Volvo’s Swede sensation SUV
THIS isn’t quite the cheapest Volvo that you can buy but it’s not far off.we’re testing the XC40 T3 and although it’s low down onvolvo’s food chain it is in some ways the best car that the Swedish company makes. Put it another way, other excellent Volvos such as the V90 estate have rivals that cut them pretty close.
The XC40, however, stands out among its rivals as the clear winner.at least it does in this critic’s opinion.
Entry-level XC40 is the Momentum at £28,965, fitted with the company’s T3 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine that produces 163bhp, up from the 154bhp that it had before a recent upgrade.
For this money you’ll be making do with a traditional manual gearbox.
With the tweak to the engine in the summer an automatic transmission was added to the smallest engine’s repertoire, as previously only the manual gearbox was available.what isn’t available on thet3 is four-wheel drive, but there are plenty of XC40S that have this option.
Three trim levels are available in the XC40 range: Momentum we’ve mentioned; the other two are R-design and Inscription. The former has a sportier treatment and the latter is more biased towards luxury.
We’re testing the R-design with the same T3 engine as mentioned above but with the eight-speed automatic gearbox.
R-design gives you leather upholstery and a sportier body kit. Inscription, true to £32,365
Petrol – 1.5 163bhp 0 to 62mph in 9.6 seconds, 124mph top speed its more luxury slant, comes with electric seats, a powered tailgate and slabs of wood in place of the R-design’s brushed aluminium trim.
Choosing between the R-design and Inscription isn’t easy because the XC40 looks great with the body kit yet the Inscription’s interior detailing is classier.that said, even the lowly Momentum gives you an impressive list of equipment that includes LED lamps, cruise control and dual zone air-conditioning.
What sets currentvolvos apart from rivals from Audi, BMW, Mercedes-benz and the Far East is their interiors.volvo’s cheapest car has the same Scandi-flair you’ll find in the far more expensivev90 estate and XC90 SUVS.
The materials in the XC40 are first-rate, with plenty of soft-touch materials on all surfaces and controls and switches that operate with a reassuring slickness.
What’s not so good – and unacceptable from a brand that prides itself on safety – is the infotainment system.the screen looks very classy and the graphics are good, but too many of the car’s simple functions – heating and ventilation for example – require going into the screen to adjust.
The digital instrument display that’s standard even on the Momentum isn’t as intuitive to use as Audi’s Virtual Cockpit or Peugeot’s excellent system. But at least it is not as distracting as the infotainment system.
The most comfortable car I’ve driven was avolvo S80 saloon I once drove from Madrid to London in one hit. It was all down to the seats, an area where Volvo has always excelled. And still does.
Driving position in the XC40 is excellent and the view out across the bonnet makes the car easy to place on the road and park.
There’s loads of stowage space including a big cubby hole under the centre armrest. Not quite so impressive is the boot which is smaller than in most of its rivals. At least it has a low loading lip, which makes getting what will fit in easier.
The three-cylinder engine is more than powerful enough and actually provides performance that isn’t reflected in the numbers. Add to this an automatic gearbox that is super smooth and is always in the correct gear.
This isn’t always the case with this particular eight-speed auto: it’s used by other manufacturers and in some cars can be jerky and hesitant to select the right ratio for the moment.
R-design models get not only a sporty body kit but also a suspension set-up that’s more sport-orientated. Completely unnecessary in a family crossover but not irritating in this instance because it doesn’t make the ride uncomfortable.all XC40S are pleasant to drive, fun even.
Give me a saloon car, better still an estate, but if I was to buy an affordable crossover/ SUV the XC40 T3 is where my money would go.
35.8-39.2mpg 147g/km Audi Q3, Mazda CX-5, BMW X1 8/10