Volvo's new XC40 is the brand's entry in the red-hot market for luxury compact
SUVs but the newest smallest Volvo SUV is not just a downsized version of the
xc60 or xc90 it brings its own streetwise sense of style and it's fun
to drive the SC 40 has good cabin isolation it's quiet and the ride is
very compliant it's very good on imperfect city streets where we are now
and that is the environment that Volvo has designed it for the turbo 2 liter
and the XC 40 puts out 248 horsepower it's very peppy around town it's more
than adequate on the highway for passing and freeway on-ramps the XC 40 is our
design model is sporty R it has a sport-tuned suspension that rides a
little bit firmer but both it and the standard suspension corner reasonably
flat they feel composed and neither punishes you with a harsh ride the
8-speed transmission in the XC 40 has well spaced gears it shifts positively
if sometimes a little rough but I'll forgive that because it willingly down
shifts at the touch of a throttle when you want more power
I like the XC forties transmission I can't say the same for the electronic
shift lever there's a learning curve and I haven't mastered it yet I still have
trouble getting it in the right gear at the right time both using it in manual
mode and in trying to just get it into drive when I'm partnering the new XC 40
is the smallest of all those SUVs but they haven't downsized the tech in it
from the bigger xc60 on xc90 you still get a standard 9 inch display for the
multimedia system you still get a configurable digital instrument screen
that's twelve point three inches wide you also get a standard forward
collision system with automatic emergency braking the same city safe
system that's in the bigger SUVs Volvo has created an interior with thoughtful
details and lots of storage spaces it's probably the most practical interior
this side of a minivan among the features in it are in the console
good-size bin but also a slot made just right to hold
a Kleenex box and keep it out of the way and still have storage there's a
flip-top wastebasket for all the little wrappers
and things that end up in the cup holder in most cars then it comes out for
emptying in front of the cup holders is a large device bin with a soft floor and
optional wireless charging with a wireless pad that is big enough for a
phablet sized phone other storage spaces are there's another slot for another
device should you have another one next to your leg on the driver's side in the
dashboard for spare credit cards parking passes and the like there are two card
slots next to the driver on the left side and a hidden one down with the
device bin underneath here in the glovebox which is good size in itself
there's a flip-out hook hang a purse and your takeout bag holds four and a half
pounds the doors are probably the most striking feature because they have very
large bins big enough for a 15-inch laptop and a water bottle and they were
created by taking back space that was lost in the shell of the door Volvo did
that by working with farm and garden to create a woofer that is behind the dash
board up here and eliminated the large speakers that are usually at the bottom
of the door that created space for this large bin with its recent new models
Volvo has become known for a Scandinavian design inspired by nature
with muted colors and a lot of natural materials like swaths of open for wood
with the XC 40 aimed at a younger Herman buyer has taken a different philosophy
still Scandinavian but maybe more IKEA than nature it came up with some new
materials new colors gives the interior a whole
new personality but still a premium upscale feel seats are still leather and
it's standard in all XE 40s that's not common among premium small SUVs in the
doors however it came up with a whole new material made from 97% recycled
water bottles that has a felt like feel and it's also used to line the foot
wells Volvo came up with some interesting embossed metal trim for the
XC 40 and it is metal they made a point of telling us that if it looks like it
is that's true of the leather seats it's true of the trim the door handles look
like aluminum however but they are aluminum coated with a plastic substrate
so that's not entirely true overall the level of fit and finish is high there's
still some plastic below your elbow to be expected in this size and price class
but generally there's a lot of soft touch material there are some nice
premium details like fabric draft pillars and the interior does have an
upscale and premium feel the EXCI 40 will be a dealers in a few weeks with to
watch models both mid-range trim levels with all-wheel drive a less expensive
base model will be available this summer and a more expensive top-of-the-line
model will come later this year down the road Volvo plans on electric and a
plug-in hybrid for more information on the XC 40 go to cars calm
you