2019 Volvo XC40
The car in our photo is the 2019 Volvo XC40 and in this short article we’re going to try and explain why it’s one of the most desirable SUVs that you can buy.
To put this car into some form of context the XC40 is a compact premium SUV and is designed to rival the likes of the BMW X1 and Audi Q3. Given that a big part of any SUV’s appeal is its design we think it’s worth taking a moment to appreciate the way that this car looks. This is because we honesty can’t find an angle from which it isn’t completely distinctive from any other car on the market and this, in a world of look-alike SUVs, is really impressive. There’s bags of authenticity with its bold clean lines and T-shaped headlights anchoring the XC40 as one of the Volvo family.
What’s already great on the outside continues when you climb in this car. It has a really feel-good interior which is mainly because the XC40 borrows a lot of from Volvo’s larger and more expensive cars. So what you get is lovely materials and excellent build quality. Other notes to larger Volvos include the digital dial display and the company’s portrait orientated touchscreen display system. The only downside is that the absence of physical buttons can make the system rather counter-intuitive to use. Even at a standstill this system can be a bit fiddly let alone when you’re on the move. Overall the interior as a whole is still well above average. The XC40 is a practical car too. There’s room in the back seats for two tall adults or three kids while the boot is a good size and comes with a useful false floor.
The XC40 that we’re testing for this review has a manual gearbox and we’d have to say that it’s not quite as good as the automatic that comes on the more expensive models. For a start, the change itself is just a little bit rubbery while the clutch is very light and springy. However, the biggest thing is that in a car that’s this luxurious and as calming to drive it just feels a little incongruous to have to be changing gears yourself. It’s this sense of calm that’s really important to Volvo. They want their cars to be almost like sanctuaries where you can go and recover from the stress of everyday life. It’s for the same reason that Volvo prioritises ride comfort and quietness over speed and sport handling. So, there’s no point in buying an XC40 for its detailed steering feel or perfect chassis balance. Instead you’d buy one because driving one is as relaxing as having a three week holiday on a beach.
Even on 19-inch alloys this car is excellent at absorbing lumps and bumps in the road and while there is a little tyre noise it’s not all that bad. Another thing that’s worth pointing out about this particular XC40 is that it’s powered by petrol rather than diesel. More specifically it has Volvo’s 1.1 litre turbo unit which pushes out 156 break horse power (bhp) and will get the XC40 from 0-60 miles per hour (mph) in around 9 seconds. If you do a lot of motorway miles then we’d probably advise you to go for the diesel due to the extra grunt it has. However, if you’re mainly driving around town then the petrol unit is certainly perky enough to please. The engines are extremely quiet which further enhances the sense of serenity although the real-world fuel economy of around 35 miles to the gallon (mpg) might sting a little. This is another reason to consider a diesel engine in the XC40 because it just feels better suited to this type of car. Alternatively, you could wait for a plugin-hybrid or pure electric version of the XC40 both of which are in the pipeline.
Whatever XC40 you choose you’ll benefit from the inevitably good resale values by having a car that’s so good and therefore in such high demand. What we have here is a car that’s not just another SUV but a masterclass in how to build a car that is distinctive without resorting to quirks or gimmicks. It’s because of this that this car is probably the most desirable Volvo that there’s ever been. If you’re interested in a used Volvo XC40 cars for sale then head to DesperateSeller.co.uk for a wide selection.
