Performance – The Volvo XC40 is offered with the same engine as its siblings, which is a 2.0-litre, 4-cylinder unit in the D4 trim producing 190 PS and 400 Nm. The engine has lots of punch, especially in the mid-range where power delivery is very strong. Turbolag is also minimal and the XC40 accelerates pretty well. The engine responds quickly to throttle inputs and the overall driving experience is very good. 0-100 km/hr comes up in a claimed 7.9 seconds.
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The 8-speed automatic gearbox from AISIN works seamlessly
The engine is refined for the most part but gets a bit noisy at high RPMS. It revs freely till around 4200 RPM. You get different driving modes like Eco, Comfort, Dynamic, Off-Road and Individual. Comfort mode is best suited for regular commutes while Dynamic tweaks the character of the car and makes it feel edgier with better engine response and sportier dynamics. Individual mode allows you to configure the steering, brakes and engine settings. The 8-speed gearbox is quick, smooth and seamless and also gets a manual mode and paddle shifters but misses out on a Sport mode. On the fuel efficiency front, the XC40 will give around 10-12 km/l in mixed driving conditions.
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Despite being an SUV, the XC40 is good in the corners with minimal body roll
Driving Dynamics – The suspension gets a slightly stiff setup, so while smaller potholes and undulations are taken care of nicely, the larger ones do filter inside the cabin. The SUV feels very composed on straight roads and corners alike and since AWD is standard, the driver gets more confidence while pushing the car hard. Being an SUV, body roll is definitely present, the brakes are very sharp and the 18-inch Pirelli P-Zero tyres have superb grip. Volvo also offers optional 20-inch wheels. The steering is smooth and light and offers good feedback as the speeds increase. The XC40 comes with a Haldex AWD system and the car performs pretty well off the road. The Haldex system sends out power to the wheels which have traction, allowing the XC40 to tackle obstacles easily.
