Used car buyer’s guide Volvo XC40

The XC40 is Volvo’s first foray into the compact SUV market, and will soon be followed up by a SUV-Coupé edition named C40, though that car will be exclusively pure-electric and sold online. As the XC40 didn’t have a predecessor to worry about, all of the people that bought the XC40 were new to the brand, though there might have been a few V40 owners upgrading and perhaps some XC60 customers downsizing. The story of the XC40 started in May 2016, when Volvo revealed a pair of concept cars.

2017 TO 2020 FROM £17,900

Concept 40.1 indicated what the XC40 would look like, and Concept 40.2 was the precursor to the Polestar 2. Both featured a fashionable jacked up design and have seen production largely unchanged. It wasn’t until September 2017 that we saw the final production version of the XC40, with the first cars arriving in UK showrooms in the following February, initially in upmarket First Edition guise. Volvo’s newcomer was exceptionally well received, as not only has it won European Car of the Year in 2018, but it also grabbed the 2018 Car of the Year award from this very title.

At launch, there were three trim levels – Momentum, R-Design and Inscription – each delivering a distinctly different ambience. Momentum is the entry into XC40 ownership, while the R-Design models adds a sporty flavour. It is up to the Inscription versions to deliver a dose of luxury to the compact SUV range. Each of the trim levels are available as Pro editions, each featuring additional equipment.

The engine range consisted of a pair of 2.0-litre diesel engines with 148 (D3) and 188bhp (D4) power outputs. The lower engine was offered with both front- and all-wheel-drive and a choice of manual or automatic transmission. By contrast, the 188bhp D4 model was sold exclusively with an automatic gearbox and all-wheel-drive. First Edition models were discontinued in March 2018, while manual gearbox versions of the D3 all-wheel drive were axed in May 2018. In February 2020 it was time for the Momentum Pro models to be stopped, and in a surprise move, all diesel engines were removed from the range in August 2020. And we say surprising, because at the time the derv variants accounted for 20% of all XC40 sales. It was a bit of a gamble for the Swedish firm, as it pursued an electrified plug-in future.

What equipment do you get?

No matter which XC40 you choose, it comes well equipped, though oddly Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are an optional extra, and a pricey one at that, at £300. Otherwise, all models come with a leather steering wheel and gear knob, cruise control, hill start assist, electric park brake, keyless start, drive mode selector, hill descent control and auto hold functionality. There’s also LED headlights with auto high beam assist, daytime running lights, a rain sensor, automatic headlights, rear parking sensors, roof rails, 18-inch alloy wheels and silver skid plates front and rear. Dual-zone climate control is standard, there’s a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, electric windows front and rear, 60/40 split-folding rear seats, a 9-inch portrait orientated central touchscreen, DAB radio, Bluetooth smartphone connectivity and a navigation system. As you would expect from a Volvo, there’s a full suite of safety systems, including autonomous emergency braking with large animal, pedestrian and cyclist detection, seven airbags, including one for the driver’s knee, lane keeping assist, driver drowsiness detection, traffic sign information, an alarm system, remote central locking, and an auto-dimming rear-view mirror. Momentum Pro versions additionally add heated front seats, heated front windscreen and washer nozzles, adaptive headlights, electric driver’s seat with memory functionality, front seat cushion extensions, headlight washers, power folding door mirrors and cornering functionality for the LED front fog lights.

R-Design models add leather and suede effect upholstery with front seat cushion extensions, LED front fog lights, power folding door mirrors, multi-colour ambient lighting, sports pedals, rear privacy glass, black roof and gloss black skid plates front and rear. R-Design Pro versions also add heated front seats, 20-inch alloy wheels, adaptive headlights, heated front windscreen with windscreen nozzles, cornering functionality for the LED front fog lights and an electric driver’s seat with memory functionality.

Move up to Inscription trim and you get leather upholstery, wood inlays, multi-colour ambient lighting, puddle lights, a power operated tailgate, silver front and rear skid plates, metallic paint, an electric driver’s seat with memory functionality, power folding door mirrors, an Orrefors crystal gear lever on automatic editions, front parking sensors, LED front fog lights and Inscription branded sill protectors. Inscription Pro is even more generously equipped with heated front seats, heated front windscreen and washer nozzles, adaptive headlights, electric front passenger seat, 19-inch alloy wheels, cornering functionality for the LED front fog lights, headlight washers and cushion extensions for the front seats. The exclusive First Edition models, available to order at the very beginning of the production run, were fitted with lots of additional equipment including wireless smartphone charger, Harmon Kardon premium audio system, 19-inch alloy wheels, laminated windows, keyless entry and start, heated rear outer seats, power operated tailgate, electric driver and front passenger seat with memory functionality, gearshift paddles, metallic paint, heated steering wheel, temporary spare wheel, autodimming exterior door mirrors and power child locks. In addition it encompasses the Xenium, Convenience and Intellisafe Pro packs which feature electric glass panoramic sunroof with sun curtain, 360-degree parking camera, park assist pilot, power folding rear seat backrests and headrests, flexible load floor with grocery bag holder, driver side under-cushion storage, load protection net and 12-volt socket in the cargo area, as well as Pilot Assist, adaptive cruise control, blind spot information system, cross traffic alert with autobrake and rear collision mitigation.

Just one update to equipment in the life of the XC40 and that was in July 2019 when paddleshifts became standard on automatic editions, as well as power folding door mirrors, a 12-volt power outlet in the cargo area, a locking glovebox and a load protection net.

What’s it like?

If you’ve experienced any of the new generation of Volvo’s, you’ll be instantly at home, with a nine-inch portrait orientated touchscreen dominating the centre of the cabin. The hi-tech feel is backed up by a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a short, stubby automatic transmission lever that feels modern. Manual editions stick with a traditional gear lever. Interesting inlays and dashboard appliqués complete the striking interior look. All of the materials high up are nicely squidgy and top quality, though the further you move down, the harder the surfaces become, particularly in the rear, where the plastics are hard and scratchy. The driving position is excellent, multi-adjustable and with a lovely, elevated seating position and chairs that offer good comfort levels. The touchscreen is logical and easy to navigate, though it’s sometimes difficult to adjust the temperature settings using the sliding scale, and physical buttons on the dashboard would be far more intuitive – the kind of dial that you’ll find for the volume of the audio system, which feels great and is easy to locate and operate. Space for both front and back seat occupants is good, with generous leg, head and kneeroom. There’s plenty of space for oddments too, with a large bin underneath the centre stack, a deep armrest cubby, enormous door pockets and a pair of cupholders, though the glovebox is quite small. Boot space is a two-tier design and folding down the rear chairs opens the space from 460 litres to 1,336. With the divider in the upper position, it provides a flat surface, though beware that the seats are pretty heavy to fold down, and the sill to haul your luggage over is relatively high.

The 148bhp D3 models offer more than sufficient performance, but it’s the most powerful XC40 that delivers lots of zip away from rest, with excellent mid-range overtaking punch. The 188bhp 2.0-litre D4 unit is paired exclusively with an eight-speed automatic transmission, and that’s a bit of a shame, as it can be a bit slow witted at times. The homegrown four-cylinder powerplant is quiet, even when you’ve got the accelerator pedal buried in the footwell, and though you’ll hear a little tyre and road noise, it’s certainly not intrusive, while wind flutter is nicely dialled out. Thanks to its quick steering, the XC40 feels quite agile to hustle along an entertaining B-road, with good precision and accuracy and great manoeuvrability around town. It’s good fun to pilot and has little in the way of body lean through corners and plenty of grip, feeling more like a hot hatchback than an SUV. But the real ace in the pack is the suspension that is incredibly supple. It soaks up potholes really nicely, shrugs off speed humps, and is a great companion on a long-distance motorway schlep.

What are the running costs?

From April 2017, all car buyers pay the same rate of vehicle excise duty at £155 per annum, but you’ll need to watch out that the car you are buying didn’t cost more than £40,000 when new. If that’s the case, a premium tax is added and you’ll end up with a bill of £490 for years two to six, with year seven back down to the standard rate, which is currently £155.

As you’ll see from the facts and figures matrix, different versions of the XC40 produce different levels of CO2 emissions and that’s all down to the size of the wheels. While it only makes a difference of a gram or two, this then translates into differences to the fuel economy figures, too, as there is a direct correlation between the two. Key dates in the diary are April 2019 when the fuel economy figures moved from the old NEDC way of calculating them to the newer WLTP figures. And there was a similar jump in April 2020 when the CO2 emissions were brought into line with the newer WLTP testing, too. Ultimately, the figures may have changed, but the cars didn’t, so think of these revised figures as a truer reflection upon what the XC40 can achieve.

Opt for the D3 model, whether that be front- or all-wheel drive and insurance will fall between group 22 and 24, no matter which trim level you opt for. It’s only the more powerful D4 versions that jump up to between 29 and 30, and that’s hardly earth shatteringly bad. Servicing is required every 18,000 miles and the original warranty was three years or 60,000 miles. The earliest cars will no be out of warranty, so it pays to shop around and choose one with some cover left, if not just for peace of mind. You can then get anything that isn’t functioning properly resolved before the warranty expires.

The Doctor says…

It’s a familiar story. A new car is launched with the option of a diesel engine, only for it to be dropped in favour of an electrified unit. The Volvo XC40 arrived in 2018 with a pair of 2.0-litre diesels, but the D3 and D4 variants were removed from the price lists in 2020. Volvo said the decision was part of its ‘ambitious global electrification strategy, which includes our well-established commitment to the phasing out of diesel in the long term. It also reflects the strong shift in customer demands towards petrol and electrified models.’ According to Autocar, diesel accounted for 36.5 per cent of the XC40’s UK sales mix in 2019, before dropping to 19 per cent in 2020. That still represents one in five of all XC40s sold in the UK. Hardly surprising, then, that there’s a good selection of used diesel XC40s to choose from. Great news, because the D3 and D4 versions are two of the most convincing variants of this highly appealing compact SUV.

Most people should be happy with the front-wheel drive 148bhp D3. You won’t get close to the official fuel economy, but the Honest John Real MPG data suggests that 48.5mpg is realistic. This drops to 45.4mpg if you opt for the eight-speed automatic, which is preferable to the six-speed manual. If you must have all-wheel drive, it’s best to opt for the 188bhp D4. It’s auto-only, which means 38.6mpg from the D3 and 37.5mpg from the D4, according to the Honest John figures.

APPROVED USED

A Volvo Selekt used car provides an unlimited mileage manufacturer-approved warranty of at least 12 months and 12 months’ Volvo Assistance. There’s a 30 day or 1,500-mile exchange programme and MOT care included within the price, which covers the cost of repairing, replacing or adjusting specific defective parts in the event that your car doesn’t pass its next MOT. More than 150 checks are carried out by Volvo technicians and the latest software is downloaded to the car.

USEFUL CONTACTS

• Volvo Cars UK www.volvocars.com/uk/ e-mail custcare@volvocars.com 01628 422522
• www.facebook.com/volvocaruk
• www.instagram.com/volvocaruk
• @VolvoCarUK
• www.youtube.com/user/volvocarsuk
• CLUBS AND INTERNET FORUMS
• Volvo Owners’ Club
• www.volvoclub.org.uk
• XC40 Forum
• www.xc40forum.com
• XC40 Forums
• www.xc40forums.co.uk
• XC40.org
• www.xc40.org
• FACEBOOK GROUPS
• Volvo XC40 Clubhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/433018950494492/
• Volvo XC40 UKwww.facebook.com/groups/2082510505175293/

ALSO CONSIDER

• Audi Q3Audi have the concept of a compact SUV nailed, with a wide range of diesel engines available and a suitably upmarket interior. A choice of front- and quattro four-wheel drive means there’s a Q3 for everyone.
• Peugeot 3008While the Peugeot may not have a premium badge nailed to its nose, its interior can cut it with any of the luxury big boys. That combined with a choice of frugal diesel engines, it makes a good case for itself in this company.

SPOTTED ON SALE

ONLINE RETAILER

• Model D3 Inscription Pro Automatic
• Year/plate 2018/18
• Mileage 10,919 miles Price £33,150

FRANCHISED VOLVO DEALER

• Model D4 AWD First Edition Automatic
• Year/plate 2018/18
• Mileage 47,875 miles Price £30,490

FRANCHISED VOLVO DEALER

• Model D4 AWD R-Design Automatic
• Year/plate 2018/68
• Mileage 34,506 miles Price £29,950

FRANCHISED FIAT DEALER

• Model D3 Inscription Automatic
• Year/plate 2018/68
• Mileage 44,250 miles Price £27,990

USED CAR SPECIALIST

• Model D3 Momentum
• Year/plate 2019/69
• Mileage 15,123 miles Price £26,750
• Concept 40.1 previewed what the XC40 would look like

FACTS & FIGURES

• Bodystyle 5-door SUV, 5-seats
• Size (length/width with mirrors) | 4,425/2,034mm
• Boot space (min/max) 460/1,336 litres
• Generation 1
• Codename V316
• Made in Ghent, Belgium
• Platform name CMA
• Related models Volvo C40, Lynk & Co 01
• Euro NCAP test rating 5/5

TUNING

Reputable companies like Celtic Tuning, Tunit and Avon Tuning offer a range of tuning options, suited to both extra muscle and fuel efficiency gains. Power and torque increases aren’t the whole story though, and so you should always discuss your requirements directly with your chosen tuning company, whether it be extra performance, improved fuel economy or additional pulling power. Please be aware that any increase may mean that you put extra pressure on the gearbox and clutch, not to mention the braking system, and so you should consider uprating these areas, too. But more importantly, any kind of modification needs to be revealed to your insurance company. See our Trusted Tuners section for details of companies that our team have experience of and are recommended.

RECALLS

MODEL HISTORY

• May 2016 Concept 40.1 revealed, previewing the design of the XC40
• September 2017 New XC40 unveiled
• November 2017 Production begins at the Ghent factory
• February 2018 New XC40 arrives in Volvo showrooms
• March 2018 First Edition models discontinued
• March 2018 XC40 wins European Car of the Year 2018
• May 2018 D3 AWD Manual versions no longer available
• May 2018 XC40 named Diesel Car & Eco Car Car of the Year 2018
• July 2019 Equipment upgraded on R-Design models, and new colour choices added
• February 2020 Momentum Pro editions axed
• August 2020 All diesel versions discontinued