Test Car Specifications
Model: 2024 Volvo XC40 B4 Ultimate
Price: From £43,318
Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder mild-hybrid petrol
Transmission: seven-speed automatic, front-wheel drive
Power: 197hp
Torque: 340Nm
Emissions: 151g/km
Economy: 42.2mpg
0-62mph: 7.6 seconds
Top speed: 112mph
Boot space: 452-1,319 litres
Styling
Unsurprisingly, the XC40's design really hasn't changed much. Or, indeed, at all. It's still more or less exactly the same car it was before, complete with minimalist Scandi lines and those 'Thor's hammer' headlights. Yes, the shape is hardly aerodynamic, but it looks cool and premium and practical all at once, which gives it plenty of appeal, but it never feels to cutesy or cliche. It's just a solid, smart piece of design that looks as comfortable on a back street in a city centre as it does outside a posh hotel. There's no baggage about its image whatsoever.
Interior
Although the XC40's basic interior design hasn't changed much, there have been tweaks to the technology on board. The old portrait-orientated touchscreen remains, but the technology inside is different, with a more modern interface and more intuitive logic that makes it feel much more like a smartphone to operate. Of course, it's a little more limited than a smartphone in terms of what it can do, but it's quick to respond and the menus are all sensibly laid out, although some functions feel more hidden than you might wish them to be.
The same goes for the digital instrument display, which used to be very good and is now even better, thanks to some fresh graphics and the car's built-in Google Maps navigation system, which provides more smartphone-esque mapping in the instrument cluster.
Other improvements include the addition of a new smartphone charging pad in the centre console and USB-C sockets in the dashboard for wired phone connectivity and charging. But overall, the look and feel is broadly similar, with a sense of premium quality and solidity, despite one or two interesting decisions, such as the carpet that lines the doors. Presumably it's a cheap solution that doesn't ruin the sense of tactility, but it's an odd look.
Practicality
Volvo made its name with practical cars, and the new XC40 carries on where its predecessor left off in that regard. The forward cabin is plenty spacious enough for two tall adults, with bags of headroom and enough elbow room, as well as ample storage in the centre console and door bins. The rear passenger space is a bit dark, but it's spacious enough for two adults to get comfortable, and the XC40's boxy shape means there's no shortage of headroom, even for those who are well above average height. Boot space is ample, too, with 452 litres of luggage space behind the back seats. And if you fold those rear seats down, you'll find more than 1,300 litres waiting for you. Admittedly, there's a fraction more room in a BMW X1, but the difference isn't enormous.
Performance
Under the bonnet, the XC40 comes with a choice of different powertrains. You can have the all-electric Recharge model, in either single- or twin-motor forms, or you can have one of the two mild-hybrid options tested here. There's the basic B3, which is a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine with a mild-hybrid system that's essentially an overzealous stop-start system, or you can have the B4, which is exactly the same. Both come with eight-speed automatic gearboxes and front-wheel drive.
The only difference between the two, apart from the badge on the back and the price tag, is the power output. Where the B3 produces 163hp, the B4 gets 197hp, which is enough to cut the 0-62mph from 8.6 seconds to a perky 7.6 seconds. But there's no efficiency penalty for that extra performance, and both versions will return 42.2mpg on the official economy test and emit 151g of carbon dioxide every kilometre.
There is an issue, though, and it's quite a big one. Because while the engines might be powerful enough and relatively efficient, given the XC40's aerodynamic properties, they aren't that easy to use. Sure, Volvo has fixed the transmission so it doesn't take two pulls of the gear lever to engage forward or backward gears, but taking manual control of the transmission is still awkward, and the system is so heavily tuned for efficiency that its default plan is to cut the engine whenever you release the accelerator for any period of time. That's fine in some respects, but if you're trying to control speed while heading downhill, you end up riding the brake, which isn't good for the car, road safety or your fuel economy. It all feels a bit too lab-derived for our taste.
Ride & Handling
Speed control issues aside, the XC40 is a perfectly pleasant car to drive, although it isn’t exciting in any way, shape or form. The height and the softness of the suspension means it doesn’t exactly adore cornering – it sort of wallows around a bit – but it’s hardly that kind of car. So it doesn’t really matter that the steering doesn’t feel especially direct, or that the brakes have little in the way of feel.
More important is the ride comfort, and there it fares a little better. The decision not to fit enormous alloy wheels means the XC40 soaks up most bumps fairly well, although the state of UK roads means some imperfections will always make their presence felt. And given the suspension isn’t quite as responsive as we might like, the car can occasionally feel as though it’s been caught on the hop by the odd pothole. But on the motorway, it’s a very relaxing and comfortable thing, even if it isn’t brilliant in a crosswind.
Value
XC40 prices start at a tickle under £35,000, and that isn't bad going for a premium family car with mild-hybrid tech as standard. You'd spend that kind of money on a basic VW Tiguan, and you'll have to shell out more for the lowliest Mercedes-Benz GLA. You get lots of kit for that money, too, including a power-operated tailgate, a rear-view camera and the touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but to get useful features such as the heated windscreen, heated steering wheel and leather (or at least part-leather) upholstery, you'll need to climb the range. Our test car cost well over £43,000 in top-of-the-range Ultimate trim, and though that model is undoubtedly well equipped, it's hardly cheap.
Verdict
The XC40 has improved in a lot of ways, with a touchscreen that's more up to date and more responsive, as well as a better instrument display. But in the search for lower emissions and hybrid tech, it has become less driver-friendly, and that's an issue. Combine that with an aging cabin and more advanced rivals, and the Volvo has lost its edge, but great design and a premium badge mean this solid family SUV has a few more years' service yet.
