Volvo XC40 2018 Review

Safe yet sexy

Swedish car-maker Volvo has built its reputation over the last 90 years on vehicle safety and in the past its car designs have followed function before form.

Remember the ultra-blocky Volvo 200 Series models from the 1970s and '80s? They were the epitome of functionality and considered to be some the safest cars of their time.

They were also ultra-daggy and solidified Volvo's reputation as the conservative choice.

But take a look at the latest effort from Scandinavia’s only car-maker, Volvo’s first compact SUV, and you'd be forgiven for thinking the brand is focussed on having fun and doing it fashionably, not just creating four-wheeled equivalents of Fort Knox.

With a svelte new design inside and out, Volvo XC40 is arguably the company’s most youthful-looking vehicle to date.

True, it comes with all the latest safety technology thanks to its all-new Compact Modular Architecture underneath, or CMA in Volvo-speak, but it also provides an insight into the freedom of design the company is now embracing.

This newfound visual direction is refreshing and whether you love or loathe the Volvo XC40's new look, it can't be accused of unoriginality. It certainly doesn't try to mimic rivals such as the BMW X1 or Audi Q3.

The stocky little Volvo – which is 40mm wider at the rear to give it a butch look – gets a number of clever storage features too, like shopping bag hooks front and rear and lots of hidden stowage cubbies for secret stuff. See the video above for details.

It also lands some very handy (and cutting-edge) technology. The big 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster that greets you as you get in is gorgeous and standard across the range, as is a wireless phone charger that works with larger phones. A tidy 9.0-inch touch-screen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality is standard as well.

Also available are some of the best semi-autonomous stop/go/steer gizmos we've tested, which improve safety and reduce fatigue and will actually keep the car in its lane even around mild corners.

Baby Swede is fast but not furious

There are two equipment grades — Momentum and R-Design — and two engines — four-cylinder turbo petrol and diesel — in the Volvo XC40 range, which you can read about in more detail in our Volvo XC40 price story. There's also some special launch editions but they're all sold out.

The new XC40 is a neat-looking premium compact SUV, no doubt about it, but it's not just all show and no go; it's fun to drive too.

OK, with a starting price of around $48,000 -- which means at least $50K on the road -- it ain't cheap, but Volvo XC40 T5 models come with a gutsy 182kW/350Nm 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine.

It delivers plenty of gristle when you need it, such as when overtaking and merging onto the freeway, when occupants ride a big wave of mid-range torque.

That said, its chubby kerb weight (circa-1700kg) means it doesn't quite have the zip of its German rivals from a standing start.

The claimed 0-100km/h dash is 6.5 seconds with the standard eight-speed automatic transmission… but I challenge anyone to achieve that time. Maybe on a steep downhill descent with a stiff tail wind, although the 230km/h top speed sounds more feasible.

Where it should match its German rivals is in a dynamic sense, and I'm looking forward to a comparison with the BMW X1 and Audi Q3.

Balance and poise, but a bit of noise

The R-Design models with their sporty suspension offer plenty of driver involvement, the car scything through bends with an almost flippant level of dexterity.

In the Adelaide Hills the Volvo XC40 was more than happy to boogie, firing through corners with a very un-Volvo feel.

Big 20-inch alloy wheels with Pirelli P Zero tyres help, but the quirky SUV doesn't wallow mid-way through a bend, where there’s little body-roll to speak of. The brakes are pretty strong too, hauling the car up from highway speeds with ease.

All models are all-wheel drive and the XC40 is a firmly-sprung machine, but ride comfort is more than adequate – even on the massive 20-inch alloys, which is saying something for the way the independent front and rear suspension has been tuned.

We didn’t have a chance to drive the entry-level XC40 Momentum, which should offer slightly better ride comfort due to its less aggressive suspension tune and smaller wheels.

Around town the XC40 is in its element too.

It's easy to park thanks to the reversing camera and parking sensors, and the optional 360-degree parking camera offers incredible clarity.

Although the turning circle of 11.4 metres kerb-to-kerb is nothing to write home about, the XC40's compact 4425mm length makes it easy to place on the road.

The steering wheel feels great, the controls and instruments have a modern, high-tech look and the elevated seating position is at the higher end of the spectrum, providing impressive lines of sight.

While the car has a supremely high-tech feel to the way it operates, almost all of the technology is intuitively executed, with simplified controls that won't leave you baffled.

If there are fingers that need pointing at the drive experience, it would be Volvo XC40's tyre noise. On the big 20s there's a bit of roar on coarse-chip surfaces and big C-pillars create chunky blind spots (although blind spot detection is standard on all models).

Another area where Volvo struggles to match some of its rivals is cost of ownership. The most affordable servicing option is a three-year deal for $2165, which is a bit steep given the XC40's size. Indeed, it costs the same to service the much larger Volvo V90 Cross Country, which seems odd given that car is a $100,000-plus machine.

Volvo offers a pair of pre-paid service plans, SmartCare and SmartCare Plus. The former covers rudimentary stuff, oil changes and air filters, the latter adds brake discs and pads and wheel alignment. The most expensive plans cost $4030 (SmartCare) and $6345 (SmartCare Plus) for five years, which hike running costs significantly.

The 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine is relatively efficient, using 7.3L/100km when cruising around and taking in the views. When push came to shove, however, that number rose to 11.3L/100km.

All models come with an eight-speed automatic transmission, which is quiet and smooth but not as rapid-fire as the twin-clutch jobbies in Audi and Volkswagen SUVs.

There's also a 2.0-litre turbo-diesel (140kW/400Nm) dubbed the D4 but it wasn't available to drive at the national launch in Adelaide this week.

The Volvo XC40 diesel costs a bit more ($3000) than the petrol but the good news is a cheaper 1.5-litre three-cylinder version of the XC40 is coming and could be priced closer to the entry-level Audi Q3 ($43,400).

The bad news? The three-pot tiddler won't arrive in Australia until late 2019.

Unique Swedish style

With ‘millennial’ written all over it, the Volvo XC40 has a fresh and vibrant interior. The overall design is bold and appealing, although the bright orange carpet might not be to everyone's taste.

That said, the eco warriors out there will be stoked to know the carpets are made from ocean trash such as recycled bottles.

The large and very pretty 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster vies for visual supremacy with the steering wheel, both of which lend the car a premium feel.

The latter has large, uncluttered buttons for a nice change while the former will display everything from your current fuel consumption to satellite-navigation directions in crystal-clear high-definition fashion.

Even the gear shifter has a stylised design and the 9.0-inch infotainment touch-screen display is likewise a bit different and appealing with its 'portrait' alignment, enticing occupants to touch it.

Like a smartphone, flick and pinch functionality works seamlessly. Pairing a phone is easy and there's some useful native apps on there, such as Tuned In Radio, Spotify and weather updates.

The interior finishes are generally pretty good, with a mix of hard and soft dash plastics and gorgeous air-vents that feature a deeper level of tactility than most, rising up and out as you adjust the airflow direction.

Little touches like the hidden drawer underneath the driver's seat and a removable bin with a spring-loaded lid are great touches, as is the flip-out bag hook in the glovebox.

Interior space is pretty good for this class, with loads of room for front occupants and a surprisingly ample rear seat too. You can squeeze three into the rear but aim for two unless your passengers are happy to get intimate.

Some models come with a powered tailgate that (allegedly) can be operated via foot kick from the outside. Boot space of 460 litres, expanding to 1336, is sizeable but not class-leading, although the folding floor panels create a neat partition while exposing three shopping bag hooks.

It's a simple and very effective solution to stop your groceries spilling everywhere.

Volvo reckons the new XC40 will compete against the likes of the BMW X1 and Audi Q3, but may also draw some customers up from Mazda CX-5s and Hyundai Tucsons.

Given the way it drives and the levels of luxury, technology and convenience it brings to the table, there's no doubt this vehicle will be one of Volvo's top sellers.

In fact, Volvo Australia says demand is already outstripping supply and some models may take four months to arrive, with European demand for the Belgian-built machine exceeding predictions.

Whether you tuck the tiny rubber Swedish flag back under the bonnet or leave it on display, little touches like this and several other surprises (don't make me say Easter Eggs!) – not to mention the XC40’s daring design – make this Ovlov unique and very appealing.

If this is a taste of things to come, the next Volvo hatchback based on the same platform should be an absolute pearler.

How much is the 2018 Volvo XC40 T5 R-Design?
Price: $54,990 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol
Output: 182kW/350Nm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Fuel: 8.3L/100km (WLTP Combined)
CO2: 189g/km (WLTP Combined)
Safety rating: TBC