Volvo Abandons EX40 EV and Updates XC40 for North AmericaTheTruthAboutCars.comMatt PoskyFri, September 11, 2026 at 4:07 PM UTCAdd us on Googlevolvo abandons ex40 ev and updates xc40 for north americaVolvo will be dropping the all-electric EX40 from its North American lineup next year, despite it and the rest of the 40-Series models being on the cusp of a global refresh. This decision comes after the automaker eliminated the similar EC40, opted against bringing the smaller EX30 EV to our market, and revised its own electrification targets. It would seem that EVs have not worked well for the brand. However, that is contingent largely upon where they're being sold and how those sales are calculated.Globally, the EX40 has frequently been labeled as Volvo's second best-selling model after the more popular EX60/CX60. But volumes for both are frequently lumped in with their combustion or hybridized XC counterparts, arguably tainting the math.Volvo has enjoyed a roughly 27 percent (year-over-year) increase in EV sales this summer with combustion models having declined over the same period. On the surface, it would seem that the automaker has experienced a clear pivot toward electrified models. But this ignores the fact that global volumes for the brand were down by roughly 7.5 percent last year.volvo abandons ex40 ev and updates xc40 for north americaThat said, the company has enjoyed a dramatic surge in popularity since 2010 - both here and abroad. But the United States has been a little less kind to Volvo in recent years, with the assumption being that American drivers are simply less interested in electric models.AdvertisementAdvertisementWhile outlets frequently praise Volvo's all-electric sales growth, it comes with the caveat that EVs aren't supplanting combustion models as quickly as predicted. One could even argue that a significant portion of the brand's success with electrified models hinges largely on the automaker simply having more plug-in (and fewer pure combustion) models than it used to.volvo abandons ex40 ev and updates xc40 for north americaMeanwhile, Volvo has been forced to revise its electrification targets. While the automaker previously felt confident that it could sell nothing but electric cars by 2030, it has since decided that having nearly all of its cars be electrified should be sufficient. But that does that even mean when we're counting PHEVs and purely electric cars on the same hand?Volvo's XC models have been substantially more popular than their EX equivalents on our market and this has been reflected in the company's product planning. The EX60 will now become Volvo's cheapest EV on our market and the 2028 model year XC40 will receive an update while the EX40 goes away.This is despite the EX40 being a decent electric car. Customers were getting nearly 300 miles of range from the reasonably peppy single motor variant. Meanwhile, the dual-motor EX40 boasted 260 miles between charging and could use all-wheel drive to launch itself to 60 mph in a very quick 4.6 seconds. That, on top of it being a relatively handsome and usable SUV should have allowed Volvo to keep it in the lineup for a little longer.volvo abandons ex40 ev and updates xc40 for north americaBut competitors were offering more intuitive controls, superior ranges, or additional power. That kind of made the EX40 a jack-of-all-trades vehicle. This is fine, arguably even desirable, when it comes to mainstream crossovers equipped with combustion engines. But EV shoppers tend to be more fickle and tend to gravitate toward the latest niche models.AdvertisementAdvertisementThat's not to suggest that the EX40 is old, especially since it wasn't formally launched in the United states until 2021. However, it's still older than some of its rivals and doesn't have class-leading specs or a bunch or the flashy hardware to make up for that.We're operating under the assumption that declining sales of the EX40/XC40 were primarily the fault of the all-electric model. After all, the XC40 will be the one that's sticking around after next year.volvo abandons ex40 ev and updates xc40 for north americaFor 2028, the XC40 will be getting an exterior makeover that includes a revised grille, updated headlamps, and minimalist front clip. Subtly similar changes also take place at the rear of the vehicle. Changes would be hard to pick out without having the vehicles parked next to each other. But Volvo's exterior design was already hard to criticize so there's little reason to make any significant alterations.On the inside, customers will have some new upholstery options and a larger center screen. The new 11.2-inch unit also benefits from Volvo's updated UX, which has already appeared on other models and is supposed to be faster and more intuitive. These changes likewise apply to the updated EX40 and EC40 on markets where it has not been discontinued.volvo abandons ex40 ev and updates xc40 for north americaAll-wheel drive XC40 B5 models equipped with the turbocharged 2.0-liter engine don't seem to get an increase in power. But the vehicle was already quick enough not to be boring. Engineers instead spent their time improving the model's fuel economy - which was probably the smarter play considering today's prices.AdvertisementAdvertisementWhile Volvo hasn't said much about the B4 front-wheel drive trim, it doesn't appear to have been discontinued. Our guess is that the company is either mulling over whether to continue offering it as the entry model for North America or has made some changes that it's not quite ready to share with the public.volvo abandons ex40 ev and updates xc40 for north americaWe've also heard nothing about hybridization, which is curious since the brand claims to be wholly committed to electrification and the platform seems like it should be capable. Granted, all versions of the XC40 are technically "mild hybrids." But the term can be misleading since mild-hybrid vehicles are incapable of meaningful electric propulsion, with the hybrid system effectively supplanting traditional starter motors to add a modest amount of power under full engine loads.Toyota has even gone out of its way to suggest the term is erroneous due to the fact that the 48-volt-assisted system should be treated as a separate category from true hybrids. Meanwhile, Volvo is keen to denote the XC40 specifically as a "mild hybrid."volvo abandons ex40 ev and updates xc40 for north americaWe're not sure customers will care so much about the engineering details, provided the end result does what they want during the commute. Thus far, the XC40 has been a pretty solid option for individuals wanting a subcompact premium/near-luxury crossover. But there are numerous mainstream alternatives that will absolutely trump it in terms of overall practicality (e.g. Honda CR-V) and there are others that will compete with it in terms of near-luxury/performance (e.g. Mazda CX-50) or off-road capabilities (e.g. Ford Bronco Sport).AdvertisementAdvertisementWhat Volvo offers is a slightly higher starting MSRP, European badging, and a minimalist interior emphasizing modern ADAS technology. This includes things like semi-autonomous highway operations and intervening crash prevention features mainstream models often lack. The revised XC40 is supposed to be getting more cameras, radar sensors, and ultrasonic gear to help advance its updated software and driver-assistance tech. We imagine XC40 buyers will continue to be the kind of people who care about driver assistance and connectivity features more than mechanical specs and MSRPs.volvo abandons ex40 ev and updates xc40 for north america[Images: Volvo Cars]Become a TTAC insider. 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