The Volvo XC40 is a strong new contender in the market for small premium SUVs. It’s not a revelation on the road, but it strikes a nice blend of comfort and cruising refinement, allowing the occupants to enjoy the funky, minimalist cabin and the excellent infotainment system. Factor in some competitive pricing and you’re left with one of the most appealing offerings on the market - every bit the worthy alternative to the Audi Q3, BMW X1 and Mercedes GLA.
Volvo has deliberately moved the XC40 away from the more luxurious, grown-up presence offered by the larger XC60 and XC90 models - but that doesn’t mean there’s no scope for impressive design touches or the latest technology. Quite the opposite, in fact, because the baby Volvo really doesn’t bring something new to the premium small SUV market.
The car’s styling was inspired by small robots that the British designer, Ian Kettle, saw in science-fiction movies. The end result is lots of simple, clean, resolved lines - and a look that manages to look chunky and cute at the same time. It’s helped by a further evolution of Volvo’s ‘Thor’s Hammer’ headlight motif at the front end.
There’s more scope for personalisation than on the XC60 and XC90 too, thanks to contrast roof colours on some versions (black or white, depending on the trim level).
Inside, there’s not much in the way of opulence - and yet the XC40 still manages to deliver a dose of Swedish cool, in the same was a well-resolved IKEA living room display. There’s remarkably little clutter and although the actual amount of space isn’t any greater than the class average, the Volvo’s plethora of neat practical touches makes the XC40 feel a lot more ‘real-world liveable’ than many of its rivals.
Technology helps with this too, of course. And in this respect, a slice of shameless carryover from the XC60 and XC90 works wonders - because the XC40 gets the same nine-inch portrait-layout infotainment display as it larger brothers, as well as a 12.3in digital instrument panel instead of conventional dials. These are standard across the range, too.
Sat-nav, stereo and infotainment
All ‘new-era’ Volvos have scored pretty strongly on infotainment - and since the XC40 offers basically the same system as its bigger stablemates, it looks particularly strong for its class. The nine-inch portrait-format system, with its ‘collapsible blinds’ interface, takes a little bit of getting used to, but it’s quick to navigate once you get the hang of things and the screen in crystal clear. It’s also able to transfer key information, such as sat-nav instructions, across to the fully digital instrument panel that’s standard across the range.
The only fly in the ointment here is smartphone integration, because while Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are available, they’re a £300 option. That’s pretty stingy when this level of connectivity is standard on many mid-range superminis. And even if you do choose it, it doesn’t make the best of the available screen space, appearing as a letterbox-format ‘window’ instead of using the full portrait layout available.
Volvo has taken a ‘comfort first’ approach to its vehicles, ever since the reborn XC90, and the firm has clearly tried to continue that train of thought through to the XC40. This is to say that if you’re looking for dynamic sparkle and hot hatchback-rivalling agility down a country road, you’ll be better off elsewhere.
For everyone else, though, the XC40 strikes a nice balance between composure and comfort. It can get caught out on pockmarked city streets, particularly at low speeds and on the optional larger wheels - but provided you stick with the original items, you’re likely to find the baby Volvo a pretty relaxing place to spend time.
This isn’t just down to ride quality, of course, because the engines do a good job of fading into the background too. We’ve spent most time with the D4 188bhp diesel, which has more than enough shove for a car of the XC40’s size and weight - to the point where it actually feels pretty brisk.
The engine does its best work between 1,500rpm and 3,000rpm, and the eight-speed auto is keen to shift up just before the higher of those figures. It’s nicely judged, really, because that’s also the point where the motor really identifies itself as a diesel, through a harsher note and increased volume.
It’s worth remembering, though, that should you want to get more involved in the gearshifting process, you’ll only be able to spec steering wheel-mounted shift paddles on R-Design editions of the car. And this restriction is compounded by the fact that the stubby gear selector between the front seats actually has a lateral shift pattern - pull it towards the driver to shift down, and push it towards the passenger to shift up. It’s a bizarre layout that will take even the most adaptable of drivers a long time to get used to.
Even on those optional wheels, at high speeds the XC40 does a good job of soaking up road imperfections. You’ll occasionally notice a slight floating effect, but it never strays to the point of making you seasick. Its trickiest moments come at low speeds around town, where you might find the car troubled by deep potholes. Then again, we’d expect a standard Momentum on 18-inchers to demonstrate a bit more compliance in this regard.
It wouldn’t be unreasonable to expect such a generally wafty small SUV to be boat-like in corners, but in fact, the XC40 stays composed, even when required to perform a sudden, rapid change of direction. The steering adds to the experience - not because it’s blessed with any great deal of feedback, but rather because it’s nicely weighted and pleasingly direct. Playing around with the car’s Drive Mode selector and switching it into Dynamic actually has a negative effect, in fact, because it adds heft to the steering instead of any discernible extra communication.
Engines
The XC40 has a mix of turbocharged petrol and turbodiesel engine options. The range starts with the T3 three-cylinder petrol, producing 154bhp and available only with front-wheel drive and a manual gearbox.
Step up to the T4 and T5 (188bhp and 247bhp) and you’re restricted to all-wheel drive and Volvo’s eight-speed auto transmission.
The diesel line-up offers a bit more choice, because the 148bhp D3 is available with either front- or all-wheel drive, and the manual or auto gearbox. The 188bhp D4 is all-wheel drive and auto only, however.
We’ve had most experience with the D4 so far, and it’s a likeable unit. It pulls strongly from 1,500rpm, and its peak torque of 400Nm is more than enough to haul a car of the XC40’s size out of trouble pretty quickly. The engine’s note can - will - become coarse if you decide to rev it out, but frankly, it’s already doing enough at 3,000rpm for you to shift up anyway. And it won’t have become intrusive by that stage.
The XC40 is built on Volvo’s latest CMA platform - and that means that its underpinnings are, in theory, relatively unproven. However, the Swedish firm has designed the chassis to accommodate its family of four-cylinder and three-cylinder petrol and diesel engines, many of which have seen use in other models before.
This, and the fact that the Volvo gets other components from larger stablemates (such as the infotainment system and some switches) should help it to achieve a pretty decent level of reliability.
Volvo finished seventh overall in our most recent Driver Power rankings for manufacturer reliability - a decent score that put the Swedish brand ahead of the usual German rivals, Mercedes, BMW and Audi, but well behind winner Lexus.
Safety continues to be a big priority for Volvo, and while the XC40 hasn’t been through the Euro NCAP test, we’d confidently predict a five-star verdict when it does. You get automatic emergency braking across the range - and it’s capable of spotting not only cars but also pedestrians and large animals. Plus every XC40 gets a lane departure system which will intervene and pull the car back into lane if it fears you’re going to steer into the path of oncoming traffic.
Warranty
The XC40 comes with a three-year warranty, which is par for the course in the class, although the mileage limit for the cover is 60,000 miles instead of the industry-standard 36,000 miles.
Servicing
Volvo hasn’t announced servicing prices for the XC40 yet. However, the firm has a history of offering fixed-price plans that can be paid for up front or on a monthly basis, and we’d expect that to continue for this car.
The XC40 enters a class where style and image have traditionally been more important than genuine space. But while the Volvo doesn’t deliver an aircraft hangar’s worth of room in the cabin, it manages to do enough to stand out from the crowd.
The XC40’s interior is neat, functional and, in its own way, very Swedish. If you’re absolutely set on having soft-touch fabrics and squishy plastic on the dashboard then you’ll probably judge it a disappointment, but the rest of us should find the interior a pretty special place to spend time.
The facia has relatively few switches, and a clean, uncluttered look. And depending on the trim you choose, and your bravery with the options list, there’ll be a vibrant flock lining in the enormous door bins to offer a dash of funky colour. The capacity of these door cubbies is huge, in fact - helped by Volvo’s decision to move the speakers out of their traditional area and arrange a sound system based around the top of the dashboard instead.
There are plenty of simple, clever touches, too. You’ll find a folding hook integrated into the glovebox that is designed to help you make it home without spilling a drop of your chicken chow mein. The rather flimsy-looking lidded compartment between the front seats turns out to be a removable, washable bin. And there’s also the option of a wireless phone charging pad and USB port at the base of the centre console.
A lengthy wheelbase helps with rear legroom - although the amount of headroom for back-seat passengers is equally impressive, even with the optional panoramic sunroof fitted. There’s plenty of room on board for four grown-ups, although a fifth adult may complain about the high transmission tunnel.
The boot isn’t the largest in the class, but the floor is commendably flat and there are some clever (optional) dividers that help to stop your shopping from rolling around when you’re on the move.
Size
The Volvo XC40 is 4,425mm long, 1,863mm wide and 1,658mm tall. That makes it a little shorter than the BMW X1, but longer than an Audi Q3 - and it’s notably wider and taller than both of those rivals, too.
Leg room, head room & passenger space
Expect the XC40 to provide a cavernous cabin and you’ll be disappointed. But what the Volvo does do is maximise the potential of what space is on offer.
There’s plenty of space for two adults up front, and you’ll be able to fit a couple of grown-ups in the back seats easily too. The XC40 has a pretty long wheelbase, so they should be fine for legroom - and the amount of headroom for back-seat passengers is equally as impressive, even with the optional panoramic sunroof fitted.
Can you squeeze a third person into the rear seats? Yes, at a push. But there’s a transmission tunnel running down the middle of the floor, so they may complain about having to place their feet at either side of it.
Boot
The XC40 doesn’t boast the largest load bay in its class, but it’s easy to use what space is on offer there. That’s because the 460-litre boot has an impressively flat floor, with no lip at the front edge, so it’s easy to slide heavier items in there.
Even more importantly, the floor stays flat even if you lower the rear seats to increase the space on offer to 1,336 litres.
Spec the Convenience Pack and you’ll get a folding boot floor that can divide the space and stop your shopping from rolling around. The hinges even stand proud of the top edge of the resulting divider, giving you a few extra points from which to hang shopping bags.
The XC40’s engine line-up comprises state-of-the-art motors, but there’s only so much you can do without electrification. So the efficiency figures on the XC40 are respectable for the class, but no better than that.
The most frugal XC40 on paper is the lesser of its diesels, the D3, in front-wheel-drive and manual-gearbox form. It emits 127g/km of CO2, which compares pretty well with, say, the cleanest diesel version of the Audi Q3.
Switch to the higher-powered 188bhp diesel and things look better for the Volvo, because even with more power, four-wheel drive and an automatic transmission, its CO2 figure only rises to 131g/km; that’s some way clear of the 150g/km emitted by a similarly powered four-wheel-drive Q3.
As you might expect, the petrol XC40 takes a hit on fuel efficiency and CO2 emissions; at 152g/km, the T3 probably has a big enough tax hit for lots of company car choosers to overlook it.
Volvo is introducing a new form of ‘ownership’ with the XC40. Called Care By Volvo, it’s a glorified lease scheme that rolls in a number of other factors, including servicing and maintenance, to give peace of mind and fixed-price motoring. It’s only being introduced in a few small areas of the country for now, though.
Insurance groups
Volvo has yet to confirm comprehensive insurance groups for the XC40. But we’d expect them to be comparable with those of German rivals - not least because of the Swedish brand’s reputation for passive and active safety systems.
Depreciation
It's too early yet to get accurate depreciation data on the XC40, but Volvo is currently on the crest of wave in terms of customer demand. Factor in the strong premium SUV market and we’d be surprised if the XC40 wasn’t popular enough for some time, delivering solid residual values for those early examples that do bleed through to the used market.
The one caveat to this is the early ‘First Edition’ models, which are fully laden but priced at a premium. This is an increasingly popular trend with manufacturers, but the jury’s out on how those cars hold their value once the regular versions of the car have started to be delivered.
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