The Volvo XC40 is a comfortable small SUV with stylish look and a smooth ride. Some of the inside decorations aren't up to standard, and the infotainment system is a bit fiddly.
What's good
Style that is sophisticated
On the road, it's very comfortable.
Passengers will have plenty of space.
What's not so good
It is hard to use a manual transmission.
Some trimmings aren't up to the mark.
The infotainment system is a headache to use.
Most popular: Volvo XC40 Momentum 1.5 T3 163
5 doors
Petrol
Manual
Is the Volvo XC40 a comfortable car?
The Volvo XC40 is a smart and stylish SUV with cool Scandinavian styling – both inside and out – and a range of engine options, including mild hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and even fully electric models.
The XC40 is Volvo's smallest SUV, but unlike competitors like the BMW X1 and Audi Q3, it doesn't look like a scaled-down version of the company's larger models; it has its own personality. That isn't to say that some of the most surprising speed of Volvo's range aren't available.
It has a more youthful look than the larger XC60, which is more similar to a tailored shirt than the XC40's funky tee.
The Volvo's interior is packed with interesting features that help it stand out. Door trims, armrests, and handles, for example, are made of a single piece of plastic with color-coded felt-lined inlays. On the one hand, it means there are some good-sized door bins, but it also looks stylish inside.
One of the XC40's best features is its smart internal storage: the center armrest has a removable part that doubles as a little waste paper bin, and the wide, well-shaped boot has a pop-up barrier to keep shopping bags or loose objects in place. There's also plenty of room for individuals in the interior, with beautifully adjustable seats and plenty of space in the back.
The inside of the XC40, however, has a few minor issues. Some provides equal to be out of place, and are undoubtedly inferior to those found in an Audi Q3. While the touchscreen infotainment system looks beautiful, it isn't as simple to use as the system in a BMW X1.
The XC40 is a great everyday car since it is comfortable over bumps, easy to drive in town, and pleasant on the highway. It isn't as fast to drive as an X1, but given its other qualities, this isn't a deal-breaker.
There are many engines from which to select. The entry-level T2 and T3 petrol are quiet and efficient, making them ideal for short journeys around town. For a minor boost in fuel efficiency, the B4 and B5 models use a petrol engine with mild hybrid technology, however they're essentially just larger petrol options.
Company car drivers, on the other hand, should keep in mind that the T4 and T5 Recharge plug-in hybrid models will be the most cost-effective to operate — as long as they are plugged in on a regular basis. The P8 Recharge, a fully electric model of the XC40 with a range of 259 miles, is also available.
Even without selecting a single option, the Volvo XC40 is one of the safest new cars on the road, but extras like blind-spot monitoring help even more. It also comes with an innovative cruise control system to maintain a safe distance between you and the car in front of you, keeps you in your lane automatically, and works in change traffic.
How practical is it?
The Volvo XC40's interior has enough space for four adults and plenty of storage in the doors. The boot isn't the most large, but it's well-made and packed with features.
Passenger Space
When you sit aboard the high Volvo XC40, one of the first things you notice is that it feels like a true SUV. From the comfort of the supportive seats, you can easily see over hedges and look over traffic lines - something the Audi Q2 isn't nearly as excellent at.
The XC40 appears to be a large car, but even if you're small, you should be able to get comfortable behind the wheel because the driver's seat adjusts for height and the steering wheel adjusts up and down as well as in and out.
Another benefit is that both front seats come with lumbar adjustment as standard, giving you to relax achy backs by increasing lower back support on longer journeys.
The Inscription Pro and R-Design Pro models include heated front seats and an electrically adjustable driver's seat as you move up the range (and has a memory function to return the seat to your position after someone else has driven the car). A power-adjustable passenger seat is also available on Inscription Pro versions.
Thankfully, sufficient back passenger space is included as standard. Even if two more six-footers are seated in the front, the Volvo XC40's back seats offer enough capacity for two six-footers, and they can be heated for a little fee.
Isofix child-seat mounting points are standard, and the Volvo's higher body means you won't have to bend your back to get the chair through the back doors.
Storage Space
You'll be happy to learn that Volvo has gone to great lengths to provide a number of small inside storage areas.
The front door pockets of the Volvo XC40, for example, can hold several two- liter bottles of water while still being large enough to fit a laptop. To do this, big bassy speakers in the doors have been replaced with high-frequency tweeters, with the dashboard speakers providing the majority of the sound.
However, the area behind the front center armrest is big enough for a small handbag or a large box of Kleenex if you want to go full-on taxicab. Between the two front seats, there are two cupholders, a card holder next to the steering wheel, and a phone tray. Across the board, wireless charging is a low-cost choice.
Boot Space
The Volvo XC40 has a 452-litre box, which is bigger than the Audi Q2, but smaller than the Mercedes GLA and the BMW X1.
The XC40's boot, on the other hand, is beautifully designed, with a large opening, a square load bay that won't grab unusual luggage, and no boot lip - allowing heavy goods to be put easily into place. A hands-free tailgate is also a reasonable pricing option.
The rear seats may be folded back to remove 1,328 liters of storage space. It means the XC40 can transport a bicycle with both wheels connected, or enough flat-pack furniture to complete a small living room.
What's it like to drive?
The XC40 is more comfortable than many small SUVs, but the fastest top-spec petrol vehicles aren't very fuel efficient.
Performance and economy
The Volvo XC40 comes with a variety of petrol and diesel, as well as a manual or automatic transmission and two- or four-wheel drive. There are also hybrid and all-electric models available.
Don't be scared off by the entry-level three-cylinder T2 petrol vehicle if you do a lot of your driving in town. It's the cheapest way to get into a Volvo XC40, but it's got the power to lug a family around. The T3 model has the same basic engine as the T2, but with a little more power - the T2 has 129 horsepower while the T3 has 163 horsepower. Both of them are frugal.
Then there are the mild hybrids B4 and B5. These use a small electric motor to provide a little amount of assistance to the engine in order to achieve slightly better emissions - there is no way to drive them entirely on electricity. They're smooth and powerful (with 197 and 250 horsepower, respectively), but the three-cylinder engines in the XC40 offer better value.
If you have good access to charging at home or at work and plan to use an XC40 as a corporate car, the T4 or T5 Recharge plug-in hybrids should be seriously considered. When completely charged, they can go around 28 miles on electricity only, but they also have a 1.5-litre three-cylinder engine to fall back on if that fails. The T4 Recharge has 211 horsepower, while the T5 Recharge has 262 horsepower.
On non-hybrid vehicles, choosing the eight-speed automatic transmission over the six-speed manual improves fuel economy significantly, but its operation is unintuitive (particularly the left-right motion for manual mode) and it's a little slow to respond when you need a burst of acceleration. Even still, the slow six-speed manual isn't the best.
Driving
The Volvo XC40 is designed to be really comfortable, and it lacks the dynamic ambitions of cars like the Audi Q2 or BMW BMW X1.
However, it doesn't wobble around corners like a blancmange, and the softer setup means the suspension absorbs bumps very effectively. Whether you're in town or on the highway, it's designed to make you feel comfortable.
When it comes to long travels on the highway, Volvo's optional Pilot Assist system provides a different type of luxury by relieving you of part of the repetitive attention required.
It accelerates, brakes, and steers the car for you using a system of cameras and sensors; all you have to do is pick a speed and keep your hands on the steering wheel. It can even guide the car around long, sweeping turns without the driver's assistance. When you get Pilot Assist (which is included in the £1,550 Driver Assist package), you'll also get a blind-spot warning system and rear collision mitigation, which will help protect your passengers if someone rear-ends you.
The Volvo XC40's included automated emergency braking can assist you escape low-speed front-end shunts in town, and the higher driving position provides a good forward view. The only problem is two big pillars at the back of the vehicle that limit over-the-shoulder visibility.
They're only an issue when pulling off on the highway, as all Volvo XC40s effective assessment with following sensors that make parking a pleasure.
If you dislike squeezing into tight spots, the optional 360-degree camera (which gives you a bird's eye view of the car's surrounds) and Park Assist (which can reverse park the car for you) are worth the extra cost.
What's it like inside?
The cabin of the Volvo XC40 is attractive and functional, with a large infotainment screen. Unfortunately, it's not the most user-friendly system, and the XC40's build quality is variable.
Volvo XC40 interior
The cabin of the Volvo XC40 is beautiful and functional, with a large infotainment screen. Unfortunately, it's not the most user-friendly system, and the XC40's build quality is variable.
Style
The interior of the Volvo XC40 has a quality look and feel that sets it apart from well-built but dowdy mainstream competitors like the Volkswagen Tiguan. In fact, it's stylish enough to match with high-end SUVs like the Mercedes GLA, Audi Q3, and BMW X1.
However, none of them offer the 9-inch portrait-style infotainment screen available in the Volvo XC40. It means that traditional buttons are limited to a single row in the dash's center, with a huge volume knob in the center that is simple to reach while driving.
The XC40 has luxurious-looking trims and soft-to-the-touch plastics. The only issue is the construction, which has variations in panel gaps that you wouldn't see in an Audi Q3.
On the positive side, even the base Volvo XC40 Momentum vehicles come with attractive textile-vinyl seats (friends will think they're half-leather) and Urban Grid Aluminum trim pieces.
Leather/ nu buck upholstery, a leather-trimmed steering wheel and gear knob, and aluminum inlays are available on R-Design cars.
The most luxurious cars are the Headstones, which have a complete leather interior and unpolished wood trim pieces that match anything Mercedes has to offer.
Infotainment
You'll have no trouble operating the Volvo XC40's 9-inch infotainment touchscreen if you've ever used an Apple iPad. It has a classic ‘home' button at the bottom of the screen that allows you to quickly return to the main menu by swiping between menus and pressing to zoom in on maps.
While entering a postcode is simple while parked (either by writing the letters with your finger or using the onscreen keyboard), it's more difficult to do while driving than it is in the BMW X1 or Audi Q3. Wireless phone charging, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto are unfortunately only available as options.
To be fair, the Volvo XC40 earns some points by including a smartphone app that allows you to programmer the sat-nav without leaving the house. It may also be used to control the cabin temperature and open the automobile from far.
You get a 12.3-inch digital driver's display on top of the central infotainment screen, which is an option on the BMW and Audi. It may be customized, so you can choose between normal dials and a huge map display for your sat-nav right in front of your eyes.
A standard stereo with a healthy 250W output and eight speakers completes the Volvo XC40's audio-visual kit. For casual music listeners, that should enough, but if you're a true iphone user, you'll want to select for the 13-speaker, 650W Harman Kardon system, which can surround you in a wave of sound.
Volvo XC40 Specifications
17-inch alloy wheels, a nine-inch touchscreen infotainment display, and fabric seats are optional on the XC40 Momentum Core. Front and rear electric windows, climate control, rear parking sensors, and a digital display in case of natural dials are all standard features.
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