This compact crossover is a competitor
MILAN With the compact crossover segment booming and showing no sign of letting up soon, Volvo’s timing for its allnew XC40 could not be better. It is a sharp looker with an even sharper starting price: $39, 500.
Unlike the XC60, the XC40 is more a cousin than a sister to the XC90; it has the overall Volvo look, but it also pushes the boundaries with some strong character lines and an eye-catching palette of colours. Thor’s Hammer — Volvo’s descriptive term for its daytime running lights — has also evolved. The XC40 has the right proportions, so it has more grace to its look than many two-box designs.
All XC40 models ride on Volvo’s new CMA modular platform, which will underpin all of Volvo’s future small cars, including plug-in hybrids and all-electric models. By 2021, Volvo expects to have five all-electric cars in its portfolio, one being the XC40. However, it’s likely to be preceded to market by an all-electric version of the S40 or V40.
The XC40 sits in the sweet spot in terms of size. It’s 4,425 millimetres long, rides on a 2,702mm wheelbase and it’s 2,034 mm wide. This brings lots of interior space. With the driver’s seat all the way back, there was still enough legroom for me to sit in the back seat. Likewise, there is plenty of headroom, even with the panoramic moonroof in place. As for cargo, the provisional numbers say 586 litres with the seats up and 1,628 with the seats folded. The flexibility continues with a trunk floor that hinges in the middle to form a partition. In the up position, it opens up a large underfloor storage bin.
The rest of the XC40’s cabin is up to the high standard set by the exterior style. Among other things, it brings a new level of storage convenience. Moving the traditional door speakers to the instrument panel opened up much larger door pockets. On the R-Design, there is an optional lava orange felt package ($100) that really spruces up the look, and it is made from recycled materials. Elsewhere, there is a dedicated spot for a cellphone, which includes an inductive charging pad, and a removable waste bin that sits ahead of the armrest in the centre console.
The XC40’s instrumentation is configurable and includes the ability to put the map or other information between the two main dials. It also arrives with one of the neatest media systems available: If you can use a smartphone or a tablet, you can operate Sensus without having to consult the owner’s manual. The main page has four tiles — navigation ($1,000 option), media, phone and messages are the key functions, although weather and other information can be substituted.
Touching the tile enlarges that function. The temperature and seat-heater functions sit at the bottom of the screen with a home button below that. Swiping away from the home screen in one direction reveals all of the safety functions, while swiping the other way brings up the settings. The boon for Canadians is the capacitive touchscreen works even when the driver is wearing gloves.
Lift the hood and there is one powerful mill. The 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder makes a healthy 250 horsepower and, more important, 258 pound-feet of torque. This, Volvo says, makes it the most powerful near-luxury crossover priced under $40K.
It drives all four wheels through an eight-speed transmission. The combination should give the XC40 a quick sub-sevensecond run to 100 kilometres an hour. In Europe, it will be offered with a 1.5-L three-cylinder turbocharged gas engine and a sweet 2.0-L turbodiesel. Sadly, neither option is slated for Canada.
The XC40 will arrive with all of Volvo’s safety equipment, including car, pedestrian and cyclist recognition. It also has an intersection function that stops the driver from pulling across in front of an oncoming car if it’s too close, and a night-driving assistant. Of course, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert are also along for the ride.
Pilot Assist functions at speeds below 50 kilometres an hour to ease the chore of rush-hour driving. Once the distance behind the vehicle ahead has been set by, the system assumes responsibility for regulating speed and maintaining the distance to the car ahead using gas and brakes. It also helps by keeping the car in the lane through steering input. If needed, the driver can override the system to avoid an object in the lane or pass a slow car.
The new XC40 crossover is a stylish piece that has a ton of power and it has been priced to sell. When it lands in the spring of 2018, the XC40 will be offered in T5 Momentum ($39,500) and T5 R-Design ($43,700) models. In the summer of 2018, the Inscription model will join the ranks.
For those who want more personality, the Momentum will be offered with a white roof and mirror caps and the R-Design is differentiated by its black roof and mirror caps. Either paint scheme brings a distinct look compared to the mono paint job, and the large P245/45R20 tires on the R-Design finish the look off nicely.
It’s safe to say the Volvo XC40 is going to be a player in a very competitive segment.