VOLVO XC40 R-DESIGN ROAD TEST REVIEW
Born to Lead
Jun 05 2018
The Volvo XC40 SUV which was launched globally late 2017 has garnered orders of more than 80,000 units. This has prompted the company to increase production at its two plants globally, one in Belgium and the other in China which manufacture the XC40. Volvo Car India will initially be importing the XC40 into India from Belgium. We take the XC40 for a short spin and give you our first impressions of the compact luxury SUV.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
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Engine
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D4 2 litre, In-line 4 cyl. twin turbo diesel / 1969cc
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Peak Power
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190hp @4000rpm
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Peak Torque
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400Nm
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Gearbox
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8 speed Geartronic automatic
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Front suspension
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MacPherson Strut, Coil Springs, Hydraulic Shock Absorbers, Stabilizer Bar
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Rear suspension
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Independent Suspension with Coil Springs, Hydraulic Shock Absorbers,Stabilizer Bar
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Steering
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Electrical Power Assisted Rack
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Brakes
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All discs with Antilock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD) and Electronic Brake Assistance (EBA)
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Top speed
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210 kmph
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Acceleration 0-100kmph
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7.9 seconds
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Tyres
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235/55/R18
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Fuel tank capacity
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54 litres
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Length X width (body) X height (including shark fin) (mm)
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4425 X 1863 X 1652
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Price (Rs)
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Rs 43 lakh expected
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Exterior Design and Features of Volvo XC40
The all-new Volvo XC40 is the company’s first SUV to be based on the Compact Modular Architecture platform which is shared with its parent company Zhejiang Geely Holding of China. To put thing in the right perspective, Volvo is a Swedish car maker with Chinese owners. But who cares? Today, everything that is beautiful and brilliant is made in China.
In India this premium compact SUV will be pitted against the likes of the Audi Q3, the Mercedes Benz GLA and the BMW X1. The Volvo XC40 will only be offered in one variant initially which is a fully loaded one called R-Design.
When you first get to see the Volvo XC40, you are definitely reminded of the XC 90 and the XC 60. You get to see the signature front grille with the logo in the centre but here there are horizontal slats, unlike the vertical slats that are there in the XC60 and XC90. Not to miss are the headlamps with the Thor’s hammer LED DRLs. The grille area has no chrome inserts; rather it’s all blacked out to give the vehicle very sporty look. The XC 40 stands grand on 18 inches twin-5 spoke alloy wheels shrouded in 235/55 Pirelli tyres. In fact the side profile of the vehicle looks sporty with its roof rails, prominent wheel arches and black cladding at the bottom. The vehicle has a ground clearance of 211mm. The vehicle comes with a huge panoramic sunroof.
It’s déjà vu as you move back. The rear tail-lamps, the dual chrome exhausts along with the integrated spoiler gives the XC 40 a distinct Volvo appeal.
Interior Design and Features of Volvo XC40
As you step in, it is elegance everywhere. Everything inside which includes the dashboard and doors with silver trims, the steering wheel, the digital instrument cluster, the vertical air vents bordered in chrome, the well-crafted knobs and the 9 inch vertical touchscreen which is so tab like, all have a rich flair about it. The car will be offered in a choice of three colours. Within the cabin there will be a choice of either a black or a lava orange colour in the bottom section. I personally would stick to black because orange will get all dirtied too soon as you step in and out. The plastics used in the cabin are of decent quality.
The 9-inch touchscreen controls all the functions of the car and features Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Harman Kardon audio system does justice in this vehicle. Features like an electric tailgate, driving modes, auto LED headlamps, panoramic sunroof, four heated seats, dual zone climate control, front and rear parking sensors, reversing camera, are all standard on the XC40 R-Design.
As for the seats, they are a mix of fine leather and Alcantara with distinct white stitching. Those who don’t know, Alcantara material is composed of polyester and polyurethane. This composite is basically a substitute for suede. The front seats are electrically adjustable and the driver’s side comes with a memory function.
The rear seats offer adequate headroom and legroom. It could, however, be a squeeze for a third person sitting in the middle because of the raised floor and also because of the front arm rest module jutting into the rear space. Within the cabin there is huge space for storage, especially with the huge inner panel door cavities. The woofers on the door have been shifted out enabling more storage on the door panels. There is ample storage in the front area with even a slot to charge your mobile phone wirelessly. The armrest console is large and there’s also a cleverly designed removable dustbin in there with a spring-loaded lid. Tucked away storage areas include one under the driver’s seat, where one can keep a tab or some emergency money stashed away. The rear seats are 60:40 splits and bringing them down creates ample storage space. The boot can accommodate 460 litres of luggage and there is also an additional storage space between the boot floor and space-saver spare wheel area.
Safety and Performance of Volvo XC40
The XC40 is powered by a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder diesel engine that churns out 190hp and peak torque of 400Nm. The engine is mated to an 8-speed automatic gearbox. Power delivery is smooth and the turbo kicks in very early, enabling the car to accelerate swiftly. The engine feels very pepped up, to say the least. The sound from the diesel mill is minimal in the cabin and a lot of the diesel sound is muffled by the wonderful insulation all around. From the 9-inch touch panel in front one can choose the different drive modes which include Eco, Comfort, Off Road, Dynamic and Individual. The throttle response changes according to the drive mode you choose. Climbing to speeds above 200km comes very easy.
One can also opt for the paddle shifters for a quicker getaway. As for the suspension, these have been tuned perfectly for the smooth and the bumps expected on the Indian roads. The brakes are very accurate and instill a lot of confidence in the driver in this all-wheel drive vehicle. There are a plethora of safety features in the Volvo XC40 like the radar-based ones that include lane-keeping assist, blind spot warning, adaptive cruise control, pilot assist, emergency braking etc. Other safety features include ESP, traction control and hill descent control. The car comes with multiple airbags. There’s also a feature for auto park-in and park-out, which helps steer the vehicle in and out of a parking.
Verdict
Since Volvo Cars have always been setting new benchmarks with its cutting edge technology and safety standards, it is bound to do so once again with its XC40 in the luxury compact SUV segment. No other model in this segment currently offers such a fine combination of top notch technology, dove-tailed in absolute comfort and brilliant performance as the new Volvo XC40.
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