SUV HAS THE MOST POWER IN ITS CLASS
Swedish compact sport ute has distinctive looks, solid build and competitive price tag
Though I have sometimes decried the use of today’s everincreasing crop of crossovers as little more than suburban mall assault vehicles, I now realize they also serve a higher purpose.
The true focus of these allwheel-drive vehicles is to triumph over the mean streets — the chewed-up, potholed, patched, bumpy tarmac that is the condition of so many paved roads in our fair country. Not nearly as sexy as weekend trips to pine forests, lakes and mountains while hauling adventure gear such as bikes and camping stuff, the real world of the dayto-day slog is one where Volvo’s new, compact XC40 is particularly adept.
Because late-afternoon rush hour had clogged the primary highway arteries leaving the city, I took to one of the main streets to make my escape. For about 25 kilometres the XC40’s MacPherson struts, coil springs and hydraulic shock absorbers were subjected to a continuous pounding on the gnarliest of asphalt. Not only was the ride composed, Volvo’s smallest crossover was as tight as a drum, with nary a squeak, rattle or clank. Colour me impressed!
Joining the award-winning XC90 and XC60, the Chineseowned Swedish automaker’s newest offering is also its most stylish. The company successfully managed to shuck its “boxy but good” persona and the XC40’s complex shapes, complemented by the tester’s subtle Amazon Blue paint and cream-coloured roof, make it a standout in the premium crossover segment.
In Canada the all-wheel-drive XC40 is equipped exclusively with Volvo’s T5 Drive-E powertrain in all three of its trims (Momentum, R-Design and Inscription). At a base price of $39,500, Volvo makes much of the fact the XC40 is “the most powerful luxury compact SUV priced under $40,000,” with a 248-horsepower, turbocharged 2.0-litre, four-cylinder engine.
With all 258 pound-feet of torque coming into play at 1,500 rpm, the approximately 1,700-kilogram crossover has plenty of low- and mid-range snap, and will accelerate to 100 km/ h in 6.5 seconds, says Volvo. The turbo four is hooked up with a smooth eight-speed automatic.
Volvo did throw in a peccadillo regarding the autobox, though. Shifting out of Park into Drive or Reverse requires a “double tap;” the first pull or push of the console gear lever puts the transmission into neutral, the second puts it into the required gear. That’s just plain annoying. Also, the start/stop system is particularly abrupt, which is almost as bothersome.
Fuel economy, at least on the highway, was quite acceptable. The dashboard readout indicated 7.9 L/100 km over a 300-km stretch. Overall for the week, which included the aforementioned city “off-roading,” I averaged 9.8 L/100 km, 91 octane being required.
While travelling between Montreal and Toronto in the base XC40 Momentum, I had a chance to test out Volvo’s semiautonomous Pilot Assist system with adaptive cruise control, part of the optional ($1,600) Convenience Package. The driverassistance technology kept the crossover centred in its lane, and though it would get all Big Brother on you if you took your hands off the wheel for more than a few seconds, it required only a light touch to keep it happy. The adaptive cruise control, on the other hand, was a godsend in heavy traffic, particularly in construc- tion zones, where it could stop the Volvo completely and then resume its programmed speed when the congestion cleared.
It’s clear from the XC40’s interior that Volvo’s designers are a bunch of neat freaks who hate a messy cabin. How else to explain the large door pockets, integrated bag hooks and the customizable cargo area? And that’s not the half of it. Wireless QI mobile-phone charging and Bluetooth connectivity with the standard nine-inch touch screen helps reduce the clutter of charging cables and connectors.
A dedicated cellphone storage space was added to free up cup holders, where drivers and passengers usually store their phones. A ventilated woofer behind the dashboard allows for more storage in the door panels.
The tester’s Blond/Charcoal two-tone interior is a page out of the Ikea catalogue, bright and cheerful with satin-metal trim to finish it off. Lovely, although highly impractical for anyone with kids, dogs or sloppy eaters.
Front and centre on the dash is the XC40’s touch screen — including Sensus infotainment system — that operates like a tablet and controls most of the crossover’s functions, such as climate, audio, navigation and phone. The graphics are excellent.
The seats are comfortable and supportive on long drives. Forward visibility is good, but rearward visibility is not, a result of the crossover’s very stylish but very thick C-pillars. The XC40 Momentum’s optional Vision Package ($1,800), which includes blind-spot information, cross-traffic alert, front and rear park assist, and a surround-view camera, should be considered a must-have.
There are vastly more likes than dislikes to the XC40. Compliments regarding its chic looks and paint scheme were many, and the as-tested price of just over $45,000 is very competitive.