Volvo up the ante in small SUV market

VolVo has taken its time in developing a contender for the industry’s fastestgrowing market segment, that for compact family hatchback-based SUVs.

Unless you count the gussied-up V40 Cross Country model — which we don’t — the Swedish brand has never had a car in this class. The XC40 puts that right.

Under the skin lies a freshlydeveloped “Compact Modular Architecture” platform Volvo has created with its Chinese owner, Geely. It’s a chassis that will be used by a whole range of new compact Volvo models, but it’s hard to believe many of them will be much more significant than this one.

Established premium brand compact SUV contenders like BMW’s X1, Mercedes’ GLA and Audi’s Q2 and Q3 crossovers are all within this XC40’s sights. So it’ll have to be good to take sales away from them.

The XC40’s “CMA” platform has been based around provision for a whole range of future cutting-edge Volvo powerplants, including three cylinder engines plus a Plug-in hybrid and a fully-electric version.

For the time being, though, buyers are limited to the Swedish brand’s efficient 2.0-litre Drive-E petrol and diesel units.

If you want to fuel from the green pump, the range starts with the 154bhp T3 variant, which is only offered with front-wheel drive and a choice of either manual or auto transmission.

Alternatively, the same engine is available with 187bhp in the T4 derivative or in 247bhp guise in the top T5 variant. Both these more powerful versions come only with auto transmission and 4WD.

As for the diesels, well things kick off with the 148bhp D3, which comes with front or four-wheel drive and manual or auto transmission. Or there’s the 187bhp D4, which comes in auto 4WD form only.

The XC40 is an interesting combination. A Swedish-branded product, financed by a Chinese conglomerate, styled by a British designer and built in a Dutch factory.

In styling this contender, Englishman Ian Kettle’s brief was to give the XC40 its own identity, rather than simply making it a down-sized XC60. So while this car shares its bigger stablemate’s “Thor’s Hammer” LED headlights and clamshell bonnet, it also gets unique touches like an inverted front grille and coupe-like rear styling.

Prices are likely to be in the £25,000-£40,000 bracket.