Volvo XC40 Review

The XC40 was the car that properly opened Volvo up to a new audience. When it arrived in 2018 it gave the brand a compact SUV that felt every bit as carefully designed as the larger XC60 and XC90, but in a size and price bracket that made more sense for a lot more households. It has been a strong seller ever since, and that is easy to understand once you spend time with it.

This is not a family SUV that majors on one party piece. Instead, it wins by being good at almost everything that matters. The styling is crisp and chunky without looking fussy, the cabin still feels distinctive, and the driving experience is calm and confidence-inspiring rather than flashy. That matters because most XC40s will spend their lives doing school runs, commuting, supermarket trips and the occasional long weekend away. In those conditions, the Volvo makes a lot of sense.

The range is simpler than it used to be. Earlier XC40s came with petrol, diesel, plug-in hybrid and fully electric options, and the line-up was not always especially easy to follow. Today, if you are looking at a new XC40, the choice is between two 2.0-litre petrol mild hybrids called B3 and B4. Both are front-wheel drive and both use an automatic gearbox. The electric car that once sat under the XC40 name now lives separately as the EX40.

That simplification helps. The B3 is the sensible choice for most people, while the B4 gives the car a bit more shove without changing its character. Trim levels are also easier to understand than they used to be, running from Core through Plus and Plus Pro to Ultra, with Black Edition versions layered on top.

What continues to separate the XC40 from many rivals is the feeling that it has been designed by people who actually use cars. Storage is clever, the seats are excellent, and even small details such as the door bins and driving position have clearly been thought through. It is not the last word in rear-seat room or boot space, but it is practical enough for most families and pleasant enough to make everyday driving feel that bit easier.

If you want the sharpest driver’s car in this class, a BMW X1 is more engaging. If you want maximum rear space and outright boot capacity, some rivals do better. But if you want a premium compact SUV that gets the fundamentals right and never feels hard work, the XC40 remains a strong choice.

The B3 is the engine to go for. With 163hp, it gets the XC40 from 0-62mph in 8.6 seconds, which is comfortably quick enough for family use, motorway joining and overtaking without ever feeling strained. The B4 lifts power to 197hp and cuts the 0-62mph time to 7.6 seconds, but the real-world difference is smaller than the numbers suggest. Unless you regularly carry a full car or simply want the extra pace, the B3 is the more sensible buy.

Trim-wise, Plus looks the best-balanced option. Core is well equipped and does not feel bargain-basement at all, but Plus adds the kind of features many premium SUV buyers will want anyway. That means a heated steering wheel, heated windscreen, blind-spot assistance, Pilot Assist, keyless entry, a power driver’s seat with memory, larger alloy wheels and a more upmarket interior treatment.

Plus Pro is also tempting because it adds the 360-degree camera and the clever Pixel LED headlights, both of which are genuinely useful rather than just decorative. But if you are trying to keep a lid on the price, a B3 Plus is the easiest XC40 to recommend.

The current Volvo XC40 range starts at £36,860 for the B3 Core. From there it rises to £40,110 for the B3 Plus and £41,260 for the B4 Plus. A B3 Plus Pro costs £42,610, while the B4 Plus Pro is £43,760. At the top of the regular range, the B3 Ultra is £45,960 and the B4 Ultra is £47,110, with Black Edition models running up to £47,360.

That means the XC40 sits right in the thick of the premium family SUV class. It is broadly in line with cars such as the Audi Q3 and BMW X1, and usually looks more expensive than a Volkswagen Tiguan or Cupra Terramar once trims are matched up. The good news is that Core does not feel cheap, and Plus is where the range really starts to make sense.

Used values remain strong, which says plenty about demand, but it also means the newest used cars are not especially cheap. Even so, nearly new examples can still be worth a look if you want a Plus or Plus Pro without paying the full new-car price.

If you like the idea of the XC40 but want a sharper drive, the BMW X1 is the obvious alternative. It feels more alert from behind the wheel and offers a slightly more modern cabin layout, although it does not feel as relaxed as the Volvo.

The Audi Q3 is another direct rival and makes sense if you want a more conservative design and strong cabin quality, while the Volkswagen Tiguan is the less badge-led choice if space and ease of use are bigger priorities than premium image. The Tiguan is roomier in the back and often better value once equivalent equipment is taken into account.

The Cupra Terramar is worth a look if you want something a bit more stylish and driver-focused, while the Mercedes-Benz GLA majors more on image than outright practicality. Outside the premium badge set, a Kia Sportage or Hyundai Tucson gives you more space for the money, but neither has the same understated polish as the Volvo.

The XC40 feels roomy enough up front, with a slightly raised seating position that gives you the SUV feel people want without making the car feel cumbersome. The front seats are a particular strength. Like most Volvos, they are supportive over long distances and offer plenty of adjustment, so it is easy to get comfortable.

Visibility is mostly good, although the chunky rear pillars do limit over-the-shoulder vision when reversing or parking. That matters less than it used to because all current XC40s get front and rear parking sensors plus a reversing camera as standard. Move up the range and parking gets easier still thanks to features such as the 360-degree camera.

Storage is one of the XC40’s quieter strengths. The door bins are large, the centre console is useful, and there are several clever touches dotted around the cabin that make the car feel designed around family life rather than just styled for a brochure. It still stands out here because so many rivals look good on first acquaintance but are less useful once you start loading them with bottles, bags and all the general clutter of everyday life.

Rear-seat space is decent rather than outstanding. There is enough room for adults to sit comfortably in the back, and headroom is good, but this is not the roomiest car in the class for legroom. Families with younger children will have no problem, but if you regularly carry tall teenagers or adults, a Tiguan or X1 feels a little less tight.

Boot space is 443 litres with the rear seats in place, or 569 litres measured to the roofline. That is perfectly usable for a weekly shop, a pushchair or family luggage for a weekend away, but it is not outstanding for the class. For context, an Audi Q3 offers 530 litres, a BMW X1 has 540 litres and a Volkswagen Tiguan gives you 652 litres, so the Volvo is clearly down on the most practical rivals if maximum luggage space is high on your list. Even some less premium alternatives, such as the Kia Sportage, offer more outright room in the boot. The XC40 fights back with a tidy load area, useful underfloor storage and a shape that is easy to pack, but buyers who regularly carry bulky family kit should note that it is more mid-pack than class-leading here. The 60:40 split-folding rear bench helps with flexibility, but buyers who prioritise maximum load capacity should shop around.

The Volvo XC40 is 4440mm long, 1873mm wide and 1652mm high, with a 2702mm wheelbase. That makes it neatly sized for the family SUV class. It is compact enough to feel manageable in town and in tight car parks, but still large enough to offer the raised driving position and cabin space buyers expect from an SUV.

Against key rivals, it is not especially long, which helps explain why it is easy to place on the road but also why rear-seat and boot space are good rather than exceptional.

The XC40 uses a 9.0-inch portrait touchscreen and a 12.3-inch driver display. The central screen still looks neat and it remains easy enough to read thanks to its upright layout, but it is not the largest or flashiest system in this class anymore.

The good news is that the software is better than some older Volvo systems. Google built-in is standard, which means Google Maps navigation, Google Assistant voice control and access to apps through Google Play. Volvo also includes four years of digital services and unlimited data for the in-car apps. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are fitted too, although they are wired rather than wireless.

In day-to-day use, the system is generally straightforward, but it is not perfect. Like many modern cars, the XC40 pushes a few too many functions through the touchscreen, and some drivers will still miss more physical controls for commonly used items. That said, the menus are fairly logical and the screen is responsive enough.

Sound quality is decent in standard High Performance Sound form, while Ultra gets a more impressive Harman Kardon system. USB-C sockets, DAB radio, Bluetooth and wireless phone charging are all part of the package, so it does not feel lacking on the fundamentals.

Volvo has always been good at making interiors feel a bit different, and the XC40 still does that well. Core cars use City Block textile upholstery with an Urban Grid inlay, which keeps the cabin looking clean and modern. Plus models switch to a Connect suede textile and Microtech trim, giving the interior a sportier and slightly more design-led look.

Plus Pro and Ultra bring leather-faced upholstery as standard, along with Driftwood inlays and the Orrefors crystal gear selector. That is where the XC40 feels most overtly premium, although some buyers may actually prefer the more contemporary textile and Microtech finishes lower down the range.

The key point is that the XC40 avoids generic black-box premium design. Even now, it feels more distinctive inside than several obvious rivals.

The current new-car XC40 line-up is straightforward. There are two engines, both 2.0-litre petrol mild hybrids with an automatic gearbox and front-wheel drive.

The B3 produces 163hp and 265Nm of torque. It covers 0-62mph in 8.6 seconds, which is enough to make the XC40 feel usefully brisk without ever pretending to be sporty. It suits the car’s laid-back character well and is the version most buyers should choose.

The B4 raises output to 197hp and 300Nm, cutting the 0-62mph time to 7.6 seconds. That makes it the easier car for brisk motorway overtakes and fully loaded family trips, but it does not turn the XC40 into something meaningfully more exciting. The basic character stays the same.

Both engines return an official 42.8mpg in current form, so there is no efficiency penalty for choosing the B4 on paper. Earlier XC40s were available with diesels, plug-in hybrids and all-wheel drive, but those have now disappeared from the new line-up. If you want one of those versions, you are into the used market.

The XC40 drives exactly as a Volvo should. It is calm, measured and reassuring. Around town, that means light enough controls, good body control over broken surfaces and a general sense that the car is working with you rather than demanding too much attention.

Ride comfort is one of its biggest strengths. The suspension does a good job of taking the sting out of poor road surfaces, and the XC40 stays composed over bumps and potholes in a way that feels more mature than some firmer rivals. Wheel size does matter, though. Core cars on smaller alloys are the most forgiving, while Ultra and Black Edition versions with larger wheels lose a little of that softness.

On the motorway, the XC40 settles down nicely. Wind and engine noise are well suppressed, the seats remain a highlight on longer drives, and the overall impression is of a family SUV designed by people who understand long-distance comfort. Plus models and above add extra driver-assistance kit that helps here too, especially on repetitive journeys.

Through corners, the XC40 is tidy and secure rather than exciting. There is some body lean, and the steering is not especially quick or rich in feedback, but that is not really the point. It feels safe, predictable and easy to place, which is what most buyers in this segment will value more highly than outright agility.

Safety remains one of the XC40’s strongest cards. When Euro NCAP tested it in 2018, it awarded the car a full five-star rating. The current car also comes with a broad spread of standard safety kit, including adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping aid, oncoming lane mitigation, road-sign information, driver alert monitoring, front collision warning with automatic braking, rear auto brake and ISOFIX points on the outer rear seats.

All cars also get rear and front parking sensors plus a reversing camera, while Plus adds blind-spot assistance, cross-traffic alert, rear collision warning and Pilot Assist. It is a strong package, and one of the reasons the XC40 still feels like a very easy family SUV to trust.

Both the B3 and B4 mild hybrids have an official combined fuel consumption figure of 42.8mpg. That is a solid result for a petrol family SUV of this size and performance, even if real-world figures will drop below that if you spend a lot of time in town or use the performance regularly.

The mild-hybrid system helps most in stop-start driving and smoother cruising, but this is still fundamentally a petrol SUV rather than a miracle of thrift. Even so, the XC40 compares reasonably well with other premium compact SUVs running similar 2.0-litre petrol engines.

The XC40 comes with a three-year or 60,000-mile warranty. Volvo also covers paintwork defects or surface rust for three years, while rust perforation cover runs for 12 years. Breakdown cover is included for three years as well, and Volvo says assistance can be extended for 12 months for £149, or automatically extended when the car has a qualifying service at a Volvo retailer.

Servicing for Volvo petrol, diesel and hybrid models is every 12 months or 18,000 miles, whichever comes first. That is straightforward enough, and in keeping with what most premium rivals now ask.

If you are buying used through Volvo Selekt, approved used cars come with at least 12 months of warranty, provided they meet the programme criteria.

Insurance groups for the current XC40 range run from group 24E for the B3 Core to 25E for B3 Plus, Plus Pro and Ultra versions, and 26E for B4 models. That is a sensible result for a premium SUV, and it means the Volvo is not as intimidating to insure as some faster or more aggressively positioned rivals.

As ever, age, postcode and driver history matter more than the group alone, but the XC40’s spread is reasonable and should not put most buyers off.

For petrol and hybrid cars registered on or after 1 April 2017, the standard annual VED rate is now £200 after the first year. The more important issue for XC40 buyers is the Expensive Car Supplement. For petrol, diesel and hybrid cars, that still applies to cars with a list price of more than £40,000.

Core stays below that threshold, but most Plus, Plus Pro, Ultra and Black Edition versions go over it. If they do, you will pay an extra £440 a year for five years from the second year of tax. In practice, that means a lot of XC40s cost £640 a year in road tax during that period.