2019 Volvo XC40 Introducing the new XC40, a new SUV from Volvo that was recently unveiled to the world. Unlike anything you've experienced before. Learn More at VolvoCars.US
Join Edmunds Senior Writer Mark Takahashi in Spain as he checks out the 2019 Volvo XC40, and find out why he's truly impressed with Volvo's smallest SUV. Mark tests out the T5 R-Design, first doing a walk-around and then hitting the roads of the Spanish countryside. You'll get a sense of how pleasant the XC40 is to drive and how it hits all the right buttons for a compact SUV.
Transcript
MARK TAKAHASHI: Hey, everybody. We're in Spain checking out the latest from Volvo-- the 2018 XC40. The XC40 is the smallest of the SUVs from Volvo, following in the footsteps of the XC60 and XC90. It should go on sale sometime in the Spring of 2018, with a starting price of about $36,000 for the T5 Momentum. Now, the T5 has a 2 liter turbo-charged 4-cylinder. That makes 248 horsepower. This, however, is the T5 R-Design. This is the sportier of the group, and it also has quite a bit more features. It should start right around $38,000. As tested, though, we're looking more like $44,000. Later in the year, an entry-level T4 XC40 will go on sale. That'll start right around $33,000, and it will have the same 2 liter engine, but with a smaller turbocharger. Output will be right at 185 horsepower. One notable aspect of the XC40 when it goes on sale is something called Care by Volvo. It's a subscription service, a lot like how you sign up for a cell phone and you're eligible for an upgrade at certain periods. So for $600 for the Momentum or $700 for the R-Design, it's an all-inclusive package. It includes maintenance, as well as insurance. So pretty much the only thing you're going to have to pay for outside of that monthly is gas, tax, and registration. As you'd expect with this well-appointed XC40, it has a hands-free power liftgate. And behind the rear seat, you have just over 20 cubic feet of cargo space. And that's actually pretty good, considering the size of this car. But things actually get a lot better, because of the versatility of this cargo area. Like the XC60 and XC90, it has this little barrier that you can put up. So you can put some grocery bags back there and they won't toss around if you're taking a turn. You also have this other section here for even more bags. And you'll notice, when I put this up, these little hooks showed up, so you can put even more hanging bags there. It's really smart and really convenient. On top of that, you can fold it even further back, and now you have a split-level. Even better, though-- this cargo cover will fit perfectly in the space underneath. So if you're carrying something really big and bulky, you don't have to leave this in your garage. You can take it with you. And when you're done, you can put it back in and all of your cargo will be secure, because no one can see inside. It's just one more example of Volvo thinking about how these cars are actually going to be used. From behind the wheel, the XC40 really is pleasant to drive. There's plenty of power from this T5 with 248 horsepower. Let's say in city driving, there is a little bit of delay between the time you start applying pedal pressure to the time it starts building power and accelerating. But it's a very, very brief pause. And once you're underway, it's pretty responsive. So if I wanted to pass a car, I just kind of squeeze in and the transmission downshifts quickly, and then you get a nice rush of power. And this is even just in comfort mode. So if I switch to dynamic mode and give it more pedal, well-- [ENGINE ROARING] --it's very decisive. So besides the T5 and the base T4, there are plans to introduce some either hybrid or EV models in the future. There's no timeline set for that just yet. When it comes to handling, the XC40 is really sure-footed, and reassuring when you're taking a curve. The steering feels light, but it is really precise. There's, sure, a little bit of body roll, but it's well-managed. And even though this is the R-Design with the stiffer shocks, the ride quality is quite good. Likewise, the brakes give you some confidence, as well. Overall, from the driver's point of view, it's pretty good. One thing I also really like is the virtual instrument panel right in front of me. It's sharp, legible, in all lighting conditions. And it gives you a lot of information, too, especially when you're in an unfamiliar city-- like I am now-- and it's giving you the turn-by-turn directions with really, really detailed maps. Like the rest of the Volvo lineup, this Sensus infotainment system is pretty good, but it does take a little bit of time to get used to. There are some menus that you have to swipe up and down or left or right to get to. But after some time, it becomes as intuitive as with, say, an iPad. Despite the fact that these front seats don't have a ton of adjustments, I really like the shape of them. I've been sitting in this seat for hours on end, and I'm still comfortable. One knock against it, though. With the R-Design, you have these Alcantara or faux suede inserts. They don't really breathe that well. It's not even really that hot out, but I can feel myself starting to feel a little stifled. The Momentum, on the other hand, has leather upholstery. One thing I'm noticing, though, is quite a bit of road and wind noise. It's more than I'd expect from a Volvo. Part of that might be due to the fact that they put summer tires on these for the Eurospec. In the US, we'll have all-season tires, and those all-season tires might be a little quieter. As far as visibility is concerned, well, this A pillar, it's fairly small. I don't have to bob my head back and forth to see what's on the other side. The windows are nice and tall. The mirrors are well-sized so I can see what's all the way around me, and the rear glass is actually pretty large for the class. So there's almost no guesswork involved. And when you are backing into a tight spot, 360 degree camera on this is excellent. It gives you a really big, expansive view, and it's also really sharp. So from the driver's seat, the XC40 is a lot like the XC60 and XC90. Materials quality is really quite good for the segment. Now, besides the way it looks, the smart design carries throughout the cabin. So there's this really, really long door pocket here. It pretty much spans the entire length of the door. They did that by moving the woofer speaker out of there and into the dash, so it's actually hidden within there. That opens up a ton of room. They say that you can actually fit a 15-inch laptop in there without any problem. Another novel innovation is this, right here. It's a trash bin-- a little, tiny trash bin. It's removable, so you can just dump it out at the end of the day. It's so much better than having some used plastic bag hanging from somewhere. Besides that, the center bin is pretty deep as well. Not particularly wide, but you can fit a ton of stuff in there. So from the backseat, there's plenty of room. I have a couple inches above my head here for headroom, and that's also considering that we have the panoramic sunroof. Without it, it's probably going to have even more headroom. As far as leg room, it's fine, as well. I'm sitting behind the seat that's set up for me as a driver. And there's a ton of space underneath for my feet, and a lot of knee room, too. Overall, it feels really spacious. And the sunroof actually adds to that feeling of spaciousness. As you'd expect, nice armrest here with some cup holders. And everything-- all the touch points for your elbows are nicely padded. Now, the only shortcoming is the seat cushion. It's a little short and it's a little low, so I'm not getting that much thigh support. But I think even on a road trip, I'd be fine back here for a while. So after spending quite a bit of time behind the wheel of the XC40, I have to say I am truly impressed. It really does hit all the right buttons for a compact SUV like this. It drives great, and it has so many smart features. It compares really well against the BMW X1, as well as the Audi Q3. But it sets itself apart with its Scandinavian design and attention to detail. On top of that, the price is right as well. So for more information on the XC40-- as well its competition-- head over to edmunds.com. To see more videos like this, hit Subscribe. [MUSIC PLAYING]
The 2019 Volvo XC40 is the newest entry in the growing subcompact luxury crossover class. Although it's slightly more expensive than competing vehicles, it comes standard with many features that are optional on other cars. The XC40 is sold in two trims, with a number of available packages and stand-alone features.
The XC40 is offered in two trim levels: the Momentum and the R-Design. The base Momentum model comes with a robust list of standard features, including LED headlights, a power tailgate, leather upholstery, a Wi-Fi hotspot, a large central touchscreen, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality. You also get advanced safety features, including a rearview camera, lane departure warning and mitigation, and forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking.
The R-Design costs just a bit more and adds larger wheels, black exterior styling elements, a sport-tuned suspension, a hands-free tailgate, paddle shifters and a navigation system among other upgrades.
A Premium package gives the XC40 even more of a luxury edge, with adaptive cruise control, power-folding rear seats and a wireless charger. It also includes some of the R-Design's add-ons to the Momentum trim. The Vision and Advanced packages bolster the XC40's safety cred with additional driver aids.
Under the XC40's hood is a turbocharged 2.0-liter engine paired to an eight-speed automatic. In the T5 all-wheel-drive model, it produces 248 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. These figures are near the top of the class, and the XC40 feels appropriately smooth and powerful in everyday driving. A front-wheel-drive powertrain, dubbed the T4, will be released later in the model year at a lower price and with slightly less power.
Though it starts slightly higher than rivals, the XC40 justifies the cost with tons of standard features. When it's fully loaded, the XC40 costs thousands less than its competitors. If you're seeking value in this relatively affordable luxury segment, the smallest Volvo crossover might be right up your alley. If your car-buying search leads to the 2019 Volvo XC40, be sure to use Edmunds' superlative pricing and inventory tools to find your perfect car.
2019 Volvo XC40 Overview
The 2019 Volvo XC40 is offered in the following submodels: SUV. Available styles include T4 Momentum 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl Twincharger 8A), T4 R-Design 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl Twincharger 8A), and T5 Momentum 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A). XC40 models are available with a 0-liter gas engine, with output up to 0 hp, depending on engine type. The 2019 XC40 comes with front wheel drive or all wheel drive. Available transmissions include: 8-speed shiftable automatic. The 2019 XC40 comes with a 4 yr./ 50000 mi. basic warranty, a 4 yr./ unlimited mi. roadside warranty, and a 4 yr./ 50000 mi. powertrain warranty.
Is the 2019 Volvo XC40 a good car? Edmunds experts have compiled a robust series of ratings and reviews for the 2019 Volvo XC40 and all model years in our database. Our rich content includes expert reviews and recommendations for the 2019 XC40 featuring deep dives into trim levels and features, performance, mpg, safety, interior, and driving. Edmunds also offers expert ratings, road test and performance data, long-term road tests, first-drive reviews, video reviews and more.
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What do people think of the 2019 Volvo XC40? Consumer ratings and reviews are also available for the 2019 Volvo XC40 and all its trim types. Overall, Edmunds users rate the 2019 XC40 a 5 on a scale of 1 to 5 stars. Edmunds consumer reviews allow users to sift through aggregated consumer reviews to understand what other drivers are saying about any vehicle in our database. Detailed rating breakdowns (including performance, comfort, value, interior, exterior design, build quality, and reliability) are available as well to provide shoppers with a comprehensive understanding of why customers like the 2019 XC40.
Vehicle T5 R-Design 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A)
Review Volvo really thought of everything for this car. Ladies -- sick of your purse flying around on the passenger's side while you drive? No worries, there's a hook for that, and more shopping bag hooks in the cargo area to keep bags from rolling around with their contents. The car is nearly silent on your average road. Just the slight hum of acceleration, but there is remarkably little wind or road noise, even on the bumpiest, loudest roads. In fact, people I talk to on the phone joke that they know exactly when I'm maneuvering the car because they can hear things that are normally hidden by the white noise of the engine and road. We found the infotainment system to be very logically designed. It functions very similarly to a smartphone. In fact, the settings quick access buttons on the touchscreen feel very reminiscent of the android pull-down settings menu. After a week, using it feels very natural. My one gripe is that I wish the 360 camera were easier to access quickly. It will appear automatically when it senses I'm parking between two cars, but when I'm pulling into my very tight garage or straight into a parking spot, I have to manually pull it up. Not a big deal -- just takes 2 seconds, but hopefully there will be a shortcut option on future iterations. Auto-park is wonderfully helpful for tight spaces. The upgraded sound system is excellent -- coming from an audiophile. The self-driving features are wonderful for the highway and really serve to reduce fatigue by keeping you in the lane and following the car in front of you at a given distance. We really enjoy the highly customizable driver profiles that can both be programmed to a specific key and overridden through the settings menu. One thing that I found slightly annoying in city traffic was that by default, the auto parking brake enabled at every full stop. This results in a bit of a "jerking" when you press the gas pedal, as the brake un-engages and the engine re-starts. I disabled the feature and it doesn't bother me anymore. However, I can certainly see how this feature would be useful for hilly areas where you don't want to roll forward or backwards if you lighten up on the brakes. The back seat has more room than any other car in this class that we test drove. It feels more like a mid-sized SUV in terms of space and seat elevation. After reading a ton of reviews online, I have to say that most reviewers' gripes about this car are really non-issues in the long-run. We specifically looked out for all of the things that were identified as possible cons and haven't actually been able to identify many of them as real cons since we've been driving the car regularly. Bottom line: It's a really solid, well-designed car that's a lot of fun to drive and handle.
See all consumer reviews and retings for the 2019 Volvo XC40
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