Volvo’s answer to its Compact SUV calling, the XC40 is the Swedish brand’s newest and trendiest offering that is set to take on the likes of the Audi Q3, Jaguar E-Pace, and Range Rover Evoque. Aimed at a significantly younger clientele than one would traditionally associate with the brand, the XC40 does not share the platform of the lager XC60 and XC90 models but benefits from an all-new Compact Modular Architecture platform to set itself apart.
Part of the Middle East Car of the Year (MECOTY) jury panel, I and jurors from around the Middle East boarded a flight to Milan to experience the Swedish crossover firsthand. Despite the rain-sprinkled narrow blacktops of Italy being vastly different to the sun kissed highways of the Middle East, the XC40 impressed with its potent engine lineup, smooth drive, and abundance of tech.
Exterior
Unlike rival brands that master a design and then simply scale it to suit everything from hatchbacks to sedans and crossovers to SUVs, Volvo has challenged the industry norm and designed the XC40 to give it a character of its own. The result, is angular window lines, a two-tone paint scheme, and subtle touches such as a rubberized Swedish flag along the side of the hood, which are not only refreshing, but allow it to stand out from the crowd.
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Interior
Simple yet not to be confused with utilitarian, the cabin exudes fun and creativity with subtle gloss black elements along the center console, Lava Red carpeting along the floor and door panels, and plenty of intelligent storage spaces to stow everything from laptops and wallets to phones and keys. Being the most affordable crossover in the brand’s line-up, the XC40 flaunts an intelligent mix of design and materials to lure in younger buyers from competing brands.
Drive
Having driven both the petrol and diesel engines available in the XC40 range, what’s evident is that the Swedish crossover is not obsessed with being the sportiest crossover in its class. What that translates to then is a comfortable ride without an overly stiff suspension setup and acceleration that is hurried without being uncomfortable. Truly refined, the four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine produces 247 horsepower and 350 Nm of torque; enough grunt to shuffle through eight gears and hit 100 km/h in an impressive 6.5-seconds.
The equally remarkable diesel variant (which won’t be coming to the UAE but could make its way to other parts of the Middle East) is sophisticatedly modern and eliminates the clatter one traditionally associates with diesel motors. With a displacement of 1,969cc, it churns out 190 horsepower and a mighty 400 Nm of torque. With a turbocharger providing punch low down in the rev range, the D4 variant of the 2018 Volvo XC40 comes into form from as low down as 1,750 RPM.
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Verdict
The outlier in the brand’s line-up, the Volvo XC40 turns over a new leaf for the brand but is a proper Volvo nonetheless. Being a quality product that cuts no corners and set at a starting price of AED 170,000, the XC40 not only stands out from the crowd but could quite effortlessly become the brand’s best-selling model. The XC40 then, is a winner, a winner that people across the world will soon come to know, experience, and love.
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