For four years running the Volvo XC40 has impressed our judges by winning the 2024 Drive Car of the Year Best Small SUV under $80K
10:1519
February 2024
This
segment, perhaps more than any other, represents the battleground for the
aspirational Australian new car buyer. With medium SUVs the family favourites,
and small SUVs under $50K the focus of budget-conscious buyers, it’s this
segment, spread from $50K up to $80K that attracts those looking to make their
first step into premium new SUV ownership.
Small in
size, but big on features and delivering a sense of reward for the buyer, small
SUVs have become the multi-tool of modern motoring. As comfortable around town
in traffic as they are out in the country on the open road, there’s much more
to a modern small SUV in this price point than meets the eye.
And, on
that subject of more, buyers expect more in this segment every year. More for
their money, more bang for their buck, more standard features, more
connectivity, more performance, and more luxury. Nearly every manufacturer
wants a piece of this segment, but sales success is far from assured.
Last year’s
winner – the Volvo XC40 – once again beat a quality field to take the award,
with a compelling blend of standard equipment and Volvo’s signature build
quality and attention to detail.
Like most
SUVs in this segment, the XC40 has grown in physical size, matching the growth
in buyer expectations. And it’s not a one-time champion either. In fact, XC40
enters the 2024 DCOTY awards as a three-time defending champion, gunning for
four in a row. This year though, the field is stacked with more quality than
ever before.
This year,
XC40 will go head-to-head with a diverse group that includes the excellent
Volkswagen T-Roc, evergreen BMW X1 and Hyundai Kona EV. These combatants bring
different strengths to the battlefield, both on paper and in how they deliver
to the value equation, but the aim is the same.
That is,
they must deliver an insulated, comfortable driving experience while tackling
the urban jungle, carry up to four adults in relative comfort, and deal with
the highway as easily as a city street in the event of a longer road trip.
Factors like ease of manoeuvrability in the city and cabin design are key,
along with fuel efficiency and driver engagement.
While
aspiration is the undoubted key to this segment, this could be the first
purchase for a young couple, a downsize option for an older couple, the primary
driver for a family expecting its first child, or the default option for
parents with two teenage kids in tow. That’s why this DCOTY award is one of the
toughest to win.
It’s time
to reveal the Drive Car of the Year 2024 Best Small SUV Under $80,000
Source: Drive.com
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