No-one in the premium automotive world does understated yet utterly satisfying quite as well as Volvo, writes David Thomson.
With the addition of the XC40 to its range, Volvo can now claim to have all the key bases covered in the burgeoning crossover SUV segment.
The compact member of a line-up that also comprises the widely lauded XC90 and XC60, the XC40 has lost no time in impressing the experts: soon after its global launch, the new machine scooped the European Car of the Year trophy; locally, like the XC60, it is now a finalist for New Zealand Car of the Year honours.
Volvo has kept things relatively simple for its Kiwi XC40 line-up, opting for three models, all with 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engines and eight-speed automatic transmissions. Hybrid and electric versions are scheduled within a couple of years.
The range opens with a pair of T4 models, the $59,900 Momentum and $67,900 Inscription. The Momentum is front-wheel-drive only, while the Inscription is an all-wheel-drive machine. The third is the flagship $72,900 T5 R-Design AWD.
Customers in this part of the world are favouring the all-wheel-drive versions by an overwhelming majority, but it was a front-drive Momentum that Drivesouth tested.
Standard features include Volvo's distinctive portrait-format 12.3-inch centre touchscreen, satellite navigation, an eight-speaker sound system, dual-zone climate control, 18-inch alloys, front fog lamps and LED headlights. A strong focus on active safety sees blind spot and collision warning systems fitted, along with autonomous braking and run-off-road mitigation, lane-keeping assistance and a rear parking camera.
The test car also featured numerous extra-cost convenience, comfort and safety items as part of $2000 driver support options pack. These include a 360-degree parking camera, adaptive radar rather than the usual passive cruise control and pilot-assist active steering and self-parking systems. A $1600 convenience pack provides keyless entry, a power-operated tailgate and a power-operated front passenger's seat. The $450 heated front seats option is included, too.
Also featuring on the test car was a $400 option that provides a contrast white exterior finish for the roof. It is certainly a distinctive feature, but not one I imagine too many buyers will tick the box for. But perhaps the key point being expressed by this paint choice was more generally relevant; compared with its larger Volvo SUV siblings, the new XC40 cuts loose with more daring styling.
The interior has some neat signature features too, but overall it is more conventionally Volvo than the exterior. That's no bad thing, as there's a sparse, high-quality elegance to Volvo's current interior designs that set them apart from those of other premium brands in a positive way.
As well as being aesthetically pleasant, visibility is very good to the front and sides, but the upwards styling kink at the trailing edge of the rear door and thick C-pillars impinge on the rear three-quarter view; hence the importance of features such as blind-spot monitoring and the value of a 360-degree camera system.
Boot space is adequate rather than spectacular at 460 litres, but it is well-shaped for carrying bags and cases, easily expandable when the rear seats are not required and includes a clever compartmentalisation system. In-cabin storage is clever too, including massive front-door bins.
As round-town transport, the test car was all one would expect a small premium SUV to be: comfortable, light and easy to drive. The suspension is supple on poor surfaces but the XC40 is still solid in its overall feel. Highway driving is similarly easy going, even when sport rather than comfort or eco drive mode is selected.
Being front-drive only, the Momentum is the least likely XC40 of all to venture off regular roads. Even so, it does have an off-road mode that maximises low-speed traction.
Belting down a winding back road at pace isn't something many owners of the entry-level XC40 are likely to contemplate, but doing so reveals a lot about the vehicle's underlying set-up and character. Ride quality and refinement are certainly prioritised over sharp handling, but at the same time the test car showed itself to be a secure, sure-footed and exceedingly well-mannered machine.
That is spot-on in terms of Volvo's current brand strengths, at least so far as its bread-and-butter models are concerned.
Put simply, no-one else in the premium automotive world does understated yet utterly satisfying quite as well.
Photos: David Thomson
