extra range or the latest tech, buy the EX40 now while dealers are motivated to move it. Waiting a year to pay more for a trim that isn’t even shipping yet doesn’t make financial sense for most shoppers. If you want a broader framework for this exact kind of decision, our EV buying decision guide walks through how to weigh price, timing, and tech upgrades before you commit.
FAQ
Will Volvo EX40 owners still get service and parts support?
Yes. Discontinuing a model in the US doesn’t affect parts availability or dealer service for existing owners. Volvo will continue supporting the EX40 the same way it supports other retired models like the EC40.
Is the EX40 the same car as the XC40 Recharge?
Essentially, yes. The EX40 started life as the XC40 Recharge in 2019. Volvo simply renamed it as it reorganized its EV lineup with EX-badged model names.
What’s the cheapest new Volvo EV you can buy right now?
Right now, it’s still the EX40, starting at $56,545. EX60 deliveries haven’t fully ramped up, and the cheaper P6 trim isn’t shipping until 2027.
Is a replacement for the EX40’s price point coming later?
Volvo has signaled a smaller EX50 model is expected in late 2027 as a 2028 model. It’s reportedly starting in the high $40,000s, which would undercut the EX60 significantly if it arrives as planned.