The company’s smallest SUV aims to take an active role in the car industry and attempt to grab a piece of the market share from the BMW X1, the Audi Q3 and even the upcoming Jaguar E-Pace, and is available to order now with a price range starting from £27,905. The XC40 is the first car to utilise Volvo’s CMA (Compact Modular Architecture) platform developed in conjunction with the Swedish firm’s Chinese owner, Geely.
What makes the XC40 standout?The XC40’s design takes a host of cues from its larger XC60 and XC90 siblings but packages them in a more compact and athletic shape. The model adds trendy features like a contrasting roof/body colour scheme that the company says will be available in 17 different combinations. The imposing front-end, with the trademark grille design and ‘Thor’s Hammer’ LED lights features, as does a clamshell bonnet. The C-shaped rear lights and shapely tailgate translate over, but the coupe-like roofline, cut-outs in the doors and steeply rising rear window line are unique to this car. No dimensions have been revealed yet, but as Volvo says the baby SUV has been “designed primarily for the city” we would expect it to be considerably shorter and narrower than an XC60.
All trims can be specified in ‘Pro’ form, adding, even more, equipment including adaptive beam headlights. Further options include wheel sizes up to 21 inches, a 1,200w Harman Kardon stereo and the brand’s semi-autonomous Pilot Assist driving feature.
The technology is mentioned by Volvo to be borrowed from its 60 and 90 models, with the interior being their strongest evidence of that. For which features like the dash is dominated by the same nine-inch portrait touchscreen offering up sat-nav with an optional SIM card for real-time traffic data, advanced voice control and a host of web apps for increased connectivity. Yes, let me hear you say ooh! As we continue on, there is also an ‘On Call’ smartphone app and emergency assistance system allowing functions such as remote pre-cooling or heating. Furthermore, the 12.3-inch TFT instrument display is also standard even on base Momentum models, which get LED headlights, 18-inch alloys, Volvo’s active air filtration system, dual-zone climate control and rear parking sensors. Continuing the brand’s safety focus, also standard is emergency braking that can detect animals and pedestrians, and Oncoming Lane Mitigation which steers the car to keep you out of the path of an oncoming vehicle.
But we all want to know about the all-important engine, right?
Three petrol and two diesel engines will be available at launch. The entry point is the front-wheel-drive T3, featuring a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol with 154bhp that’s available with both manual and automatic gearboxes. The T4 and T5 use the same engine but uprated to 187bhp and 247bhp respectively, and both are only available with all-wheel drive and an automatic gearbox.
The technology is mentioned by Volvo to be borrowed from its 60 and 90 models, with the interior being their strongest evidence of that. For which features like the dash is dominated by the same nine-inch portrait touchscreen offering up sat-nav with an optional SIM card for real-time traffic data, advanced voice control and a host of web apps for increased connectivity. Yes, let me hear you say ooh! As we continue on, there is also an ‘On Call’ smartphone app and emergency assistance system allowing functions such as remote pre-cooling or heating. Furthermore, the 12.3-inch TFT instrument display is also standard even on base Momentum models, which get LED headlights, 18-inch alloys, Volvo’s active air filtration system, dual-zone climate control and rear parking sensors. Continuing the brand’s safety focus, also standard is emergency braking that can detect animals and pedestrians, and Oncoming Lane Mitigation which steers the car to keep you out of the path of an oncoming vehicle.
But we all want to know about the all-important engine, right?
Three petrol and two diesel engines will be available at launch. The entry point is the front-wheel-drive T3, featuring a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol with 154bhp that’s available with both manual and automatic gearboxes. The T4 and T5 use the same engine but uprated to 187bhp and 247bhp respectively, and both are only available with all-wheel drive and an automatic gearbox.
The two diesel options are also four-cylinder units, with the D3 offering up 148bhp and the D4 producing 187bhp. The D3 is offered with a choice of front or all-wheel drive, and manual or automatic gearboxes, while the D4 is auto and all-wheel drive only. Full powertrain specs are yet to be released. More efficient three-cylinder engines, plus a plug-in hybrid and fully electric version, will all be added at a later date.
Now let’s talk prices!
Buyers can upgrade to sporty R-Design spec (from £29,755) to gain gloss black styling details, a black roof, diamond cut or matt-black alloys, a mix of leather and nubuck upholstery on more supportive seats, and aluminium dash inlays. Top spec inscription (from £30,405) comes with full leather, an electric tailgate, wood detailing and even a crystal glass gear-lever.
At the same time, Volvo has announced a new scheme to make it easier to pay in instalments on an XC40. ‘Care By Volvo’ operates like a pay monthly phone service, with a transparent flat monthly fee nationwide, and extras such as a deposit, insurance and tax is taken care of. Customers also get a new car every 24 months with the scheme.
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