Swedish Supreme
Volvo's first iteration of the XC40 was released in South Africa in 2018 and was hailed by many locals as a massive leap forward for the Swedish brand. Bringing everything that made the larger versions so popular to a younger market and making the vehicle more appealing to a younger audience was the key.
Related: 2018 Volvo XC40 D4 AWD R-Design - Review
A few weeks ago Volvo unveiled their update for the XC40 T3 range, and we took an Inscription model for an extended roadtrip to the Drakensberg to find out if it is still funky and youthful to drive.
Styling
On the surface it would appear that very little has changed with the XC40. There are still strong muscular lines, purposeful front and rear styling and a host of strong Nordic colours to choose from. The adaptive LED headlamps are now standard equipment while items such as the 18" wheels, panoramic sunroof and power-folding exterior mirrors with an auto-dimming function still help the XC40 look bigger than it is.
The largest changes, it would appear, are on the inside. The designers have done away with the wood inlays in favour of textured plastic and metal surfaces and have included much more kit as standard offering, but more on that later...
The Drive
The XC40 ate up the kilometres with ease, making for a very comfortable journey but really came into its own on the twisty mountain passes. Our journey covered well over a thousand kilometres but was probably the most comfortable long distance drives that we have undertaken in a long time. The steering was responsive on the bendy bits while the suspension lapped up undulations on the flatter sections of road.
Performance
The XC40 is still powered by a 1.5l 3-cylinder turbo petrol engine, mated to an 8 speed Geartronic automatic transmission. The combo is good for 110kW / 265Nm and is limited to a 180km/h top speed. The XC40 is no slouch and the 10 sec 0-100km/h is proof of that. We do have to admit that the engine does not sound all too happy when pressed to overtake trucks on the uphills and there is a small amount of engine drone that makes its way into the cabin when under load.
Space and Comfort
As we mentioned before the interior has received the biggest changes. Opening the door reveals a very high-end interior, although a bit dark and sombre in the black on black, your eye picks out highlights such as the shift knob crafted from Orrefors crystal. The dashboard is dominated by the Volvo Sensus Connect infotainment system featuring a 9.0-inch screen powering a Harmon Kardon speaker system.
The electrically adjusted heated front seats are now covered in leather as standard while piano black and brushed aluminum surfaces illuminate the high points. As far as tech is concerned, Volvo has removed some items such as the heated wiper blades, heated steering wheel and 12v outlet in boot area and put them on the options list. Feature items such as the electrically operated tailgate, duel zone climate control, wireless smartphone charging pad, keyless entry, ambient lighting and two rear-seat USB-C ports are now standard.
In order to reduce cost the Adaptive Suspension System is no longer available, but you do still get Eco, Comfort and Sport engine modes.
Safety
Volvo is the king of safety and as such the XC40 gets a five-star safety rating. This is due to the high levels of safety equipment featured such as a 360-degree camera, PDC (Park Distance Control), ABS, EBD, LKA (Lane Keeping Assist), ISOfix , TPMS (Tyre Pressure Monitoring System) TSC (Traction and Stability Control), 6 airbags, Adaptive Cruise Control with a semi-autonomous mode, BSM (Blind-Spot Monitoring), and the Rear-cross-traffic alert and rear parking sensors that are now standard fitment.
Fuel Consumption
Volvo claims 7.l/100km and during our open road adventures returned real world 8.2/100km. City driving returned figures closer to 9l/100km, but those kilometres were done during peak rush hour
Price
The Volvo XC40 T3 Inscription sells for R 683 500 and is packaged with a 5 year / 100 000km warranty and service plan.
The few small changes that Volvo has made to the XC40 haven't dampened its youthful vigour. It is fantastic to drive and handles the open road well. The addition and subtraction of equipment has made the XC40 slightly more desirable than it was but has not dampened its ability to thrill in the city. The price may be out of the ballpark for some wanting to enter the segment, but it is comforting to know that the vehicle will retain its value and Volvo fully supports its products.
