Urban Legendary
If it were a song, Volvo’s compact-sized SUV may have given all the right feels. That is if that song was for someone who had taste for something a little left field. That said, the Swedish brand’s compact oozes charisma, leaves an impression that you are driving around in something a little larger, and is actually quite the practical car.
The T4 badging means that the 2.0 powering this XC40 produces 187bhp and 300Nm, versus the higher-powered T5’s 250bhp and 350Nm. Maximum torque however comes in at 1,400rpm, versus the more powerful car’s 1,800rpm, and the XC40 does deliver very good drivability, versus some of the cars in the same segment. Fuel efficiency at a combined 13.9km/l is however not the best-in-segment. The BMW X2 manages 16.7km/l, while the Infiniti QX30 manages slightly better at 14.5km/l, and it is AWD.
An 8-speed automatic drives only the front wheels in this car, and strangely, Volvo had included an ‘Off-Road’ mode in the drive mode selector. The system cuts the maximum speed of the car down to 40km/h, with the rest of the dial of the speedometer blacking out, while driver aids like hill-descent control are activated to ensure better footing.
Hard acceleration does reveal just slightly, its front-drive tendencies, but overall the XC40 feels planted, and there is a slight pause between cog switches, unlike how cars with dual-clutch transmissions behave. The steering is on the lighter side, though communication from the electrical unit is pretty good.
With the T4 engine, the XC40 does 100km/h in 8.4 seconds, while not as quick as the T5’s 6.5 seconds, and also slower than the BMW X2’s 7.7 seconds, it is still rather impressive; and you will not likely find yourself giving the car the beans in most cases, as there is more than enough grunt to accelerate ahead of the pack in most cases from the lights.
Inside the cabin, there is a sense that the car feels wider than it really is, thanks to the visual cues from the dashboard. While it does have compact dimensions, its wheelbase of 2,702mm is a good deal longer than that of the BMW X2, the Bavarian car’s related sibling form across the pond, the MINI Cooper S Countryman and Jaguar E-Pace; and I believe this contributes to largely good ride comfort.
Safety is one of the hallmarks of the brand, and the XC40 features a suite of driver aids. Oncoming Lane Mitigation and Run-off Road Mitigation helps to steer the car away from danger of oncoming traffic and helps to keep the car on the road. While its Enhanced Collision Mitigation System is able to detect other motorists, cyclists and pedestrians, and will offer brake support if the driver fails to react.
If design quirks are your thing, the Volvo XC40 could easily be the car to buy. Luxurious and refreshing, their compact-sized SUV is also practical. The lower power option by way of its T4 engine, and the omission of its rear diving wheels also makes the car more attainable, with our higher-spec R-Design test car retailing for $180,000* and the Momentum trim model going for $165,000*.
*Prices accurate as at 18 December 2018
For greater price accuracy of the Volvo XC40 range, click here.
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