Volvo XC40 Review & Prices

The Volvo XC40 is like one of those grizzled police sergeants in US TV cop dramas — it always seems to be just two weeks away from retirement. It’s a stylish and practical mid-sized SUV, but the design is ageing a bit now (the XC40 has been on sale since 2017) and Volvo has reduced the lineup, dropping the plug-in hybrid version and turning the electric XC40 into a standalone EX40 model.

It’s not Volvo’s smallest SUV anymore — that’s the all-electric EX30 — but unlike the BMW X1 or Audi Q3, with which it competes, it doesn’t look like someone put an XC60 or XC90 through a photocopier on reduce. The XC40 has its own distinctive sense of style. Indeed, appropriately for a Scandinavian SUV, it looks a bit Lego-like from some angles. That said, the design is starting to age a bit now.

That’s true of the interior too, but there are still some nice details which help the XC40 stand out from the SUV crowd. There are huge door bins which are lined with a soft material that stops things rattling around. The door trims, armrest, and handle are all in one piece, which still looks cool and stylish. There’s also a lot of storage in the centre console, including a handy bin with a swing lid that’s perfect for getting rid of your toffee wrappers as you drive.

The cabin is very roomy, with plenty of space for four people and the boot divider — in which the boot floor simply props up at 90-degrees and includes built-in shopping bag hooks — has never been bettered.

While the cabin looks good — and while Volvo’s take on digital instruments look way classier than the efforts of most others — the interior design is starting to look a bit old, and some of the materials used just don’t feel expensive enough anymore. In fact, depending on how you spec it, an XC40 interior can look quite cheap at times.

The touchscreen set into the dashboard — which back in 2017 was cutting-edge — now looks a bit small, and while there’s Google-based software built-in (which allows you to log in with your Google profile and get your favourite map destinations and so on) it’s not the easiest system to use. At least there’s now Apple CarPlay, which wasn’t offered initially.

The XC40 is a very comfortable car to drive, easing its way over bumps and speed ramps in town, and very refined and sure-footed on motorways. It’s a great all-rounder actually, although it’s not as much fun on a twisty road as, say, a BMW X1, but given that the XC40 is very much aimed at families, that’s unlikely to be a major problem.

Volvo has trimmed the XC40 range right back in recent years, so now there’s only a choice of the same 2.0-litre mild-hybrid turbo petrol engine with either 163hp or 197hp. There’s no four-wheel drive option, and no manual gearbox anymore either (although that’s actually a good thing…). Fuel economy is okay, but you’d miss a diesel for longer runs.

Equally, company car drivers will probably end up shopping for an all-electric EX40 to keep their BIK tax bills down, and it’s a shame that Volvo doesn’t offer the XC40 plug-in hybrid anymore, as that was one of the better of its species.

Being a Volvo, the XC40 is unsurprisingly one of the safest cars you can drive. Standard safety kit includes lots of airbags, electronic emergency braking, and steering that not only keeps you in lane, but which can swerve you away from danger.

Check out Carwow’s Volvo XC40 deals to see how much you can save on this upmarket, relaxing and practical SUV, or take a look at the latest used XC40s for sale from our network of trusted dealers. You can also browse other used Volvos available through Carwow, and if you want to sell your car online, we can help with that too.

The XC40 is pretty well priced, especially given that its standard specification — which includes lots of safety equipment, the Google-based software, a high-performance audio system, and heated front and rear seats — is generous. It’s priced head-on to compete with the likes of the BMW X1, Audi Q3, and Mercedes-Benz GLA. It’s even the same price as a petrol Volkswagen Tiguan, although to be fair the Tiguan is bigger inside and has more boot space.

Comfortable to drive, and equally at home in town or on the motorway, although the large rear pillars aren’t helpful in town and when parking

In town

Being the smallest of Volvo’s SUV range is a definite plus around town. The XC40 feels more at home nipping into gaps in traffic than the larger XC60 and XC90, and will comfortably squeeze into smaller parking spaces. Only the even-smaller EX30 is better in this regard, as far as Volvo models are concerned.

Volvo used to offer the XC40 with a manual gearbox, but now every new XC40 comes with an auto. You shouldn’t miss the manual, as it had a clunky and unpleasant shift. The automatic changes gear smoothly and makes for a relaxed drive on busy urban roads, and the crystal-topped gear lever is a nice touch.

The B3 and B4 turbocharged petrol engines are both equally smooth and reasonably quiet in the city, but if you’re a townie you might be better off considering either of the all-electric EX40 or EC40 models.

You sit nice and high in the XC40, and this helps give a clear view of the road ahead. The view behind isn’t so clear, though, as the large rear pillars create big blind spots. This is a pain when reverse parking.

On the motorway

Long motorway drives are a pleasure in an XC40. The driving position is very comfortable, and the seats are supportive with plenty of adjustment. You can spend hours behind the wheel without any aches or pains.

All versions of the XC40 get adaptive cruise control with lane-keeping steering, so it will hold a safe distance from the car in front and steer for you. You still need to pay attention, but lots of drivers find this technology makes motorway journeys more relaxed. The lane-keeping has a habit of ‘ping-ponging’ slightly between the white lines of your lane, though.

The ride is comfortable and stable, and wind and road noise don’t disturb the peace too much. Maybe the only downside to the XC40 as a mile-muncher is that there are no longer any diesel models, which would be more fuel-efficient on a long drive than the petrols.

On a twisty road

The XC40 handles neatly enough but blasting about on a B-road isn’t really what this car is all about. Comfort rather than excitement is what the Volvo offers. If you want an SUV that’s really sporty and entertaining to drive, consider the BMW X1 instead.

You can override the automatic gearbox and change gear for yourself if you want a bit more involvement, but you need to nudge the lever from side to side rather than back and forth. That’s different from just about every other auto gearbox and doesn’t feel intuitive.

Leave the auto to its own devices and it tends to be a little slow to grab a lower gear if you put your foot down. Like we say, cruising rather than rushing about is what the Volvo’s good at.

There’s plenty of room for four with lots of storage, but the boot capacity isn’t a match for the best small posh SUVs

If you need space for four, or five at a pinch, the XC40 has you covered. It may be smaller than Volvo’s other XC models, but this is still a practical family SUV.

There’s lots of room for the driver and front seat passenger, and people are scarcely worse off travelling in the back. Even if you go for a model with a panoramic sunroof, there’s plenty of headroom. Legroom is generous enough for tall adults to get comfy.

Three can travel in the back without too much elbow-rubbing and the middle of the rear bench is comfortable. The thick transmission tunnel does get in the way of the middle passenger’s feet, though.

Volvo has thought carefully about storage. Apart from the small glovebox, there's a lot of space. The front door bins have room for two large bottles of water, and while the door bins in the back aren’t quite as big they are still useful. There’s a lot of room under the centre armrest in the front too.

Space in the back seats

The back seats of the Volvo XC40 are roomy enough for six-footers to get comfortable. Even if you go for an XC40 with a panoramic sunroof there’s still enough headroom. ISOFIX child-seat mounting points are standard and the back doors open reasonably wide, so fitting a child seat is straightforward.

Being a wide car, the XC40 has room for three across the rear bench and the middle seat is reasonably comfy, although the bulky transmission tunnel gets in the way of your feet. If the middle seat isn’t occupied, there’s a fold-down armrest with cupholders built in.

If we have a criticism of the back seats of the XC40, it’s that the upward kick of the rear window line makes you feel a bit hemmed in. It’s an attractive styling feature from the outside, but we’d rather have a larger window to look out of. At least it’s better than in the sloping-roofed EC40.

Boot space

It may not be the biggest boot, but the luggage space is packed with clever features.

Volvo has got the fundamentals right, so there’s no load lip to put a strain on your back and the boot opening is nice and wide. The 452-litre capacity doesn’t sound all that impressive, but you’ll be surprised how much you can squeeze in. It’s well down on the BMW X1’s 540 litres, but it’s bigger than the 420 litres in the Audi Q3.

With the back seats folded there’s 1,328 litres of space, compared with 1,600 litres in the BMW and 1,325 litres in the Audi. There’s also more storage under the floor (with enough space to stow the parcel shelf).

All models have a powered tailgate, and all but the most basic Core spec cars have hands-free opening and closing.

The XC40 is well made and stylish inside – just as you’d expect of a Volvo – but the clever infotainment system isn’t without its pitfalls

Volvo’s interior design has come a long way in the past decade or so. With one or two reservations, the XC40’s cabin is a class act.

Here and there you may notice inconsistent gaps between panels that wouldn’t be signed off by Audi. While most of the plastics are soft-touch, some of them just don’t look up to standard anymore.

That said, the design is clean and minimal, with an uncluttered look that many buyers will find really appealing.

The entry-level Core model gets plain cloth seats, while the mid-spec Plus and top-spec Ultra get a mixture of man-made suede and Microtech – artificial leather to you and me. If you want real leather, it’s on the options list.

Basic spec models look a bit too dark and plain inside, so it’s worth spending the extra to get pale leather, which adds some nice contrast, as well as a lighter colour for the ‘driftwood’ trim.

Every XC40 comes with a 9.0-inch touchscreen, in upright portrait orientation. It’s looking a bit old (and small) now, but at least the software has been designed for Volvo by Google, so it’s reasonably easy to use. Some controls are still a bit fiddly though, especially those for the air conditioning (no physical buttons for that, unfortunately), and the menu system isn’t always the most logical.

Originally, the system came without Apple CarPlay, but that has been fixed now. There’s no Android Auto, but in theory by signing into the system with your Google account you get most, if not quite all, of the benefits. The Google Play app store is included, so you can download streaming services such as Spotify to run them as part of the car’s system, without having to connect a phone.

Annoyingly, the screen is an absolute magnet for mucky fingerprints, and it can be distracting to use on the move. Systems with a rotary controller are easier to use without taking your eyes from the road. So much is included in the various on-screen menus that we can’t help thinking a few more physical buttons would have made life more straightforward to the driver, even if it compromised the Volvo’s minimalist style.

Both the B3 and B4 turbocharged mild-hybrid petrol engines are very closely matched in terms of economy and emissions. Officially, Volvo claims 42.8mpg fuel consumption for both of them, but in reality you’ll probably get more like 35mpg.

Emissions are also basically the same — 149g/km for the B3 and 150g/km for the B4. That puts both models into a relatively high Vehicle Excise Duty road tax band, and you’ll have to pay the expensive car levy for the first five years after the first renewal if you go for the range-topping Ultra model, as that costs more than £40,000.

Benefit in Kind (BIK) tax costs for company car buyers aren’t as low as some models that have plug-in hybrid engines, while the all-electric EX40 and EX30 are good options for company car buyers looking to save on tax.

Volvo’s reputation for safety is no accident, if you’ll excuse the pun. It has a track record of safety innovation and strong crash test results.

The safety gurus at Euro NCAP tested the XC40 back in 2018 and awarded the car five stars out of five. That’s an older test, but NCAP more recently tested the EC40 electric SUV, which structurally speaking is identical to the XC40, and that also scored a maximum five-out-of-five, with a 92% rating for adult occupant protection.

It helps that so many safety systems are standard, including an autonomous emergency braking system that can detect animals, cyclists and pedestrians as well as other cars, blind-spot monitoring, and an emergency steering system that can whip you away from danger. In fact, if we listed all the features to help you avoid a crash or keep you safe if the worst happens we’d be here all day.

Security kit includes an alarm and immobiliser, private locking for the tailgate, and home safe and approach lighting (which leaves the lights on after you park up to safely see you to your door).

There have been a handful of recalls during the XC40’s life to fix various problems, including an issue with the autonomous emergency braking system and a loose nut in part of the car’s braking system. We wouldn’t worry about that, though – the odd recall is not unusual.

We’re not hearing many bad reports about the XC40’s reliability. It generally performs solidly in both owner satisfaction surveys and reliability studies. If anything, the petrol models have fewer issues than the diesels, which is good for anyone buying a new XC40 as the diesels are no longer available. Volvo offers only the basic three-year/60,000-mile warranty on its products.

The XC40 finished in a reasonable 32nd place in the Driver Power Top 50 Cars To Own customer satisfaction survey, with solid marks for reliability and build quality. Volvo as a brand finished 16th out of 32 makes in the overall Driver Power survey, with 26% of owners — a relatively high figure — reporting issues with their cars.