► The XC40 is now eight years old!
► Yet is still the bestselling car in its segment
► But is it now past its best?
It’s no understatement to say it was the Volvo XC40 that changed this Swedish brand’s image. It might not have introduced Thomas Ingenlath’s transformative design, but it was this small SUV that ran with it and got those Thor’s Hammer lights infront of buyers.
Somewhat remarkably, considering how fresh the XC40’s design still looks, this SUV is now eight years old, but sales show absolutely no signs of slowing. Volvo produced its millionth example in 2024, and it remains the best-selling premium compact SUV by some margin, running rings about the Mercedes GLA and BMW X1 in terms of sales. These’s not even a faint mention of it getting the axe just yet, either.
But eight years is a long time, and considering most of its rivals are far newer (two generations of Audi Q3 have been launched while the XC40 has been on sale), is it still able to keep up with the best?
At a glance
Pros: Comfortable and refined, effortlessly classy design, useful and practical
Cons: Limited engine choice and no new PHEV, interior starting to feel a touch old
What’s new?
While the latest Volvo XC40 doesn’t look too much different to the car that was first was shown in 2017, the line-up has dramatically chopped and changed over the years as the market has evolved.
The XC40 is old enough that when it was first launched most examples sold were diesels. That’s changed, of course, with derv models not being available since 2020. A plug-in hybrid arrived and went, and the electric XC40 is now called the Volvo EX40.
The XC40 adopted an Android-powered touchscreen a few years ago, featuring inbuilt Google Maps and voice control, while later in 2025 it will get a new generation of software which promises a big improvement in response time. It’s the same setup you’ll find on the latest XC90, and will even be rolled out to existing XC40s running the Google setup.
Volvo has also kept the XC40 on trend with a stealth ‘Black Edition’ version, bringing monochrome exterior styling courtesy of black 20-inch alloy wheels, a black grille and a black Volvo badge to tempt in the Audi crowd.
What are the specs?
Outside of the electric EX40, the XC40 is only available with a choice of two mild-hybrid petrol engines these days – caled B3 and B4. Every new XC40 also now uses an eight-speed automatic and front-wheel-drive, meaning if you want a manual or AWD version you’ll have to look to used examples. Cars such as the BMW X1 and Mercedes GLA offer far more choice.
Both engines are 2.0-litre turbocharged 48-volt mild hybrids, with the B3 putting out 161bhp and 195lb ft of torque, while the B4 takes it up to 194bhp and 221lb ft. Accelerating to 62mph takes 8.3 seconds with the B3 and a second less for the B4, with both having a top speed capped to 112mph for safety reasons. Only traffic police cars have the limiter removed.
Claimed fuel economy for both is around 42mpg – a figure we found quite easy to match in normal driving with the B4. CO2 emissions of 149-164g/km seem quite high for what is a compact, SUV, though. While the XC40’s old PHEV setup was dire, it now feels like a good plug-in hybrid would work wonders to this line-up.
How does it drive?
Safe and predictable is the best way to describe how the Volvo XC40 behaves behind the wheel. It’s at its best jinking through traffic or cruising on the open road. Ride quality is best on cars fitted with the smallest alloys, but even on the large 20-inch rims fitted to our Black Edition test car, the ride remains settled for the most part, and it’s quiet on the move. Only at high motorway speeds do you tend to notice more road noise.
The B4 engine is the one to go for, especially given the fairly small price increment it attracts over the B3. It’s brilliantly smooth and you can hardly hear it for the most part, and while the engine turns off while coasting, it’s not quite so advanced as the eTSI mild-hybrid setup you’d find on a Volkswagen Tiguan, for example.
It’s only if you start asking too much from the XC40 that it begins to struggle. The gearbox is very smooth in normal driving, but can be hesitant when you want to pull away from a junction or roundabout in a hurry.
The steering is trusty and easy but offers little in the way of feedback, though there is the option to have a ‘firm’ setting, which we appreciate when out of town. The XC40’s safety assists are also superb, having one of the best adaptive cruise controls I’ve encountered. It also has possibly the easiest way of disabling the infuriating speed bonging assist – a press of the left arrow on the steering wheel is all that’s needed.
What’s it like inside?
It’s a testament to how timelessly designed the XC40 was that, even after eight years, the interior still manages to look modern and classy. It’s not filled with giant touchscreens and fancy ambient lighting in the same way as a Mercedes GLA, for example, but clear digital dials and a Google-powered touchscreen are present with in-built Google Maps and Google Assistant. The screen looks a bit small these days, admittedly, and it shows its age by not having wireless Apple CarPlay. Yet it’s stilll easy to use, and will be improved further when Volvo’s update is introduced in 2025.
The quality is solid, though lacks the plusher feel of a Volvo XC60 or 90, unsurprisingly, with the excellent seats being a highlight, especially the extendable squabs and plentiful adjustment.
It also ticks all the right boxes for those looking for a small family SUV. It’s better suited to carrying four people than five, but the XC40’s boxy shape and high roofline ensure plenty of headroom in the back. The 443-litre boot isn’t the largest in this segment but it’s a useful shape with storage room beneath.
Before you buy (trims and rivals)
When the XC40 launched in 2017 you could pick it up for less than £28,000, and while we won’t get too hung up on ‘why are new cars so expensive’, today the cheapest new model starts from £36,840.
The trim levels are a bit confusing; there’s Core, Plus, Plus Pro and Ultra. On all but the cheapest Core trim you can then have it in a ‘Black Edition’ grade, bringing darkened styling and 20-inch black alloys for around £700 more.
All models come with a reversing camera, heated front seats and adaptive cruise control, with the Plus trim adding a heated steering wheel, blind spot monitoring, keyless entry and heated rear seats. We think a B4 model in this trim represents the best value at £42,810.
Above this, Plus Pro gains leather upholstery, matrix LED headlights and a 360-degree camera system, with the top-spec Ultra featuring a panoramic glass roof and Harman Kardon sound system.
Key rivals for the XC40 mainly come from Germany with the Audi Q3, BMW X1 and Mercedes GLA, though we also recommending looking at the latest Mini Countryman and Range Rover Evoque.
Verdict
Volvo’s ICE line-up is really starting to show its age – the last new non-EV it launched was back in 2018 (the V60) – but classy styling continues to work wonders for its product line-up.
The XC40 is no exception to that rule. Even as it approaches a decade on sale, this practical and comfortable crossover continues to remain one of the best cars in its segment, and little wonder it remains so popular. If you like the most cutting-edge tech, its newer German rivals are probably more your thing, but if you want a hassle-free small family SUV, the XC40 is very easy to recommend even all these years later.
*Specs are for Volvo XC40 B4 Ultra Black Edition*