Volvo XC40 Review, Specs & Performance
The Volvo XC40 is a premium SUV offering with high levels of comfort. It is also an enjoyable car to drive with grerat styling features.
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Overview of the Volvo XC40
The Volvo XC40 is a sophisticated offering and a well-designed and stylish small SUV. It's also a very comfortable car to drive and there's little in the way of body roll with the engines delivering a smooth and responsive driving performance. It's a nice car to drive around town and it's a very comfortable motorway cruiser for long distances. The plug-in hybrid offers a good experience with the XC40 switching seamlessly between petrol or all-electric power when necessary. The Volvo XC40 is a previous Car of the Year winner and there's still a lot to like about the current offering.
Volvo XC40 in a nutshell
The Volvo XC40 is a sophisticated offering and a well-designed and stylish small SUV. It's also a very comfortable car to drive and there's little in the way of body roll with the engines delivering a smooth and responsive driving performance. It's a nice car to drive around town and it's a very comfortable motorway cruiser for long distances. The plug-in hybrid offers a good experience with the XC40 switching seamlessly between petrol or all-electric power when necessary. The Volvo XC40 is a previous Car of the Year winner and there's still a lot to like about the current offering.
Engines and performance for the XC40
The Volvo XC40 is available as an excellent plug-in hybrid in the shape of the T5 Twin Engine. The plug-in hybrid uses a 1.5 litre three-cylinder petrol unit producing 180hp which is mated to an electric motor producing 82hp. Volvo says this model should return 141 mpg but the battery will need to be recharged regularly. Also, for 2020, Volvo unveiled its all-electric XC40 offering in its Recharge model. The all-electric powertrain will deliver 249 miles on a single charge with a motor producing 408hp. This battery can be recharged to 80% of its capacity within 40 minutes using a fast charger. Alternatively, Volvo is still offering excellent diesel engines with punchy performance and all-round good performance. The diesel choices include a 2.0 litre unit which should return around 52 mpg. There's also a very good range of petrol engines including a 1.5 litre unit that is based on the 2.0 litre engine. Fuel economy is around 47 mpg.
Equipment and handling
There's plenty of space for everyone and the high driving position gives excellent visibility. Standard equipment for the range includes cruise control, LED headlights and heated door mirrors. Drivers also get to enjoy an easy-to-use 9-inch touchscreen for the infotainment system and satnav. The steering feels well-weighted and is precise with the suspension dealing with potholes and rough roads effectively. The standard kit list also features rear parking sensors, which will bring relief to many drivers and the rear view camera is an option which is highly recommended. The interior is a quality and well-bolted together offering and is one of the best cabins to enjoy. There's good use of leather and metal inlays as well as premium plastics to give a classic look and feel.
As mentioned, the XC40 is a spacious SUV with lots of space for rear seat passengers, particularly for tall adults and the boot size is a useful 460 litres. Essentially, the Volvo XC40 is an excellent choice in the compact SUV segment and it delivers a supple ride with lots of safety kit and has an impressive high-quality and stylish interior to enjoy.