2020 Volvo XC40 Petrol Review
Car Tested: 2020 Volvo XC40 T4; Road Test No. 1159; Test Location: Goa
Price OTR Mumbai: Rs. 50.82 lakhs
Volvo’s entry level SUV gets a petrol engine which is available on the R-Design trim
Volvo launched the XC40 in the Indian market in 2018 and the SUV came across as very impressive because it not only looked the most striking in its segment but also offered a lot of exclusivity and a long equipment list. The design and quality levels screamed class and while this Scandinavian beauty couldn’t really become the best-seller, it definitely ruffled some feathers in its segment. Now, with the BS6 deadline inching closer, Volvo is discontinuing the diesel XC40 and the company has launched the petrol variant and we put it to test.
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The Volvo XC40 continues to look striking as ever
Exteriors – When the diesel XC40 was first launched, it was available on the R-Design trim only but then Volvo discontinued this variant and launched the Momentum and Inscription trims. However, the petrol variant is only available with the R-Design trim. Well, not much has changed on the outside and this SUV does look the best in its segment. In fact, I’d say the design makes this car look a bit more expensive than it actually is. There’s barely any unnecessary chrome on the outside and a lot of design elements have blacked out and the Thor’s hammer headlamps add a lot of flair to the car. The design looks proportionate and this classy approach works really well.
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The cabin of the R-Design gets an all-black colour scheme only
Interiors – The Volvo XC40 petrol comes with a single interior colour option for now, and that is all-black. The diesel variant used to come with a black-orange layout with the white exterior colour option and honestly it looked very cool and made the XC40 even stand out from other cars. Volvo might launch new interior colour options based on market response though. Since this is the R-Design variant that we have here, it comes with features like a large 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system with 14 Harman Kardon speakers. The UI of the infotainment system remains as fluid as ever while the sound quality is brilliant too.
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The rear seat isn’t a strong USP of the XC40
The Volvo XC40 comes with features that cars two segments above get!
The Volvo XC40 gets other features like a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, dual-zone climate control, front and rear parking sensors with a reverse parking camera, front and rear Park Assist Pilot (hands-free) and a powered tailgate with handsfree opening. The XC40 now comes with wireless-charging which Volvo has been advertising rather proudly but the car now misses out on heated seats. Talking about seats, the front seats offer excellent comfort and are very supportive too. These come with electric adjustment and the driver’s seat gets a memory function too. However, things aren’t as good at the rear because the rear seats feel a bit upright and knee room isn’t all that abundant too. Under-thigh support feels lacking for tall passengers because of the seating position. The large sunroof does add some airiness to the cabin while the 460-litre boot is versatile.
