Volvo’s latest SUV is called the XC40 – and it’s their smallest one to date, after the XC90 and XC60, and potentially the biggest seller as it is more affordable.
Coming as a Scandinavian alternative to the well-established Audi Q3, BMW X1, and Mercedes-Benz GLA, it’s underpinned by the brand’s new CMA architecture, which was co-developed with Geely, the brand’s parent company, specifically for compact cars.
Depending on the market, consumers will be able to choose from several powertrain options, including the D4 diesel with 190hp, and the T5 gasoline that makes 247hp. More importantly, Volvo will make the new XC40 even more affordable with a new T4 option, and it appears that the range will be expanded further with plug-in hybrid and electric versions, although it’s unknown when they might arrive.
The XC40 is a nice place to sit in. You get comfortable seats at the front, an infotainment system that can take some time to get used to, and the same overall feel that you get in the larger XC60 and XC90. Space at the rear is quite good too, even with the optional sunroof that shaves some of the headroom, and there are plenty of storage spaces – even a waste bin.
However, not everything is great with the XC40, as there is some road and wind noise coming into the cabin, which is more than you’d expect from a Volvo, as Edmunds pointed out in their review.
But is this the only drawback, or are there some other things that consumers would need to know about? Let’s see what the publication’s senior writer had to say about it, after driving it on the roads of sunny Spain.