The article was originally produced on November 30, 2017, some facts and prices may have changed since then.

Volvo XC40

The XC40 is Volvo's all-new model that is predicted to be the next big seller. I was present at the test drive in Barcelona to see what the Chinese-owned Hisings company had achieved.

When the new XC90 was presented in August 2014, Volvo told us that it would be their oldest model within three years. A statement most people probably took with a pinch of salt and as an exaggeration. But now here we are, almost two and a half years later, and the models that have survived since before the XC90 are not many and will certainly have time to be replaced before August next year. The XC90 was an incredible boost for Volvo, which is now running like a train and breaking new sales records in the quarter. Even the first generation XC90 was highly appreciated and awarded with mention as "Truck of the year" in the USA. Now the brand new model XC40 has rolled out of the factory, which is not located in Torslanda, but in Ghent, Belgium. The XC40 is an SUV in a compact format that still takes five passengers without any problems whatsoever. They have put a lot of focus on practical solutions, so the amount of compartments to stow away everything from laptops to rubbish is bordering on infinite. As usual when it comes to Volvo, safety has the highest priority. Of course, this is a consistent theme in the XC40, which sets the bar at a new level for the class. New is the function that lowers the speed and can brake to a standstill even when the image is reversing to minimize the risk of accidents. The XC40 is the first Volvo ever with this particular function. Volvo is continuously working to influence the market to raise safety thinking, partly with its own development but also by having close contact with EuroNCAP and getting them to demand more from the car companies. One of the biggest safety innovations that celebrates 60 years in two years is the three-point seat belt, which was an invention signed by Volvo. The first models to have the three-point belt as standard were the Amazon and PV in 1959.

It is not only safety that has been given high priority in the new XC40, but also the technical solutions, comfort and design are high on the list. Volvo is aware that their customers, especially for the XC40, are young with high technical competence and discerning when it comes to technical systems, services and design. If we start with the design, a lot of time has been spent on this both externally and internally. For example, they wanted to give the entire dashboard an airy and wide feeling, even though the width is not that great. The solution was a completely new design of the fan outlet, which now has a rectangular upright shape. Even the infotainment screen in the center of the console is upright, unlike many other cars where it is horizontal. The upright shapes make the areas between feel long and narrow. The panel in front of the passenger can be obtained in different materials and one of them is, in a slightly humorous way from the west coast, a map in relief of Gothenburg's harbor entrance. On the technology side, we naturally find the latest in the form of Apple CarPlay and sync for Android phones. The sound system in the XC40 is not the Bower & Wilkins one found in the larger Volvo models, but one from Harman Kardon, which is considered to be a younger and more appropriate sound system for the target group. The XC40 is the first model on the market to be offered with the Care by Volvo service. This service is so interesting that we chose to write a separate part after this one about the car itself and test driving. 

In terms of driving, the XC40 really impresses. Despite the compact size, the car feels stable both at higher speeds and when the road curves. A bit of a tricky nut to crack when building small cars at height. On the fine, well-paved roads around Barcelona with no tailpipes, the noise level in the car is minimal. How it is on our Swedish roads remains to be seen, but probably fully approved against the competition. As usual in a Volvo, you sit very well in the seats, which provide support where needed and guarantee that you are sitting safely in the event of an accident. If you have to sum up the XC40 in just one sentence, this would be it. Volvo's new premium compact SUV that will outsell the competition!