Long-termers

VOLVO XC40

Volvo has thrown us the keys to its XC40 soft-roader for a few months. James Baggott finds out how the baby brother of the SUV range fares.

There was a time when Volvo was known for boxy estates that would swallow your dog, a grandfather clock and a week’s shopping with room to spare.

But those days have passed and now the Swedish brand is far more recognised for its impressive range of capable SUVs.

While the XC90 and its svelte XC60 sibling have been around for a while, the car that has catapulted the brand into mass-market territory is this: the XC40. Volvo has given us the chance to live with one for a few months, and while travel opportunities haven’t been vast, we’ve at least been able to get a sense of what the baby brother of the SUV range is like.

The Tonka Toy looks and robust interior styling are certainly designed to be hard-wearing and stand the test of tough family use. And we’ve done just that with some dog carrying and Christmas tree removals.

I like the fact the interior is incredibly functional. A commanding driving position and well-laid-out cabin make the XC40 very easy to get used to and it’s certainly withstood some hardy use. Unfortunately, though, the engine and gearbox combination is crucial and for our long-termer the choice isn’t ideal. Our test car is the T3 R-Design model and comes with a tiddly three-cylinder petrol engine. The 1.5-litre unit produces 154bhp, which is enough in a car this size around town, but it needs to be worked hard elsewhere. The stop-start system judders the car to a halt then angrily fires it back into life. This leads to lurching at some junctions and an uncomfortable shake through the car. It’s so bad that it rattles your teeth and is matched with an engine note that’s about as tuneful as a frightened cat.

It’s a shame, really, as the XC40 is a great car otherwise. In other engine specs I’ve tried, it has plenty of poke and refinement – it’s just this tiny petrol power plant isn’t up to scratch. In fact, I’d go so far as to say you’d be wise to give it a rather wide socially distanced swerve.

So moan over, let’s go back to the plus points. The XC40 is incredibly practical. The boot is a decent size, it’s comfortable to drive and the seats are supportive.

The driving position is particularly good, and although the XC40 isn’t the largest of SUVs, the lofty seat height gives a commanding view of the road.

The multimedia system really is class-leading and the touchscreen controls are a masterclass in how to do things. Stereo, sat nav and heating controls are all easy to adjust on the big screen – just watch out for the grubby fingerprints.

On the road, the XC40 soaks up the bumps, as you’d expect from a high travel suspension model. It’s not the most dynamic of cars to drive as a result, but then what do you expect? You’re looking at a soft-roader after all.

Back to that engine and gearbox combo, though. As I mentioned, it needs to be worked hard, and while the auto gearbox works fine once you get moving, I find the lurching at low speeds infuriating. Thanks to lockdowns, tough tiered systems and a new working-fromhome regime, the XC40 has been used infrequently. Whether I get used to those annoying traits remains to be seen. Maybe the practical aspects will outweigh the annoyances, but that’s something only time, and a few more miles, will tell. The touchscreen display is clear and easy to read

THE KNOWLEDGE

Volvo XC40 T3 R-Design

Price (as tested): £29,160 Engine: 1.5-litre 3cyl petrol Power: 154bhp Torque: 264Nm 0-60mph: 9.4 seconds Max speed: 124mph Emissions: 146g/km CO2 Fuel economy: 45.6mpg Mileage: 3,856 This month’s highlight:

Using the touchscreen controls, which are a masterclass in how to do things – just watch out for fingerprints.

OTHER CARS WE’RE DRIVING

BMW 420i M Sport Coupe

Mileage: 2,646 We haven’t had the chance to give the bimmer a proper drive but first impressions are very good.

Its range has dropped a bit in the recent sub-zero temperatures but OY19 XMG remains a stalwart of the fleet.

Nissan Leaf e+ 3.ZERO

Mileage: 11,605

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