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.
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.
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.
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.
The petrol variant comes with a FWD layout only
Performance – The Volvo XC40 gets a 2.0-litre, 4-cylinder petrol engine which gives out 190 HP and 300 Nm. This engine comes with an 8-speed automatic gearbox and it is BS6 compliant. Now, this engine is quite refined and silent when the car is idling or being driven at low RPMs but when the revs increase, the engine starts getting noisier and it even feels a bit rough towards the higher end of the RPM spectrum. 190 HP sounds good on paper but this engine doesn’t really offer the kind of punch that an enthusiast would want and it instead offers very linear power delivery.
The engine is powerful but gets bogged down by the slow gearbox
The XC40 petrol offers a linear flow of power but it isn’t too aggressive
Lower down, you do feel a fair amount of lag because the turbo kicks in only at around 2500 RPM after which there is a mild surge in power all the way to the 6000 RPM redline. The engine doesn’t really go ballistic and the throttle response is also relaxed. A lot of this has to do with the transmission which is smooth but also very lazy when it comes to shifts and it takes its sweet own time to upshift or downshift. Overtaking other vehicles on the highway isn’t difficult at all though and the XC40 does manage to up its pace rather briskly. There’s no S mode either but you do get paddle-shifters, however they do not help much. You can expect the fuel efficiency to hover between 7-10 km/l.
Different driving modes alter the throttle response
The Volvo XC40 offers different driving modes like Eco, Comfort, Dynamic, Off-Road and Individual. These modes tweak the throttle response largely and we felt that that the Comfort mode feels best-suited to this car because it offers very relaxed driveability. Dynamic mode does offer a sharper throttle response and even the gearbox holds onto gears for much longer so we’d recommend using this mode when you’re willing to drive rather engagingly. Unlike the diesel variant which had AWD, the petrol variant is offered in only a front-wheel-drive layout.
The XC40 isn’t meant for fast corner-carving
Driving Dynamics – The Volvo XC40 comes with a light steering that weighs up very nicely as the digits on the speedometer keep increasing. Feedback offered is decent too but this SUV isn’t a very agile handler and it likes taking things easy. You will be disappointed if you’re looking to have some serious fun behind the wheel because this car will let you down. But, if you’re looking to have a relaxed and comfortable drive listening to some nice music on the awesome Harman Kardon system, you’ll be pleasantly surprised. This car is tuned more for luxury and comfort and less for driving fun.
The off-road mode on the XC40 just gets Hill Descent Control
The SUV offers a plush ride at high speeds but it feels bumpy at low speeds
The XC40 can’t do off-roading because the petrol variant is a FWD but it still gets an off-road mode which just lightens the steering and activates Hill Descent Control. That’s it! But then again most buyers in this segment barely take their car off the road so it doesn’t really matter. The R-Design comes with higher torsional rigidity than the other variants and thus offers a stiffer suspension setup. Ride quality is fabulous at high speeds but at city speeds it does feel bumpy. Thankfully, the insulation and NVH levels are so good that most undulations and bumps get filtered out very nicely. The brake pedal also offers a good feel and the stopping power is progressive.
The radar-based safety features actually work well on our roads
Safety and After Sales Service – Volvo’s service network isn’t as wide as other premium automakers like Mercedes, BMW, Audi and even Jaguar-Land Rover. This becomes a concern for a lot of customers who tend to take their luxury SUVs to far-off places for holidays or work trips. Volvo does have presence in most major cities. The XC40 comes with top of the line safety features like 6 airbags, ABS with EBD, Hill Ascent and Descent Controls, Brake Assist and other radar-based features like Lane Keeping Assist, Adaptive Cruise Control and Collision Mitigation System.
Buy the XC40 and be sure to attract a lot of eyeballs
Verdict – The Volvo XC40 comes across as a very different package when compared to rivals. It has a killer design, boasts of good quality inside out, has a fairly decent petrol engine and gets all the latest safety tech too. Yes, this is the most expensive car in its segment and being a CBU, the road tax is also higher and this coupled with Volvo’s limited reach in the country can get some potential customers worrying but otherwise there’s nothing else that should keep you from keeping this car out of consideration. The XC40’s platform is also ground-up ready for plug-in hybrid and pure electric variants and the Swedish automaker is actually planning to launch the greener version of the XC40 in India over the next couple of years. The XC40 isn’t as fun to drive as say the BMW X1 but it does a lot of other things brilliantly and we think it deserves a good look from buyers.
The touchscreen is fluid and the menus & controls are easily accessible
What’s Cool
* Classy design which looks modern and attractive
* Cabin feels special and has lots of features
* Petrol engine has good power on tap
* Radar-based safety features which no other car in the segment offers
What’s Not So Cool
* The laggy gearbox doesn’t do justice to the engine
* Rear seats could have been better
* Low speed ride is bumpy
Alternatives: – BMW X1, Mercedes GLA, Audi Q3
The Volvo XC40 is brought down to India as a CBU
Further Reading –
2018 Volvo XC40 Video Review
2018 Volvo XC40 Review
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