2023 Volvo XC40 – Test Drive, Specs, Trims and Pricing
The Volvo XC40 is a Scandinavian Design Gone Luxury
When you think of Volvo, you think of safety. We had a 940 growing up, and while it’s not the most ideal car for prom night, I guarantee you, there was nothing else out there that could possibly feel safer.
As a matter of fact, Volvo would go on to succeed with just one mission statement: to build the world’s safest automobiles. But, Volvo’s now got a another problem to deal with, a big one.
You see, safety alone is no longer enough. It’s boring, and people want more, and they want to have fun. Volvo’s got neither, and worse yet, now have to compete with the performance powerhouse of the Germans and the relentless perfectionists of the Japanese automakers. Serendipitously, Volvo so happens to be from Scandinavian. And you know what they’re really good at? Making furniture. Who would’ve thought that skillset would translate into building cars.
What you’re looking at is the Volvo XC40. It’s a compact crossover that can be found at the bottom end of its lineup. There’s absolutely nothing flashy or exotic going on here, but some way, somehow, Volvo manages to turn a boring family hauler into a thing of elegance and tranquility.
Simplicity is key, and while this may sound counterintuitive, it’s not easy. Take for example this Fjord Blue color shade, flat hood, and these tree-branch inspired LED headlights. Any ordinary grade school kid could come up with such basic idea, but no one ever did, except Volvo. And being an all-in one vehicle, it’s very functional and practical.
Up front, everything feels very intuitive. I’ve got great visibility, I’m not overwhelmed by a million different buttons and icons, there’s a decent amount of legroom in the back and I don’t have to sweat if my wife wants to pickup, weird, or big pieces of things from Ikea, thanks to the folding rear seats.
For about $48,000 dollars, the XC40 is not only practical and looks great, but it drives great as well. The B5 engine on our tester model is a 2.0L turbocharged four cylinder engine producing an adequate 247 horsepower in AWD. It’s got great traction with good fuel economy that averages at 27 mpg. But if money is tight, you can opt for less powerful B4 engine at 197 horsepower, saving you between 6 to 10 thousand dollars. AWD is only available in the B5 engine however.
On the Road, the Volvo XC40 never left its religion. The overall car feels rock solid, and if the front emergency brakes ever kick in, the sound alarm is loud enough that it will even alert Beethovan.
While the interior is functional, it’s not exactly the prettiest and it’s even got a few quirks. The seats are stitched with leather-free materials and the steering wheel feels solid. I guess it gets cold there in Scandinavia, because both the steering wheel and seat heaters get REALLY hot.
Despite its good intentions, there are few weird things going on in here. Take for example this flappy lid container for I guess, your cigarette butts, and a few other miscellaneous cubby holes which, down in this arm rest console. Other than intentionally trying to lose your belongings, I’m not exactly sure what else it’d be good for.
One of the things I do have to applaud Volvo for, is its Google software built right into the media console. That means I can do cool things like voice assist. Check this out. “Hey Google, turn on the seat heaters”.
I can also download apps such as Spotify from the Play Store, and even use the best navigation software out there, Google maps.
All in all, the Volvo XC40 fills a sweet niche with unique Swedish inspired aesthetics, family practicality and somewhat of a premium feel. For the money though, I’d expect a more luscious interior, but where the money’s really at, was right where it all started – safety.
Specifications
- Vehicle : 2023 Volvo XC40
- Model : B5 AWD Ultimate
- Vehicle Type : 5-Passenger Mid-Size Crossover
- Seating Capacity :2+3
- Engine : 2.0L Turbocharged 4 Cylinder
- Transmission : 8-Speed
- Price as tested: $40,520
Pros
- Aesthetically pleasing Scandinavian design
- Solid feel inside out
- Google Software built into media center
- Great balance between driver feel and fuel economy
Cons
- Lack of more fuel efficient hybrid option
- Dull interior