‘TOUGH LITTLE ROBOT’
Volvo extends its winning ways with 2019 XC40, a tidy premium compact crossover packed with sporty flair, athletic performance
Is the third time a charm? If you’re Volvo, the answer is yes. Having already offered the XC90 and XC60 crossover SUVs, the Swedish automaker is launching the compact XC40 for 2019. And while you might think that the last thing the world needs is another premium compact crossover, some time with this little love will convince you other wise.
But before we get to that, a bit of background.
Volvo’s new trucklet is 174.2 inches long, but at 65.2 inches high it’s as tall as an XC60, allowing for 8.3 inches of ground clearance and 20-inch wheels.
The styling of the XC40 is a departure for the brand. Volvo didn’t want to make the XC40 look like a smaller version of its larger siblings. Instead, it possesses its own identity, one meant to appeal to younger buyers and dubbed by Volvo as a “tough little robot.”
The same proves true inside, where some of the styling hallmarks of Volvo’s larger crossovers carry over, but it’s rendered with a sporty flair. The driver faces a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, while the center of the instrument panel is anchored by a vertically oriented nine-inch touchscreen.
The spaciousness continues in the cargo hold, with almost 21 cubic feet of space. Usefully, there’s a spot to hold the cargo cover when not in use.
But the space most buyers care about is for passengers, and it’s here where Volvo delivers. There’s adult-size space both front and rear, with remarkable head room. Leather trim is standard.
There’s a turbocharged, 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine under the hood. Entry-level front-wheel-drive T4’s engine produces 187 horsepower and 248 poundfeet of torque. The all-wheel-drive T5 delivers 248 horsepower and 258 poundfeet of torque. Both engines are paired to an eight-speed automatic transmission.
This is very athletic Volvo, delivering a handling/comfort balance that’s long been a hallmark of the brand’s vehicles. And being a Volvo, it’s loaded with safety gear, but you knew that.
In the end, what sets the 2019 Volvo XC40 apart isn’t just its attractively distinctive look but its reimagining of the best aspects of Volvo crossovers in a smaller, sportier package.
Is the third time a charm? You bet is.