REVIEW | Volvo's luxurious XC40 is not afraid to deliver a premium driving experience "Wheels24". 9411
It's a proven fact over time that most humans
develop an attachment to certain things - whether it be another person, pet, or
even an inanimate objects.
That statement rings true with our Wheels24's test
mule - the Volvo XC40 T4. Coated in the Onyx Black metallic paint and fitted
with a host of optional aesthetic extras like a panoramic sunroof and 19-inch
diamond-cut alloy wheels, the SUV is a stunner with an imposing bold stance.
Coming back to the human attraction: I've been
behind the wheel of this XC40 for the better part of the last couple of months,
and, naturally, it feels as though it's my own - getting used to the multitude
of convenience, driver, and safety features available.
Seamless delivery
The SUV has seen its fair share of sunset cruises,
trips to do monthly shopping, and jaunts on less than desirable surfaces.
Overall, it does the job it is asked to much aplomb and looks good too, but one
of its many esteeming qualities is the efficiency with which it transitions
between gears.
Coupled to its turbocharged 2.0-litre engine is an
eight-speed Geartronic automatic transmission, responsible for sending 140kW
and 300Nm to the front wheels.
On occasion, factors like drag coefficient, power
delivery and handling can determine how a stoutly engineered vehicle is judged.
With that being said, the XC40 is by no means a race car - nor a slouch in
Dynamic mode - but it is the smoothness with which power is delivered and
transferred onto the road that really impresses.
A classy 'Orrefors Sweden' glass-like gear lever
lets the driver select gears from within the cabin with the foot positioned on
the brake pedal. My most commonly used driving mode was Eco which drops the
gear ratios within close proximity of each other with the obvious focus of
conserving fuel through quick shifts.
'Driving on a cloud'
Besides the wealth of convenience and luxury on
show, many occupants noted how smooth the drive in Eco and Normal modes were -
even likening it to 'driving on a cloud.' Gear changes tend to be felt through
a heavier chassis or have split-second delays when up or downshifting, but
there is no inkling from the eight-speed.
Like DSG is to Volkswagen and PDK to Porsche,
Geartronic is a Volvo affiliation and, thankfully, features no paddles shifters
behind the steering wheel. Instead, the driver can manually shift gears by
flicking the automatic gear lever either to the left or right side.
Volvo already has a global reputation for producing
the world's safest vehicles. Still, their current crop of models is not only
safe but vastly improved in terms of overall mechanical refinement that
translates to a full-on premium driving experience.
Source: Wheels24
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