2026 Volvo EX40 Plus: New York City Buyers Guide

Quick Answer: The 2026 EX40 Plus

The EX40 Plus is the entry point into Volvo's smallest electric SUV, starting at $55,150 with the Single Motor Extended Range powertrain (rear-wheel drive, 248 hp, EPA-estimated up to 296 miles of range) or $56,900 with Twin Motor all-wheel drive (402 hp, up to 260 miles), both before the $1,395 destination charge. Standard equipment includes a panoramic roof, 360-degree camera, cabin air purification with remote pre-cleaning, Google built-in infotainment, and 19-inch alloy wheels. It's the only EX40 trim where the powertrain choice — range or all-wheel grip — is actually yours to make.

The trim most people actually configure

Plus isn't a stripped base model in the way that word sometimes implies. It's the trim that carries every piece of standard equipment Volvo considers essential on this car — panoramic roof, 360-degree camera, an air purification system with PM2.5 filtering that can pre-clean the cabin remotely from the Volvo Cars app before you even get in, keyless entry, a wireless phone charging pad, and a power tailgate that opens with a foot kick under the bumper. What Plus adds over nothing is the entire feature set; what it doesn't have is the Ultra's standard all-wheel drive and Black Edition trim. For a lot of buyers here, that's a fair trade for a lower entry price on a car most of them will drive well under 10,000 city miles a year.

Single Motor or Twin Motor — the choice that's actually yours

Plus is the only EX40 trim where you pick the powertrain; Ultra locks you into Twin Motor. Single Motor Extended Range sends 248 horsepower and 310 lb-ft to the rear wheels only, reaches 60 mph in 6.9 seconds, and is EPA-estimated at 118 city / 94 highway / 106 combined MPGe — up to 296 miles on a full charge, the longest-range EX40 you can buy. Twin Motor adds a front motor for all-wheel drive, pushes output to 402 horsepower and 494 lb-ft, drops the 0-60 time to 4.6 seconds, and settles at 103 city / 85 highway / 94 combined MPGe — 260 miles of range, roughly 36 fewer miles than the rear-drive version, in exchange for real traction margin. Neither is objectively correct. A driver who mostly stays inside Manhattan, charges at home or at a reliable public station, and wants to stretch range as far as possible has a real case for Single Motor. A driver who takes this car north into the Hudson Valley in February, or just wants the AWD cushion on a slick Lincoln Tunnel approach, tends to end up in the Twin Motor column — and that's also the only door into the Ultra, if this Plus test drive convinces you to go further.

What's actually standard

• Google built-in infotainment running natively on a 9-inch center touchscreen alongside a 12.3-inch driver display, with four years of Google services included from delivery
• Wired Apple CarPlay over USB-C, plus wired Android Auto on the same port — no wireless connection on either
• 360-degree camera standard from this trim up, a genuine help parking a compact SUV against a Midtown curb
• 19-inch alloy wheels, keyless entry and start, and over-the-air software updates so the car can pick up improvements without a service visit
• 57.5 cubic feet of maximum cargo room with the rear seats folded, plus a 0.7-cubic-foot front trunk under the hood for the things you don't want rattling around the main cabin

What buyers say about the switch to electric

Volvo Cars Manhattan carries a Google rating built on well over a thousand reviews, and while the EX40 badge itself is too new for a deep body of trim-specific feedback, the dealership's electric-vehicle purchase experience shows up consistently. "Turned in my electric vehicle and picked up a new Volvo V60 Cross Country — absolutely loving it so far! The purchase experience at [Volvo Cars Manhattan] was smooth and efficient... This is my sixth Volvo, and once again, I wasn't disappointed. The staff made the whole transaction pleasant and stress-free," wrote Jeff S. A first-time EV buyer described the same kind of guided handoff: "Smoothish transition to electric. The online build/purchase process was wonky but we received a car in 3 weeks, half the time promised... I was in and out in an hour which was exceptional," wrote Jameson, an early adopter of the platform this EX40 descends from.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Volvo EX40 a good car?

It's a well-equipped, quick compact electric SUV with genuine EV pedigree — Volvo has built electrified small SUVs on this platform for years under the previous XC40 Recharge name. Whether it's the right car for you depends more on how it fits your charging situation and daily driving than on the spec sheet alone; a test drive settles most of that.

Does the EX40 Plus have Apple CarPlay?

Yes, over a wired USB-C connection, running alongside Google built-in, which handles navigation, voice, and apps natively on the center display without needing a phone plugged in at all.

Which powertrain should I choose on the Plus?

If maximizing range and keeping the lower price point matter most, Single Motor Extended Range's 296-mile EPA estimate is the strongest number in the lineup. If winter traction or quicker acceleration matter more, Twin Motor's all-wheel drive and 4.6-second 0-60 are worth the roughly 36-mile range trade and the step up in price.

How does the EX40 compare to a Tesla?

They compete in the same general segment, but the ownership experience differs meaningfully: the EX40 is backed by a traditional dealer network with in-person service, comes with two years of complimentary factory maintenance, and now charges on the same NACS plug Tesla uses, so Supercharger access isn't an exclusive advantage the way it once was.

What is the most common problem with a Volvo XC40?

That question usually comes up because shoppers are researching the platform broadly rather than the EX40 specifically; general reliability patterns on the gas XC40 don't necessarily carry over to the EX40's electric drivetrain, which has no engine, transmission, or spark plugs to maintain in the first place. The EX40 service & repair guide covers what actually needs attention on the electric version.

Where can I test drive an EX40 Plus?

It's on the floor at Volvo Cars Manhattan, 565 11th Avenue. Check current inventory or start the process online through the Roadster Express Store.

Ready to go further?

If the Plus has you sold on going electric but you want the extra motor, more power, and the Black Edition look standard rather than optioned, the EX40 Ultra guide covers exactly what that step up buys.