The XC40 is a classy, comfortable and practical family SUV with a
top-notch interior
ou've probably read
about Volvo's decision to ditch estate cars and sell SUVs only, and
the subsequent U-turn when buyers demanded their return. And whatever the future
holds for the Swedish brand's line-up, the Volvo XC40 is
likely to remain a big-seller.
Indeed, as the
entry-point into Volvo's petrol-powered SUV range and a former What Car? Car of the Year, the XC40 is a
hugely popular car – but is it still one of the best family SUVs you can
buy? After all, there are much newer alternatives to consider now, including
the BMW X1, Mini
Countryman, Range Rover Evoque and VW Tiguan.
Volvo XC40 vs Volkswagen
Tiguan video review
In this review,
we'll tell you how the Volvo XC40 stacks up in all the important areas, plus
which version we think makes the most sense. Alternatively, if you're in the
market for a fully electric family SUV, check out our Volvo EX40 review.
Engine, 0-60mph and gearbox
All Volvo XC40s
get a seven-speed automatic gearbox, front-wheel
drive and a 2.0-litre petrol engine (unless you go for the electric Volvo EX40 of
course).
There are two
versions of the engine available: the B3, which has 161bhp, and the more
powerful B4, with 194bhp. Both have mild-hybrid tech to aid
efficiency.
Our pick is the
B3, because it's sprightly enough for most buyers, with a 0-62mph time of 8.6
seconds. It's noticeably gutsier than the 1.5 eTSI 150 engine in the VW Tiguan. The B4
cuts a second off the sprint time, but we don't think it's worth the extra
cost.
Suspension and ride comfort
The XC40 is
more comfortable than most of its rivals, including the firm-riding BMW X1 and
some relatively comfy alternatives such as the Genesis GV70, Range Rover Evoque
and VW Tiguan.
On faster
roads, the XC40 breezes over ripples and expansion joints and takes the sting
out of razor-edged potholes around town – even if you go for the big 20in alloy
wheels that come as standard with range-topping Ultra trim.
Handling
Most buyers
will be driving their XC40 in a relaxed manner, and if you do that you'll
find the handling perfectly adequate. This isn't a sporty car though,
and when you up the pace you'll notice a fairly amount of body lean
though corners and noticeable nosedive under hard braking.
The steering
isn't particularly feelsome, although the XC40 actually hangs on more gamely
through tight twists and turns than a Mini Countryman or VW
Tiguan.
In short, the
XC40 is easy to drive but some rivals are more fun. If that's a deal-breaker
for you, consider the Cupra Formentor and Ford Kuga.
Noise and vibration
You can hear a
small amount of turbo whoosh when accelerating enthusiastically, but both XC40
engines (the B3 and B4) are quieter than the rather coarse-sounding engine
in the X1 xDrive23i or Tiguan 1.5 eTSI 150.
Whichever
engine you choose, you'll hear some mild wind buffeting around the windscreen
at motorway speeds. There's also road noise, especially when big 20in alloy
wheels are fitted (the Evoque and GV70 is notably more subdued in this
respect). Still, the XC40 is slightly quieter overall than an equivalent Tiguan
or Countryman, and nowhere near as raucous as the X1 on a motorway.
“Comfort is
key for buyers of family SUVs like this, and the XC40 really excels. The trade
off is a little more body lean than in rivals, such as the Mini Countryman and
Volkswagen Tiguan – but it's a compromise I'm happy with.” – Neil Winn,
Deputy Reviews Editor
Driving position and
dashboard
The front seats
in the Volvo XC40 are some of the best you’ll find in any family SUV. There’s a
wide range of adjustment, including four-way powered lumbar adjustment on
all versions. If you go for Plus trim, you get fully electric adjustment for
the driver’s seat.
The driving
position is brilliant too. You sit higher than you do in many rivals,
including the BMW X1 and VW Tiguan, making the
XC40 feel like a proper SUV from behind the wheel, rather than just a
jacked-up family hatchback. Among direct
rivals, only the Genesis GV70 and Range Rover Evoque feel as
lofty.
A digital
driver's display is standard and proves easy to read at a glance. Our only
criticism is that the minimalist design of the dashboard means you have to
delve into the infotainment
touchscreen to adjust nearly
everything, including the interior temperature. That can be rather distracting
when you're driving, and physical controls (like those in the GV70) would
be simpler.
Visibility, parking sensors
and cameras
The XC40's
elevated seating position gives you a good view of the road ahead, helped
further by the relatively slim windscreen pillars. You also get fairly large
door mirrors, so you can see clearly what’s drawing up alongside, and bright
LED headlights are fitted to make driving at night easier.
Over-the-shoulder
visibility is compromised by the way the window line kicks up towards the
back of the car. Fortunately, all trims include rear parking sensors and a
rear-view camera, while Plus trim adds front parking sensors.
Meanwhile,
opting for the top-spec Ultimate version gets you a 360-degree camera
system to make navigating tight spaces even easier. Ultimate also adds
matrix LED headlights, which allow you to keep full beam on without dazzling
other road users.
Sat nav
and infotainment
Dominating the
middle of the XC40's dashboard is a 9.0in portrait-oriented touchscreen, which
works in much the same way as a tablet computer. While the idea of a
screen that lets you swipe, pinch and scroll might sound good in theory,
the reality is that you have to take your eyes off the road for longer than is
ideal just to complete simple tasks – changing the radio station, for example.
Matters aren't
helped by the fact that some of the icons are small and the screen doesn’t
always react immediately to prods. A better alternative is the system found in
the GV70. Its rotary controller is much easier to use while driving than any
touchscreen and the operating system is super-quick.
Still, the
XC40's screen is crystal clear and there are plenty of features included as
standard. You get built-in sat-nav (powered
by Google Maps), DAB radio and Volvo On Call, which requests an emergency
response if you're involved in an accident. Wireless phone-charging is also
standard, as is Apple CarPlay. Oddly,
despite Volvo’s operating system being co-developed with Android, Android Auto isn't
available.
Quality
Volvo now ranks
alongside the best premium brands when it comes to interior quality, and the
XC40 is no exception. Pretty much everything you touch feels upmarket and
ready to stand up to the rigours of daily use, putting the interiors of the BMW
X1, Mini Countryman and VW Tiguan to shame.
The great mix of high-end plastics, leather and metal or wood inlays gives the
XC40 real panache. It looks and feels so classy inside that the GV70 and Evoque
are the only other similarly priced family SUVs that can
hold a candle to it.
“Digital dials
are clear and easy to read, but I wish they were more configurable. By
contrast, the BMW X1 features a number of different layouts.” – Steve
Huntingford, Editor
Front space
There's lots of
leg room in the front of the Volvo XC40, and lots of head room too – even
if you opt for Ultra trim, with its panoramic glass roof. You won’t be banging
elbows with your front passenger either, because the interior is
fairly broad by family SUV standards.
It’s also full
of thoughtful details. You get a pop-out rubbish bin between the front seats
and carpeted door pockets that are each big enough to take a small laptop or
two large bottles of water.
Rear space
The XC40 is
roomy enough in the back for taller adults to sit comfortably without
their heads brushing the ceiling or their knees bashing the seat in front. It’s
a bit behind the BMW X1 and VW Tiguan for leg
room, but only a carload of giants will have any cause for complaint.
Thanks to its
relatively wide rear bench, three adults can sit side by side fairly easily,
with plenty of space under the front seats for their feet. The middle
passenger’s legs will need to straddle a fairly big hump in the
floor though. As for storage space, there are big door bins
and a couple of cupholders in the rear centre armrest.
Boot space
The XC40has an
official boot capacity of 452
litres – less than equivalent versions of the X1 and Tiguan. However, the
load bay's commendably square proportions make packing super-easy, and if
you don't opt for a spare wheel, you get a big underfloor storage area that
makes up for any shortcomings above deck.
We managed to
squeeze seven carry-on suitcases below the
XC40's parcel shelf, the same as in the Genesis GV70 but one fewer than in the
X1. Meanwhile, the Tiguan's boot swallowed an impressive nine cases.
There’s no lip
to negotiate at the entrance of the XC40's boot and opting for the Plus
model adds a hinged panel midway along the floor. The panel clips up vertically
and creates a divider to prevent smaller items from sliding around too much.
“The XC40’s
boot is well thought out, and I like the recessed areas which can hold smaller
items such as cleaning cloths
or a first aid kit.” – Doug Revolta,
Head of Video
Costs, insurance groups,
MPG and CO2
As
premium family SUVs go, the
Volvo XC40 is priced attractively and should hold its value well – if not quite
as well as the Range Rover Evoque. Slow depreciation also means the
XC40's PCP finance deals are
usually competitive – you can check the latest prices on our Volvo XC40 deals page.
The B3 is the
least powerful engine, but it's still a turbocharged 2.0-litre and
has to haul the sizeable XC40. As a result, fuel economy is respectable
rather than brilliant (expect around 35mpg in normal driving).
The most
cost-effective version for company car drivers
paying BIK tax is the
fully electric Volvo EX40 (previously
known as the XC40 Recharge).
Equipment, options and
extras
Entry-level
Core trim provides a decent list of goodies, including cruise control, keyless
start, dual-zone climate control, LED headlights, heated front seats and rear
parking sensors. It also has 18in alloy wheels and a powered tailgate.
Many buyers
will find that enough, but our favourite trim is the even better equipped Plus.
It's still reasonably priced but adds keyless entry, heated rear seats, a
heated steering wheel and blind-spot monitoring.
Luxurious Ultra
trim completes the line-up, adding a Harman Kardon sound system, tinted rear
windows, a sunroof and 19in wheels, but is rather expensive.
Safety and
security
The XC40
received the top five-star safety rating from Euro NCAP and
earned high scores across the board. That’s in part due to the impressive level
of safety kit that comes as standard, including an automatic emergency braking
(AEB) system that
recognises cyclists, pedestrians and large animals as well as cars.
The Evoque
received five Euro NCAP stars too, but it’s hard to compare the two scores
as the XC40 was tested under a less stringent system back in
2018.
Every XC40
comes with traffic-sign recognition and Oncoming Lane Mitigation (which
intervenes if you cross a road's centre line into the path of other vehicles).
Plus trim adds blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert, while
top-spec Ultra adds an assisted driving function, which can steer, accelerate
and brake in certain situations – although your hands must always be on the
wheel.
“Every trim
comes well equipped, but I reckon the Plus trim is worth the extra over
entry-level Core.” – Claire Evans,
Consumer Editor
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