2024 Volvo XC40 Review: Sophisticated Subcompact
The subcompact SUV segment is deeply competitive in the USA, especially among luxury vehicles, which are naturally a little more expensive. Designed specifically for city driving, these small cars still need to deliver on a number of fronts, not least of which is practicality and safety. Luckily, the 2024 Volvo XC40 benefits from the brand's excellent reputation in both areas, as well as several more. It doesn't hurt that it has one of the best powertrains in the segment, a mild-hybrid turbo-four that makes 247 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque. Yes, it is a luxury car, and you need to pay a premium figure, but you get a lot more value than you'd expect, especially now that Volvo has added a few new standard features. Though only time will tell, we think it may continue to threaten luxury pack leaders, including the BMW X1 (and the upcoming X2), Audi Q3, and Mercedes-Benz GLA.
New for 2024
For 2024, the new Volvo XC40 crossover drops the B4 hybrid model with front-wheel drive from the lineup, but it also adds some new standard features. For the Core trim, these include a wireless phone charger and keyless entry, while an air purifier, a surround-view camera, and 19-inch wheels improve the Plus trim. At the top of the lineup, the Ultimate trims receive cornering lights, pixel headlights, and larger 20-inch wheels. Every trim also offers the choice of Bright or Dark exterior themes, while the available exterior color palette gets refreshed with Cloud Blue and Vapour Grey Metallic.
2024 Volvo XC40 Price: Which One to Buy
There is no longer a cheaper front-wheel-drive model, so the price of the Volvo XC40 now starts at $40,300 if you opt for the Core trim, while the Plus will cost you $45,200. The most expensive trim is the Ultimate, which sells for just under $50k at $49,000 MSRP. The $1,195 destination charge pushes up the price a little, too, but you can switch between the Bright and Dark themes at no extra cost.
Normally, you'd want to aim for this mid-tier trim when buying a luxury car to get the best value, but Volvo offers a lot more upfront than its competitors. Thus the Core should be enough for most buyers, though people buying for the luxury appeal rather than the value will want the Ultimate. This will see adaptive cruise control and Pilot Assist ease the driving experience, while a Harman Kardon sound system creates a higher-quality traveling experience.
B5 Core Bright Theme | B5 Plus Bright Theme | B5 Ultimate Bright Theme |
---|---|---|
Entry Level | Mid-Range | Top Trim |
$ 40100 | $ 45000 | $ 48800 |
2.0L turbo-four (194 hp/221 lb-ft) | Equipped with the B5 Core Bright Theme’s features, plus: | Equipped with the B5 Plus Bright Theme’s features, plus: |
18-inch alloy wheels | LED foglights with a cornering function | 20-inch alloy wheels |
Heated front seats | Panoramic moonroof with power sunshade | Pixel headlights |
Blind-spot and rear cross-traffic alerts | Leather upholstery and Driftwood decor | Adaptive cruise control |
Nine-inch touchscreen, | Air purifier | Pilot Assist |
Front and rear parking sensors | 13-speaker Harman Kardon audio system |
Best Deals on 2024 Volvo XC40
Interior and Features
The interior combines a long list of standard features with sophisticated space-saving styling for a clean and crips look that lacks nothing.
Simple yet sophisticated Swedish style is the theme for the interior of the Volvo XC40, with long vertical slats for the air vents and a portrait-style touchscreen making optimal use of the space provided on the dashboard. There are only a few physical controls below that. Overall passenger room is good, and even the trunk is reasonably commodious. Naturally, a lot of features come as standard, and operating them is quite easy with the driver-centric layout. At the upper trim levels, you get even more luxurious materials and Orrefors crystal for the gear shifter to give the interior an extremely upscale look and feel.
Space
Volvo doesn't try to offer more than five seats inside the XC40, like some of its competitors, which means it makes the best use of the interior space. Still, it is a subcompact, so legroom isn't the best in the second row, though it remains good for the segment. But front-seat passengers are eminently comfortable, and headroom is good all around. Power-adjustable front seats make it easy to find a comfortable position for driving, and you get a good view of the road. Getting in and out is also relatively easy, thanks to the wide-opening doors and a good step-in height.
Cargo
Even small SUVs are practical in comparison to a sedan or hatchback, but the Volvo XC40 falls a little short of its direct rivals with 16 cubic feet of cargo space below the cargo cover or around 21.7 cubic feet once you remove it. That's more than enough for most daily needs, though. If you drop the rear seats down, the maximum cargo capacity of 57.5 cu-ft. is more on par with the competition. There are a few hooks in the cargo area, too, to help maximize the space.
Around the cabin, you'll find pockets in each of the doors, a pair of cupholders in the front and another two in the rear fold-down middle seat, a glove compartment, a removable waste bin, and a storage tray in the central console. The armrest cubby is quite small, unfortunately.
Volvo XC40 | Audi Q3 | BMW X1 | |
---|---|---|---|
Seating | 5 Seater | 5 Seater | 5 Seater |
Headroom | 39 in. front 39.1 in. rear | 39.6 in. front 37.6 in. rear | 42.1 in. front 39.3 in. rear |
Legroom | 40.9 in. front 36.1 in. rear | 40 in. front 36.1 in. rear | 40.4 in. front 37 in. rear |
Cargo | 16 - 57.5 ft³ | 23.7 - 48 ft³ | 25.7 - 57.2 ft³ |
Materials and Colors
Volvo may not be as opulently luxurious as some other European brands, but it still offers excellent build quality and upscale materials. For the Core trim, the seats are upholstered in a premium fabric known as City Block Textile, which comes in Grey Melange. You can upgrade to Charcoal leather for $1,100. From the Plus up, leather is standard, and your choice of interior colors expands to include Blond. However, you can switch to a suede/Microtech blend at no additional cost, if you want, though Charcoal is the only option. The interior trim is Urban Grid aluminum at the base level, changing to Driftwood in the upper trims or Cutting Edge aluminum if you opt for the suede/Microtech. You also get a crystal gear shifter knob if you stick with the leather from Plus trim and up.
Features and Infotainment
When you're spending this kind of money, a lot of features come as standard with the Core trim. These include dual-zone climate control, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, a power-adjustable driver's seat, heated front seats, a 12-inch digital gauge cluster, and a nine-inch infotainment display that supports Apple CarPlay, SiriusXM, HD Radio, navigation, and Bluetooth. For 2024, you also get a wireless phone charger and keyless entry.
As standard, the sound system comprises eight speakers, which are upgraded to 13 Harman Kardon speakers for free in the Ultimate or at extra cost in the Plus. The mid-tier also gets an air purifier, a surround-view camera, a panoramic roof, a remote key, interior illumination, and a power-adjustable passenger seat. Once you reach the Ultimate, adaptive cruise control is added to the standard sound system upgrade. Each trim can also option the Climate Package for a heated steering wheel and heated rear seats.
B5 Core Bright Theme | B5 Plus Bright Theme | B5 Ultimate Bright Theme | |
---|---|---|---|
Dual-zone climate control | S | S | S |
Heated front seats | S | S | S |
Nine-inch touchscreen | S | S | S |
Panoramic sunroof | O | S | S |
13-speaker Harman Kardon sound | N/A | O | S |
Performance
The mild-hybrid powertrain in the XC40 gives it some of the best performance figures in the segment, narrowly besting even the BMW X1 in a 0-60 mph sprint.
With the front-wheel drivetrain dropped for this year, every Volvo XC40 gets a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that is both turbocharged and assisted by a mild-hybrid setup for 247 hp and 258 lb-ft. This is paired with an all-wheel drivetrain and an eight-speed automatic transmission. All of this sees the XC40 go from 0-60 mph in 6.1 seconds and reach a top speed of 112 mph, though this is because of an electronic limiter rather than a lack of power. It's still quicker than the BMW X1, and the electric XC40 Recharge, which we review separately, is even more powerful. The maximum towing capacity of the Volvo SUV is 3,500 pounds
The automatic gearbox is very intuitive and helps to create an effortless driving experience with all that power on tap. This complements the light steering, which makes the car feel right at home around town, where nimble handling is key. However, it lacks a bit of feeling which detracts from it's sporty feel. Rather, the focus is on comfort, which is where the highly absorbent suspension comes in. Highway driving is also quiet, thanks to a very well-damped cabin.
Fuel Efficiency
While it may be restricted to AWD, the mild-hybrid assistance for the engine works in the favor of fuel economy, so the Volvo XC40 gets good mpg. Across the city/highway/combined cycles, gas mileage figures are 24/30/26 mpg. This is slightly worse than the X1 achieves, but better than the Q3. But with a 14.2-gallon fuel capacity, the XC40 can still cover a respectable 369 miles between refills.
2.0L Turbo Inline-4 Gas 8-Speed Automatic AWD | |
---|---|
Power | 247 hp |
Top speed | 112 mph |
MPG | 24/30/26 mpg |
0-60 | 6.1 sec |
Safety
Volvo has always held a reputation as one of the safest automotive brands in the world, and the XC40's near-perfect score proves as much.
The safety review of the Volvo XC40 is excellent, no matter where you look, but that's not surprising for the Swedish brand. From the NHTSA, it earned a five-star rating, with only the rollover crash test getting a slightly lower four stars which is quite standard for the segment. Although the IIHS hasn't rated the 2024 models, 2023 results comprised a full house of 'Good' scores save for side crashes, which scored Acceptable.
Standard safety features include forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, rear parking sensors, blind-spot alert, rear cross-traffic alert, hill-start assist, hill-descent control, and a rearview camera. You also get seven airbags, along with stability and traction control, and ABS. The Plus expands this with front and side park assist, while the Ultimate rounds out the offering with a surround-view camera, and Pilot Assist. Most of these features can be equipped even at lower levels at extra cost.
B5 Core Bright Theme | B5 Plus Bright Theme | B5 Ultimate Bright Theme | |
---|---|---|---|
Forward collision avoidance | S | s | S |
Blind-spot assist | S | S | S |
Rear c ross-traffic alert | S | S | S |
Surround-view camera | N/A | S | S |
Pilot Assist | N/A | N/A | S |
US NHTSA Crash Test Result
Reliability
European automakers don't generally have the highest reliability, so the Volvo's XC40 72 out of 100 is not actually bad but rather par for the course. Despite this figure, there have only been two recent recalls in 2023 for false warning messages from the ECS and a diagnostic error that could cause the ABS to fail. 2024 is recall-free at the time of writing.
Every new 2024 Volvo XC40 gets a warranty that covers four years/50,000 miles. There is also complimentary scheduled maintenance for three years/36,000 miles.
Warranty
Basic | Drivetrain | Corrosion | Hybrid/Electric Components | Roadside Assistance | Maintenance |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
4 Years / 50,000 Miles | 4 Years / 50,000 Miles | 12 Years / Unlimited Miles | 8 Years / 100,000 Miles | 4 Years / Unlimited Miles | 3 Years / 36,000 Miles |
Design
Volvo cars have always been among the most discreetly attractive on the road, and while the XC40 may not be as bold as some other SUVs, it's still eye-catching. Part of its appeal comes from its more diminutive size, where design elements aren't stretched out too much. The grille is small but smartly styled, layering the diagonal Volvo bar over vertical bars, all with a chrome surround. At the upper corners are Thor's Hammer LED headlights, with LED foglights added lower down from the Plus upwards, while the Ultimate boasts pixel headlights. A sunroof is also added as standard at this point. Every model can also be had with a Dark theme as opposed to the standard Bright one, which sees the chrome replaced with blacked-out accents. Wheels start at 18 inches and grow to 20 inches once you reach the Ultimate. At the rear, the LED taillights stop when they reach the tailgate and extend vertically up towards the roof. The tailgate is powered as standard and gains hands-free access from the Plus.
Verdict: Is The 2024 Volvo XC40 A Good SUV?
Compact SUVs are tricky to get right, as automakers have to combine all the expected standard features with high levels of practicality and a small footprint. The 2024 XC40 manages to walk that fine line perfectly, and it manages to deliver an upscale interior, a powerful and moderately efficient hybrid engine, and a composed and comfortable driving character. Standard AWD helps with grip, and it already handles well, improving its versatility in terms of snow and mud, but it adds no real off-road capabilities. Clearly, the pros outweigh the cons, and Volvo gives you a lot of value that other premium cars often make you pay extra for. It's a hard package to beat, so it's a definite yes from us.