The XC40 is a new model launched after the regeneration of Volvo's XC series, positioned as a compact SUV of the luxury brand, and is also the first Volvo model to use the CMA platform, sharing the same platform as Geely's Lynk & Co 01. The XC40 is not currently localized, and is sold as an imported model.
 
In terms of design elements, the XC40 follows Volvo's recent family elements, including Thor's hammer for the headlights and Viking axe for the taillights, but due to the size of the body, the area of the headlights and taillights has been reduced. In terms of overall design, the XC40 has a Nordic flavor, very simple, but has a unique aesthetic, compared with the same level of BBA models, the appearance of the XC40 is a little more designed.
 
In terms of powertrain, the XC40 is available in T4 and T5 versions, and a plug-in hybrid version and an all-electric version may be available later. There will be three-cylinder models abroad, while only four-cylinder models have been introduced in China, the T4 version uses a 2.0T turbocharged engine codenamed B4204T47, with a maximum horsepower of 190Ps and a maximum torque of 300 Nm, and the official zero hundred result is 8.5 seconds, and the T5 version uses a 2.0T turbocharged engine codenamed B4204T018, with a maximum horsepower of 252Ps and a maximum torque of 350 Nm, and zero hundred acceleration can reach 6.5 seconds. The gearbox uses ZF's 8AT, the gear shift mechanism and the set above the Lynk & Co 01 are the same, N gear is between D gear and R gear, and it takes two actions to switch between D gear and R gear, and you need to get used to it.
 
The tuning of this set of powertrain tends to be smooth, even if a foot of floor oil goes down, it will only accelerate smoothly, and there will be no particularly strong push back feeling, and the movement of the whole powertrain is very small when cruising, and there will be no vibration and noise transmitted to the cabin. The disadvantage of this powertrain is the engine noise, which is noticeable and rough in the process of pulling the rpm or in the high rev range.
 
Due to the use of the CMA platform, the suspension form of the XC40 is different from that of the XC90 and XC60 models with SPA chassis, the former is a front MacPherson rear multi-link, and the latter is a front double wishbone rear multi-link. Foreign T4 models are all front-wheel drive, only T5 is four-wheel drive, but the domestic system is equipped with four-wheel drive system as standard. This four-wheel drive system is provided by BorgWarner, and the previous XC60 is the same as the one above, usually maintaining a 95:5 power distribution between the front and rear when driving, and when necessary, it can transmit up to 50% of the power to the rear axle.
 
This chassis has a strong sense of road when driving, and there will still be a typical stiff feeling of Volvo when passing through bumps, with a long suspension stroke, plus a weight of 1.7 tons, the roll in corners is quite obvious. The noise is not well suppressed, except for the occasional wind shear, the tire noise is basically unscrupulous into the cabin, which does not match its price.
 
The interior of the XC40 is also a classic Volvo style, the whole is very simple, but the materials are very elegant, the center console is soft plastic, and the rest of the position is wrapped in a large area of leather, the workmanship is also very detailed, and the look and feel are very comfortable. The central multimedia system has been installed on many Volvo models, the overall logic is still very reasonable, it is not complicated to use, and it also supports Apple Carplay and Android Auto, but it is not a particularly good solution to integrate the air conditioning into the touch screen.
 
Space is a highlight of the XC40, the speaker on the front door panel has been moved to the A-pillar, so there will be a particularly large storage space on the door panel, the storage space in front of the gear handle is also good, the space in the armrest box is not large, but the inside is relatively square, and there is a small box that can be removed to put some bits and pieces or garbage. The trunk is 460 litres under normal conditions, and it can exceed 1,300 litres when the rear row is fully folded, and the bottom panel of the trunk can be lifted to form a double storage space, and the cover can also be completely stored at the bottom of the trunk.
 
Because the space is given to the trunk, the rear seat performance is not good, although there is plenty of leg space, but the seat cushion is flat and short, the thigh support is almost non-existent, the backrest of the seat is also straight and flat, and there is no effective support for the waist. Thanks to the four-wheel drive system, there is a high platform in the center, and the two sides of the rear seats are still a certain distance from the door panels, so the overall width is not enough for three adults.
 
The XC40 took part in both E-NCAP and A-NCAP crash tests, earning a 5-star rating and a high score of 97 in both occupant protection categories. In terms of active safety configuration, you can think of or unexpected configurations, XC40 is standard for the whole series, which is also a very leading aspect of Volvo in its class.
Volvo XC40 test report