[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/volvo-xc40-reviews\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/volvo-xc40-reviews\/","headline":"Volvo XC40 – what the critics think","name":"Volvo XC40 – what the critics think","description":"Barely two weeks go by without yet another compact SUV entering the UK marketplace, but this time, it\u2019s a rather special case: the Volvo XC40, which is available to order now, ahead of deliveries in May 2018. It\u2019s special because it takes much of what the XC90 does – a full-fat SUV that holds little back – and concentrates it into a much smaller package with a more attainable price (upwards of \u00a327,905). The XC90 is one of our favourite […]","datePublished":"2017-12-07","dateModified":"2017-12-08","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/author\/matthew-collett\/#Person","name":"Matthew Collett","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/author\/matthew-collett\/","identifier":5,"description":"Max Wheeler is a leading motoring journalist and classic car specialist at Smart Motoring, renowned for his sharp insight and infectious passion for all things automotive. With years of experience covering motoring news, supercars, and the enduring legacy of classic cars, Max brings stories to life with style and authority. Whether it\u2019s the roar of a Lamborghini, the elegance of an Aston Martin DB5, or the cultural impact of vintage motoring icons, he delivers expert commentary that inspires enthusiasts and collectors alike. Dedicated to celebrating the heritage and future of driving, Max Wheeler is your trusted voice for classic car news and beyond.","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/64eca1152247aa111ace79ff1c03782b175df9dc21d2092364ff21e1cf5e38fa?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/64eca1152247aa111ace79ff1c03782b175df9dc21d2092364ff21e1cf5e38fa?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Smart Motoring","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/smart-motoring_news_logo_g-e1765846726493.webp","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/smart-motoring_news_logo_g-e1765846726493.webp","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Volvo-XC40-feature.jpg","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Volvo-XC40-feature.jpg","height":520,"width":1200},"url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/volvo-xc40-reviews\/","about":["LATEST CAR NEWS"],"wordCount":668,"keywords":["Auto Car","Auto Express","car reviews","top gear","volvo","Volvo XC40","volvo xc90"],"articleBody":"Barely two weeks go by without yet another compact SUV entering the UK marketplace, but this time, it\u2019s a rather special case: the Volvo XC40, which is available to order now, ahead of deliveries in May 2018.It\u2019s special because it takes much of what the XC90 does – a full-fat SUV that holds little back – and concentrates it into a much smaller package with a more attainable price (upwards of \u00a327,905).The XC90 is one of our favourite off-roaders here at Motor-Vision, so the prospect of a mini XC90 is a great source of intrigue, and with initial reviews now starting to appear online, we\u2019re keen to know if it\u2019s a winner\u2026StylingAutocar\u2019s Matt Prior awarded the third addition to Volvo\u2019s SUV lineup four out of five stars and was impressed with the XC40\u2019s look, which reminded him of \u2018a little robot\u2019.He reckoned there were echoes of the now-dead Skoda Yeti (*sad face*) in that it prioritises practicality ahead of overly stylised traits like a swooping coupe profile.Matt also seemed pleased to note that the XC40 does its own thing stylistically, rather than simply resize its larger XC60 and XC90 siblings.Auto Express (4\/5) described the XC40\u2019s exterior as edgier and more youthful than the fairly mature XC60 and XC90, but it remained quite obviously a Volvo.InteriorWhile the car was naturally smaller on the inside, Autocar reckoned it was also funkier than Volvo\u2019s larger SUVs, even if some of the higher grade plastics had to be understandably sacrificed in the downsizing process.Auto Express had lots of nice things to say about the XC40\u2019s cabin, especially its vertical tablet-style touchscreen infotainment system, first used in the XC90.Despite admitting the system \u2018takes a little bit of getting used to\u2019, they liked how quick it was to navigate once you get the hang of things, complimenting the \u2018crystal clear\u2019 screen too.They described the rest of the cabin as \u2018neat, functional and very Swedish\u2019 with a \u2018clean, uncluttered look\u2019, although they did bemoan the lack of soft-touch fabrics.Top Gear (TG) noted how the air vents stand out from the dash and deemed it \u2018refreshingly bold\u2019 how a major section of the XC40\u2019s door inner was lined in a fuzzy material colour-matched to the carpet. TG hailed the seats as \u2018terrific\u2019 and the rear leg and headroom as \u2018fine\u2019, which we\u2019ll take as a win.On the roadVolvo\u2019s engines always link a letter with a number. D is for diesel, T is for turbo petrol, 3 produces around 150bhp, 4 – 190bhp and 5 – 250bhp. With the XC40, we have two diesels – the D3 and D4 – and a trio of turbo petrols – T3, T4, T5.Now that\u2019s out the way, we can tell you that Top Gear deemed the performance of the D4 and T5 to be \u2018competitive\u2019 with a \u2018handy mid-rev kick that\u2019s not overburdened with lag\u2019.However, they did note how all modern Volvo diesels boast a harsh edge that never goes away, while the eight-speed auto gearbox can be \u2018a bit indecisive\u2019 and the body\u2019s movements \u2018floaty\u2019.Although they thought the steering had \u2018been given strong anaesthesia\u2019, overall, they liked its tidy and relaxing chassis that made it comfortable to be in and at ease with itself.Auto Express also noted how the auto gearbox wasn\u2019t that quick to respond, as well as \u2018a fair bit of road roar from the car\u2019s optional 19-inch rubber and some wind noise from around the A-pillar and side mirrors\u2019.VerdictAutocar\u2019s Matt Prior reckons the XC40 puts the \u2018you\u2019 back into SUV, while Auto Express struggled to name anything else in the compact SUV class that offers the same mix of clever packaging, uncluttered interior design, cruising comfort and great connectivity.So the new XC40 is pretty decent it seems. Have you been impressed enough to want to test drive one any time soon? Let us know below in the comments. "},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Latest News","item":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Volvo XC40 – what the critics think","item":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/volvo-xc40-reviews\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]