Sampler: A Detailed Test Of The Volvo XC40

Volvo has a bit of a renaissance right now. It seems like the Chinese money has gone for the future, and everything the Swedish automaker takes on turns out to be cool. Last summer, I was amazed at how good the XC60 crossover is, and more recently Misha Kononchuk was pleasantly surprised by the Geely Coolray made with the direct participation of Volvo
Interior
Practicality
Technique and reliability
Riding
Equipment
Competitors
Output

Video: Sampler: A Detailed Test Of The Volvo XC40

Отличия серверных жестких дисков от десктопных — Video: Volvo Sensus 2019 Detailed Tutorial and Review: Tech Help 2023, February

Volvo has a bit of a renaissance right now. It seems like the Chinese money has gone for the future, and everything the Swedish automaker takes on turns out to be cool. Last summer, I was amazed at how good the XC60 crossover is, and more recently Misha Kononchuk was pleasantly surprised by the Geely Coolray made with the direct participation of Volvo

Volvo XC40 2,418,000 - 3,222,000 ₽ Editor's Choice Momentum D4, 2.0, automatic transmission, 4WD for 2,955,000 ₽ Author rating: 4.5 out of 5 Pros

Design
Interior decoration and architecture
Rear seat

Minuses

Steering wheel settings
Lack of branded Volvo chips
Noise isolation

Ownership cost per year with a mileage of 17 500 km: OSAGO 14 143 ₽ CASCO 94 750 ₽ Maintenance per year 0 ₽ Transport tax 9500 ₽ Fuel 87 382 ₽ Total 205 775 ₽

* The cost of policies and tax are calculated for a driver over 22 years old and with more than 4 years of experience living in Moscow. The average annual mileage is calculated based on the Auto.ru statistics. The service interval for modern Volvo is 20,000 kilometers, so maintenance costs were not included in our table.

In absolute terms, the company's results are not very impressive: for example, in 2019, the Swedes sold 8,846 cars in Russia. Sparsely, but of the premium brands, only the German troika and the unshakable Lexus are ahead. So maybe Volvo has the potential to challenge these mastodons too? We find out this on the example of a car that is potentially supposed to become the main Swedish moneymaker - a compact crossover XC40 in the Momentum configuration, starting from the mark 2 618 000 rubles.

Interior

I have yet to meet people who do not like modern Volvo interiors. Although in the case of the test car, the beige leather looks a little clumsy against the background of the rest of the strict composition. And such a finish costs 141,800 rubles. And even if the skin itself is soft and pleasant, I would not pay extra: the fabric will fit into the interior better, and its quality will hardly disappoint you.

One of the most noticeable differences between the XC40 and the same XC60 is the gear selector. The junior crossover has an electronic one and has a very strange algorithm of operation: pull as hard as you like, but when switching from drive to reverse and back, the box will in any case go into neutral, and to activate the desired mode, you have to swing the lever a second time. It is clear that this is protection from the fool, but when turning in yards and parking lots, it frankly infuriates

The driving position in the XC40 is appropriately high for a crossover. The chairs are comfortable, with noticeable but unobtrusive side support bolsters, a wide backrest in the upper part and a pillow normal in all respects. The set of adjustments is ordinary - you can't "break" the back in the middle, but the range is enough to get comfortable behind the wheel without incident

The XC40 has a bit of a lame visibility due to the wide A-pillars. Otherwise, no problem. Side mirrors of solid size and good shape, and the image from the rear view camera pleases with resolution and the ability to zoom

The dashboard is completely digital, but extremely ascetic, if not simple.Minimalistic speedometer and tachometer, no variety of themes, like those of Audi or Peugeot, the on-board computer readings hidden in the lower right corner, and the navigation map cannot be displayed to the full width of the display … And in general there is a problem with navigation: in a crossover for 3.4 million rubles she is not

That is, technically, there is a navigator somewhere in the depths of the entertainment complex, but it needs to be activated for a surcharge. And that's the only complaint about the Sensus entertainment system. And the absence of a navigator will upset only if for some reason you are not satisfied with the maps on smartphones: Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are available. Moreover, in Swedish multimedia, they do not fill the entire screen, but neatly unfold at the bottom of it

In general, the Sensus system is cool. Performance, sensitivity, logic - everything is like a home tablet or a good smartphone. Swipe to the left, swipe to the right, down and up curtains … if you have ever held a modern gadget in your hands at least once in your life, you will deal with this thing without any problems

There are few physical buttons in the Volvo XC40's cabin. The most noticeable cluster of them is observed under the screen of the entertainment complex. There is also a key for changing the driving modes. In older models, a stylish drum next to the engine start switch is responsible for this

Wireless charging is not just built into a niche for a smartphone - a special platform with small walls is organized for the gadget so that it does not fly out anywhere when you decide to go faster

Practicality

In terms of dimensions, the seemingly compact XC40 is only slightly below the mid-size crossovers of mass brands. It is just slightly shorter than the Volkswagen Tiguan, KiSportage and MazdCX-5, but wider than each of these models, and it has a larger wheelbase! Therefore, in terms of practicality, Volvo is comparable to the Russian bestsellers. Although the trunk is not a record.

The declared volume of the compartment is 460 liters - not much. But the loading height is small, there is no threshold, and the fish-and-stuff arsenal is optimal: a couple of lampshades, several hooks and a 12-volt socket

The compartment handled a couple of our large suitcases without any visible problems. And at the same time, there is a lot of space left where you can throw some little things: both on the sides and under the curtain

The main bonus of the XC40's trunk is its solid underground. You can't pack something oversized, like a large box with tools, but a first aid kit, fire extinguisher and all that stuff will fit in without problems and will not take up space at the top. And so that the floor panel does not constantly fall on your head, the Swedes have come up with a special emphasis on the left side

On the "minus two" are a dock and a set of tools, surrounded by wiring and bare metal

The backrest of the second row is two-piece. And in the central part there is a hatch to the salon. Its area is small, but you can probably squeeze a couple of sets of skis through it. However, it is inconvenient to fold the hatch inside the trunk: pushing it forward with the lock unlock button pressed would be much more convenient

With the backrests down in the second row, the boot volume of the Volvo XC40 is 1,336 liters. Again, not so much, especially by crossover standards, but the floor of the compartment turns out to be perfectly flat, and the length of the platform to the back of the driver's seat exceeds 170 centimeters

Thanks to the large wheelbase, there is plenty of room in the second row, even behind a tall driver and passenger. And the flat roof without fashionable coupe-like overlaps does not put pressure on the top of the head. But the three of us are unlikely to be comfortable. The reason is simple: the massive central tunnel. Plus, the passengers of the second row will have to share only one USB port for all, and even that one of the Type-C format

Technique and reliability

The XC40 is Volvo's smallest model right now and the only one built on a CMA bogie. The platform was developed by the Swedish automaker in cooperation with Chinese owners - Geely. Three models of the Lynk & Co brand and the Geely FY11 coupe-like crossover are based on the same chassis.

There is little to do with the older bogie - it's called the SP - there is little in common: for example, MacPherson struts in front, rather than double wishbones. At the rear there is a multi-link, but without a composite transverse spring, instead of which conventional springs are used. Adaptive dampers are available at an additional cost.

The XC40 engine range in Russia consists of two diesel (150 and 190 hp) and two gasoline (190 and 249 hp) engines. All versions of the crossover are equipped with an eight-speed "automatic" Aisin. Almost the same as Toyota, Lexus and BMW.

All-wheel drive with Haldex electro-hydraulic clutch is also available with all engines. However, if you need exactly two drivers, you will have to take the base diesel engine - all the rest of the choice of transmission does not imply.

The stated ground clearance is 211 millimeters. In fact, under the bottom point of the almost flat bottom, it was 11 millimeters smaller (but still decent), and the crankcase protection hangs even lower - see the following photos

Volvo's rear overhang is short and the bumper hangs high

But when parking in front of a high sidewalk - be careful. And on gullies, vigilance should be doubled: if you peck your nose hard - you will get to be repaired

It is difficult to talk about the reliability and durability of the XC40: the crossover is on sale recently, the Duster cannot boast of popularity, and its owners have not yet been noticed in creating fan cells with an active discussion of breakdowns and other things.

However, according to the British Reliability Index, Volvo is ranked 23rd in a ranking of 40 brands. And according to J.D. Power, which researches customer satisfaction, including cars, the XC40 with a 190-horsepower engine (T4, as we have on the test) has a rating quite high: 77 points out of 100.

Well, from those few reviews that still exist, we can conclude that the XC40 reaches at least 30,000 kilometers without any problems. There are only minor complaints such as a creak in the driver's seat or small bugs in the multimedia system.

More complaints are received about the cost of maintenance. The first visit to the dealer for routine maintenance will cost about 30,000 rubles! Not cheap. True, you often don't have to visit the service station: according to the regulations, the service interval of modern Volvo is 20,000 kilometers. Considering that the XC40 is offered only with turbocharged engines, traditionally sensitive to fuel and lubricants, the Swedes' move can be considered bold.

Riding

If the dynamics of the 190-horsepower XC40 gasoline are not enough for you, then you are driving where there are no fines and traffic cameras. But why is an urban crossover in such a wilderness? And the rest should be aware that the passport acceleration to a hundred takes a good 7.9 seconds for our test version. At the same time, the character of acceleration is pleasantly smooth, without jabs and sharp picks up in any operating mode of the control electronics, even in the most evil Dynamic.

Yes, and "evil" he is very conditional. Rather, even so: Dynamic, as is often the case with sport modes now, brings the XC40 into balance. Shift pauses are reduced, the engine response to the accelerator is sharper. In the standard driving mode, the XC40 is not exactly steamer broccoli, but neither 190 forces nor 7.9 seconds are recognized in it.

Unfortunately, changing modes has almost no effect on the steering settings. Steering effort is always thin, and there is as much information as there is information about when the quarantine will end … In short, active drivers behind the wheel of a Volvo XC40 are unlikely to squeal with delight.

And the correct steering settings would not greatly correct the situation, because the balance of the chassis here is deliberately shifted towards safe and understandable demolition. Sort of. The fact is that we were given the car on studded tires, the need for which was minimal this winter. And on the pavement, this somewhat prevented us from dealing with the nuances in the extreme (that is, not too relevant) modes. The XC40, clattering with "nails" on the asphalt, either slid outward with the front axle, then slipped with the rear wheels - and here a very vigilant stabilization system came into play, suppressing any liberties in the bud.

However, this is not a Porsche, and for daily driving such a car does not need an overly reckless chassis, or a steering wheel that broadcasts information about every inch of the roadway to you. You don't look at how many megabytes of traffic Instagram ate in a day, right? Rides, does not irritate, does not frighten - and okay. No matter how our internal petrolhead protested, this is exactly what is required of the urban crossover.

And the studded tires are even worthy of thanks, as they exposed the XC40's main driving flaw - poor sound insulation. The chatter in the cabin is absolutely non-premium! It is definitely better to take this Swede with Velcro and with smaller wheels - this will not only be quieter, but at the same time softer. And this is also the topic. Because at low speed the suspension behaves great - assembled, not soft in the European way, but noble. However, it is worth going faster, and in addition on not the most even asphalt, and you will begin to feel noticeable fluctuations in unsprung masses. But all this can certainly be cured by installing puffier tires and lighter discs of a smaller diameter. Summer tires should also make the XC40 even nicer.

Equipment

The basic configuration of the model does not even have a name - just Volvo XC40. Such a car costs 2,418,000 rubles… The list of its equipment will include front and side airbags, driver's knee airbag, dual-zone climate control, digital tidy, fabric interior trim, heated front seats, cruise control, Sensus multimedia and 17-inch wheels.

The next modification is called Momentum and costs a minimum 2 618 000 rubles… Such cars add a combined trim of the seats, an electric drive for adjusting the lumbar support of the driver's seat, 18-inch wheels and two USB ports in the front of the cabin.

Crossover version Inscription will cost no less than 2 863 000 rubles… The standard equipment of this configuration assumes the presence of leather trim, an electric driver's seat, decorative inserts made of natural wood and special 18-inch wheels.

Athletic option R-Design will rise at least 2,943,000 rubles… It is essentially a car with the same equipment as the Inscription, but with special decorative elements outside and inside, its own seat trim, a black headlining and 19-inch wheels.

Plus, the XC40 has a huge number of options available, from alternative seat materials to the towbar. A basic crossover with all available options will cost 3.3 million rubles… That is, almost a million more expensive than yourself without additional equipment.

Four-wheel drive surcharge in the case of a base engine (from 2,418,000 rubles) is 177,000 rubles. 190-horsepower diesel crossover (from 2 955 000 rubles) will cost 360,000 rubles more than a car with the same equipment, but with an engine of 150 forces. At the same time, the XC40 T4 with a 190 hp gasoline engine. (from 2 695 000 rubles) 100,000 cheaper than a car with a 150-horsepower diesel engine! Crossover with a top-end 249 hp engine. costs at least 2 897 000 rubles, that is, less than the XC40 with a 190-horsepower diesel engine.

Competitors

Mercedes-Benz GLA

Самый свежий конкурент XC40, компактный кроссовер Mercedes-Benz, совсем недавно пережил смену поколений. В России GLпредлагается в версиях 200 (1,33 литра, 163 л.с.) и 250 (два литра, 224 л.с.). Цены на модель начинаются с 2 790 000 рублей. Топовая версия (без учёта опций) обойдётся в 3 470 000 рублей" style="width: 823px; margin-right: 8px;">

Mercedes-Benz GL The XC40's newest competitor, Mercedes-Benz's compact crossover, has just gone through a generational change. In Russia, GL is offered in versions 200 (1.33 liters, 163 hp) and 250 (two liters, 224 hp). Prices for the model start at 2,790,000 rubles. The top version (excluding options) will cost 3,470,000 rubles

MINI Countryman

Первый и пока единственный кроссовер MINI всё ещё выглядит ярко и интересно. И, по традиции, MINI - машина для тех, кто любит порулить, чего не скажешь об XC40. Да и стоит Countryman вполне адекватных денег: 1 885 000 рублей за базовую версию со 136-сильным мотором. Топовый Cooper S с двигателем на 194 л.с. обойдется минимум в 2 450 000 рублей" style="width: 823px; margin-right: 8px;">

BMW X1

Близкий родственник Countryman - BMW X1, и он тоже недавно обновился. И если MINI для вас слишком яркий, но всё ещё хочется порулить, то «икс-первый», построенный на той же платформе, - ваш вариант. В моторной гамме два бензиновых мотора (140 и 192 л.с.) и дизель на 150 сил. Цены начинаются с 2 150 000 рублей" style="width: 823px; margin-right: 8px;">

Lexus UX

Японский кроссовер мы уже очно сравнили с Volvo XC40. Главный козырь UX - отделка: такого количества мягкой и дорогой кожи нет больше ни у одной модели в этом классе! Однако Лексус сверхкомпактный: у него крошечный багажник и тесный второй ряд сидений. Цены на UX начинаются с 2 431 000 рублей" style="width: 823px; margin-right: 8px;">

Audi Q3

Немецкий компакт-кросс тоже очно боролся с Volvo XC40 в нашем тройном тесте. Q3 недавно сменил поколение, обзавёлся новой мультимедийной системой - такой же, как у старших моделей Audi. При этом немецкий вседорожник даже немного практичнее шведского: багажник у него больше, а сиденья второго ряда двигаются в продольном направлении. Базовый Q3 встанет в 2 375 000 рублей" style="width: 823px; margin-right: 8px;">

Output

Let's face it, premium compact crossovers are half measures. They are followed when there is money for an expensive mass market, and you already want something more. After all, a real, adult and greedy premium starts with the XC60, Q5, X3 and GLC, and the junior crossovers of these models are some kind of probes. Everything seems to be the same, but simpler.

But the XC40 seems to be one of the most plausible of all these probes. Yes, it was deprived of some of the family chips, like the same engine start drum or crystal gear selector, but in design, materials and feel this Volvo is equal to at least the 60-series models.

And most importantly, the XC40 adopted the feeling of quality and high cost from the older models, regardless of the size of the car, its configuration and cost. The very expensive mass market can not always boast of this. Why not: even not all direct competitors of this Volvo are able to do the same.