2025 Volvo XC40 evaluation | CarExpert

Regardless of Volvo softening its electrical car (EV) plans globally, it’s nonetheless scaling up domestically to grow to be an all-electric model by 2026.

Notice: That is an up to date model of a evaluation first revealed in February 2024. There haven’t been any pricing or specification modifications for MY25, save a reputation change of the Final B4 trim to Extremely B4.

We now have up to date key particulars equivalent to pricing and specs with essentially the most up-to-date data accessible. Learn the unique model of this evaluation right here.

As a part of the method, Volvo has dropped the extra {powerful} B5 mild-hybrid petrol engine from the XC40 vary.

As a substitute the Swedish-Chinese language carmaker now solely affords the B4 mild-hybrid petrol engine to energy your entire combustion-powered vary. The electrical variations of this automotive are actually additionally known as the EX40, not XC40 Recharge.

On take a look at right here is the Volvo XC40 Extremely B4 Darkish. This mannequin was beforehand known as the Final B5 Darkish when it had the extra {powerful} B5 mild-hybrid petrol engine.

Is that this top-spec model of the core Volvo XC40 vary nonetheless convincing with a less-powerful mild-hybrid petrol engine? Learn alongside to search out out.

How does the Volvo XC40 evaluate?

View an in depth breakdown of the Volvo XC40 towards equally sized automobiles.

Volvo

XC40

How a lot does the Volvo XC40 price?

Though the electrical variations of this automotive are actually known as the EX40, the mild-hybrid variations have retained the XC40 identify.

To see how the Volvo XC40 strains up towards the competitors, try our comparability instrument

What’s the Volvo XC40 like on the within?

Strolling as much as the Volvo XC40 Extremely B4 Darkish, it’s just a little arduous to distinguish it from the extra {powerful} however now-defunct Final B5 Darkish. The principle change has occurred below the bonnet.

Hopping within the XC40 has a sought-after elevated seating place, like quite a few crossovers, that means that you can have good visibility across the automotive and likewise really feel in command.

Our tester was outfitted with the leather-accented charcoal upholstery which is a no-cost choice. This additionally provides driftwood accent trim panels, charcoal tailor-made steering wheel, in addition to a crystal gear shifter from Orrefors.

Regardless of being leather-accented, the XC40’s seats feel and look like they’ve a good bit of fake leather-based on them. There was additionally a faint plasticky odor that lingered for almost all of the time I had the automotive. That’s not one thing that I’d correlate with a premium car.

Each entrance seats have electrical adjustment with heating. The latter is extremely useful on cool Melbourne days, although I’m stunned you’ll be able to’t even choice ventilated seats in any respect.

The motive force’s seat has loads of thigh help, which is aided by a manually extendable cushion prolonged. It felt like I used to be sitting on a La-Z-Boy recliner.

Regardless of this, the driving force’s seat is just a little flat and arduous, which made driving for longer intervals of time a bit uncomfortable. It additionally lack facet bolstering, which at some factors made me really feel like I used to be falling out of my seat round corners.

Forward of the driving force is a fake leather-wrapped steering wheel that doesn’t really feel wherever as good as one wrapped in correct leather-based. The steering wheel continues to be a pleasant measurement and has an outer rim that isn’t too thick.

All of the buttons on the steering wheel are logically laid out and have clear icons that make them simple to know. The buttons even have a satisfying click on motion.

The identical will be mentioned for the indicator and wipers stalks positioned behind the steering wheel. Each have a satisfying thwack, though they’ve quite a few icons and capabilities that make them just a little complicated at first.

There’s a 12.0-inch digital instrument cluster as customary that’s each clear and high-resolution. Regardless of this the interface is essentially black and just a little lifeless. I perceive Volvo goes for minimalism, however the identical look might be achieved with two analogue dials and a smaller instrument cluster display screen.

One of many few issues you’ll be able to change on the digital instrument cluster is whether or not the satellite tv for pc navigation map is on or off. You can too deliver up your journey statistics. That’s about it…

Transferring throughout is a normal portrait-oriented 9.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system that has Google built-in. This implies it has options together with the Google Assistant, Google Maps, in addition to entry to the Google Play retailer.

The associated Polestar 2 additionally has a infotainment system with Google built-in, although the display screen in it’s notably bigger (11.2-inch v 9.0-inch). This makes the XC40’s touchscreen look a contact dated as compared.

The touchscreen itself, just like the digital instrument cluster, is high-resolution. It additionally seems to have loads of processing energy, which suggests it boots up shortly upon startup and new pages load quick.

Given the touchscreen is portrait-oriented it looks like utilizing an iPad strapped to the dashboard. The native Google built-in interface can also be actually intuitive to navigate and use.

Numerous the time I didn’t actively look to attach my cellphone utilizing smartphone mirroring as all of the capabilities I often search for, together with Google Maps and Spotify, had been already baked in or accessible on the Google Play retailer.

Talking of smartphone mirroring nevertheless, the Volvo XC40 comes customary with wired Apple CarPlay solely.

Like the vast majority of wired smartphone mirroring connections with my iPhone 15 Professional Max, I didn’t expertise any dropouts in any respect.

One gripe is all of the local weather management capabilities, together with the operation of the heated seats and steering wheel, are altered utilizing the touchscreen. You should use the Google Assistant, however for lots of the time I’d a lot want having a bodily button or dial.

There really aren’t many bodily buttons or dials within the XC40 in any respect. The principle ones embody a big quantity knob with a play and pause button, a house button for the infotainment system, in addition to smaller buttons for capabilities just like the hazard lights and window defrosters.

Wanting across the cabin there are some Scandinavian-looking and premium-feeling finishes together with the vertical air vents, wood dashboard inlays, metallic sections on the steering wheel, crystal gear shifter, and felt-lined door bins.

On the flip facet nevertheless, there are numerous tougher plastics and piano black scattered across the cabin. The latter will get soiled and dirty actually shortly, and it additionally will get scratched if you attempt to clear it.

Our tester was outfitted with the optionally available glass panoramic sunroof that helps make the cabin atmosphere really feel airier and lighter.

Though the rear doorways themselves are massive, the opening to get into the automotive isn’t. This meant I needed to contort my legs getting each out and in.

When you’re within the second row there’s loads of leg, head, and shoulder area. It’s unusual however the second-row seats are additionally a lot squishier and comfy than the entrance seats.

There may be nevertheless a big transmission hump within the second row that makes the centre seat really feel just a little cramped.

Second-row facilities embody heated outboard seats, USB ports, centre console-mounted rear air vents, in addition to a fold-down rear centre armrest with cupholders.

Transferring across the again of the XC40 there’s an influence tailgate that opens and carefully swiftly and quietly. As soon as the tailgate is open there’s loads of usable boot area on supply. Volvo quotes an official boot capability determine of 460 litres.

There are heaps of bag hooks within the boot, in addition to a 12V socket and a useful gentle on the tailgate. The latter is absolutely useful if you’re making an attempt to load gadgets into the boot at nighttime.

The very last thing I’ll point out on this part is one among my favorite options within the XC40. The boot flooring is ready to fold upwards and create a divider with bag hooks. This implies gadgets gained’t be sliding round as a lot as you drive round.

To see how the Volvo XC40 strains up towards the competitors, try our comparability instrument

What’s below the bonnet?

All the Volvo XC40 vary is now powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine augmented with 48V mild-hybrid help.

To see how the Volvo XC40 strains up towards the competitors, try our comparability instrument

How does the Volvo XC40 drive?

Beginning up the Volvo XC40 Extremely B4 Darkish is as simple as urgent the beginning button positioned between the digital instrument cluster and touchscreen infotainment system.

Whenever you do press the beginning button, the two.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine fires up seamlessly and quietly thanks partly to the 48V mild-hybrid system which features a starter-generator.

Setting off can typically be just a little jerky because the handbrake doesn’t robotically disengage when you choose both reverse or drive. It solely disengages if you speed up past a sure level or flip it off your self.

When you do finally get transferring don’t count on the XC40’s B4 mild-hybrid petrol engine to blow you away in any respect. With 145kW and 300Nm, these outputs sound greater than ample on paper, however when mixed the automotive’s porky 1.7-tonne tare weight it spells for tardy acceleration.

On the site visitors lights loads of automobiles will probably be taking off faster than you. Vehicles with much less energy and torque will surprisingly be going faster than you except you give it extra of the beans. Even then, there looks like there’s solely simply sufficient on faucet.

When accelerating from a standstill the primary two gears can rev out to 3000rpm fairly simply. That is jarring given peak torque is delivered from simply 1500rpm.

The eight-speed torque-converter automated transmission does the job and feels just a little extra pure than a dual-clutch transmission at low speeds, although at factors it might really feel a bit like an elastic band.

On the flip facet if you’re slowing down the brake pedal has a number of play within the first half of its journey and shortly bites. This implies it might arduous to inform how a lot stress you have to apply to return to a cease easily.

The steering within the XC40 is extremely gentle which makes low-speed manoeuvrability simple. The crossover additionally has a small turning circle. As customary there are entrance and rear parking sensors, dipping facet mirrors, in addition to a surround-view digital camera.

The latter of those defaults to a birds-eye view which generally is a little tough to correctly gauge how far you really are from obstacles. There are icons on the touchscreen that can help you toggle between completely different views however it’s just a little fiddly.

Round city the XC40 Extremely B4 Darkish’s suspension may be very resolved and compliant. Going over pace bumps are a breeze, although it will probably be even higher if the automotive was outfitted with smaller alloy wheels than the 20-inch items fitted as customary.

Even in on a regular basis driving the XC40 has dynamic driving qualities. Certain there’s just a little little bit of physique roll, which is synonymous with crossovers, however the automotive feels prefer it desires to be pushed shortly.

That’s why it’s so disappointing the B4 mild-hybrid petrol engine can’t maintain up its finish.

Build up the pace within the XC40 takes a little bit of time and work however finally occurs. The engine often makes a little bit of a commotion when requested to speed up to freeway speeds and it’s not likely the very best sound ever.

When you’re at freeway speeds the revs are stored low and the automotive finds a groove. A bit extra energy can be good although as if you wish to overtake the automotive feels prefer it’s working out of puff.

On the protection entrance, the XC40’s adaptive cruise management system does wish to initially brake when it detects a automotive forward of you, however it will definitely kinds itself out.

The cruise management may also creep over the set pace by as much as 5km/h earlier than braking, which is just a little too lenient when you ask me. In lots of situations I discovered myself pumping the brakes to deliver my pace again below the restrict after which resetting the cruise management.

The XC40’s lane-keep help operate can get a extremely useful function if you’re travelling alongside clearly marked highways and freeways, although on many roads I discovered the system pinballed inside the lane. This didn’t essentially encourage confidence and for essentially the most half I drove the automotive with this operate turned off.

Lastly, the Pixel LED headlights outfitted to our tester are unbelievable. When you may have the low-beams turned on they’ve a useful turning operate which illuminates round a nook. This makes recognizing a pedestrian stepping out onto the street across the nook at nighttime, for instance, at lot simpler.

The Pixel LED headlights even have an adaptive high-beam which makes rural and regional driving a lot simpler. You don’t want to fret about dipping your lights when there’s an oncoming automotive and may as an alternative control whether or not an animal may stray onto your path.

To see how the Volvo XC40 strains up towards the competitors, try our comparability instrument

What do you get?

On take a look at right here is the XC40 Extremely B4 Darkish, which is the top-spec variant within the core lineup.

XC40 Plus B4 highlights:

• Energy tailgate
• Automated LED headlights
• Automated high-beam
• Rain-sensing wipers
• 18-inch five-spoke silver alloy wheels
• 12.0-inch digital instrument cluster
• Wi-fi cellphone charging
• 9.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system
• Google built-in working system
  • Google Automotive Providers
  • Volvo Vehicles app
• DAB+ digital radio
• 8-speaker sound system
• Twin-zone local weather management
• Air air purifier
• Keyless entry and begin
• Heated steering wheel
• Leatherette upholstery
• Energy driver’s seat with reminiscence
• Heated entrance seats
• Heated outboard rear seats
• Guide seat cushion extension
• Energy passenger seat
• Energy-folding second-row headrests

XC40 Plus B4 Particular Version:

• 19-inch Y-spoke matte graphite alloy wheels
• Encompass-view digital camera
• Leather-based-accented upholstery

XC40 Extremely B4 Vivid provides:

XC40 Extremely B4 Darkish provides:

• 20-inch double-spoke black alloy wheels
• Alcantara-accented upholstery

Choices

There may be a wide range of optionally available gear accessible on the XC40 Extremely B4 Darkish.

Life-style package deal: $3200

• Panoramic glass sunroof
• Privateness glass
• Harman Kardon premium sound system

Single choices:

• Panoramic glass sunroof ($2350)
• Harman Kardon premium sound system ($1300)
• Tinted rear home windows ($800)
• Leather-based-accented upholstery ($NCO)

To see how the Volvo XC40 strains up towards the competitors, try our comparability instrument

Is the Volvo XC40 secure?

The Volvo XC40 had a five-star ANCAP security ranking primarily based on 2018 Euro NCAP exams, however this has lapsed since January 2025.

Normal security options embody:

• Entrance, facet, curtain and driver’s knee airbags
• Autonomous emergency braking (AEB)
  • Weak street consumer detection
• Lane departure warning
• Lane hold help
• Blind-spot monitoring
• Rear cross-traffic alert
• Adaptive cruise management
• Reversing digital camera
• Entrance, rear parking sensors

The Extremely B4 Vivid provides a surround-view digital camera.

To see how the Volvo XC40 strains up towards the competitors, try our comparability instrument

How a lot does the Volvo XC40 price to run?

Volvo covers its vary with a five-year, unlimited-kilometre guarantee.

To see how the Volvo XC40 strains up towards the competitors, try our comparability instrument

CarExpert’s Tackle the Volvo XC40

The Volvo XC40 is beginning to get on in years now but it nonetheless stays recent amid an electrical push for the Swedish-Chinese language model. The combustion engine vary nevertheless is beginning to look like an afterthought.

It’s just a little disappointing Volvo has axed the extra {powerful} B5 mild-hybrid petrol engine from the XC40 vary. The B4 mild-hybrid petrol engine is ok, however you undoubtedly have to work it to get the porky crossover transferring at a brisk tempo.

Regardless of being $2000 cheaper, it feels the XC40 Final B4 Darkish has misplaced its defining issue. When it beforehand had the B5 mild-hybrid engine it was the choose for these wanting a bit extra energy and torque.

I can see why Volvo has gone down this path nevertheless because it’s desirous to make its electrical EX40 variants extra enticing. Now if need extra energy you’ll have to step as much as the electrical single-motor rear-wheel drive variant (175kW/420Nm) or the dual-motor all-wheel drive variant (300kW/660Nm).

Each of those EX40 variants are significantly costlier than the petrol-powered Extremely B4 Darkish on take a look at right here.

If you happen to’re not prepared to go electrical and are wanting to stay with the petrol, you’d arguably be higher off wanting on the extra inexpensive XC40 Extremely B4 Vivid or Plus B4 as an alternative of the flagship Extremely B4 Darkish.

You gained’t be lacking out on a lot as each of those extra inexpensive petrol-powered XC40 variants include the vast majority of the options included in our tester.

All for shopping for a Volvo XC40? Get in contact with one among CarExpert’s trusted sellers right here

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