2024 Volvo XC40

How does the XC40 drive? At the Edmunds test track, our XC40 test vehicle accelerated from 0 to 60 mph in 6.8 seconds, which is an average time for a luxury subcompact SUV. The transmission can occasionally be in too high of a gear when you need quick power, but most of the time it's unobtrusive. The brakes feel strong and performed well at our test track, with panic stops nearing the best in the class. They feel good on the street, too, so coming to a smooth stop consistently isn't a problem. Handling is solid too. The XC40 won't flop around on winding roads, and standard all-wheel drive provides plenty of traction.

How comfortable is the XC40? The XC40's suspension tuning is a bit firmer than we'd prefer from a luxury SUV, even a small one like this. It absorbs potholes well, but road imperfections are never totally smoothed out. The seats are comfortable, both front and back. The front seats don't come with many adjustments, but the overall shape is supportive without feeling confining. Some might find the headrest juts out a bit too far forward, but most drivers should be comfortable.

Dual-zone automatic climate control is standard, but for some reason Volvo only allows you to adjust by 2 degrees, not one. That means jumping from 68 to 70 to 72 degrees and so on, annoying when 71 degrees seems to be the right temperature. Seems small, but there's no real reason for it. We found the XC40 louder than we expected too. Wind and road noise is mild, but the engine always seems to make itself known. Other luxury SUVs are a little more refined.

How’s the interior? The XC40's interior hasn't changed all that much since its debut, though the biggest addition comes in the form of a Google-backed infotainment system. While there are a few buttons and a dedicated volume knob, nearly all of the XC40's controls and settings are tied to the touchscreen, including audio settings and climate control. The resolution of the vertically mounted screen isn't amazing, but the system is responsive to use. We just wish the menu system was a bit more intuitive as the menu layout isn't always straightforward.

We do like that the XC40 has enough space to fit four adults comfortably. All but the tallest adults should find decent room, though a hump running down the center of the floor means the rear center seat is limited to smaller occupants. Getting in and out is easy thanks to the short, wide-opening doors. We found the driving position to be comfortable, and it didn't take much time to dial in the right angle for the seat. A bit more reach on the steering wheel would be nice, but it's a minor complaint. Visibility is solid thanks to those upright windows and an available surround-view camera. You can even drop the rear headrests with the touch of a button to make it a bit easier to see out of the rear.

How’s the storage? The Volvo XC40 offers 20.4 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seat. That's less than rivals like the BMW X1 and Audi Q3 but not quite at the bottom of the class. The cargo area itself is tall and wide, and it's low enough that lifting heavy items inside isn't a pain. The seats fold in a 60/40 split, and some trims include clever storage panels with hooks that fold up to keep things from sliding around in the rear. Cargo space up front is decent, with lined door pockets large enough to hold water bottles and other small items. The center console isn't huge, but the removable trash bin is handy.

The rear seat is a bit tighter than others in this class, but there should be no major issues when installing a car seat. The anchors are easy to access, and the doors offer a decent opening.

Is the XC40 a good value? The Volvo XC40 comes reasonably well equipped from the get-go. Top trims aren't limited in powertrain choice either, so you can get a loaded model with the base engine for better efficiency. Build quality is good and the interior is sharply styled, but the XC40 doesn't feel quite as premium inside as an Audi, BMW or Mercedes-Benz. We had a constant issue with our test vehicle where the front doors refused to unlock with either the fob or with the touch points on the door handles. The car eventually unlocked, but the locks should always open when you press a button.

Volvo's warranty coverage is average for the class. Volvo also includes four years/unlimited miles of roadside assistance and three years/36,000 miles of service visits. Both of those are better than what most rivals offer.

The XC40 isn't a sporty SUV, but it's also not soft or sloppy from behind the wheel. The steering itself is responsive and translates decent feedback from the road, and the suspension keeps body roll from feeling excessive in tight corners. The XC40's design and overall personality follow a similar trend. It's not the most stylish or flashy SUV on the road, but the clean design will hold up over time. The XC40 looks and feels like a smaller version of Volvo's other models, not just a cheaper version.