2020 Volvo XC40 Review

Name: 2020 Volvo XC40 Review
Brand: Volvo

Price Range: $18,998 - $28,998

Volvo XC40 T5 Inscription 4dr SUV Exterior Shown

Volvo's subcompact 2020 XC40 SUV inherits the brand's familial good looks and packs a lot of charm into a small package. We're smitten by its comfortable ride, spacious interior and excellent optional audio system. While the front-seat ergonomics and touchscreen interface could be issues for some people, overall we think the XC40 is one of the segment standouts.

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Price & Payment

21 cars

$25,096 avg. price

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Appraise My 2020 Volvo XC40

Volvo XC40 model years

2019

Volvo XC40 for Sale

2020 Volvo XC40 Review

by the Edmunds Experts

What's new

Leather upholstery replaced by a cloth and faux-leather combo on base trim
More standard features for the R-Design and Inscription trims
Part of the first XC40 generation introduced for 2019

Cost to Drive

Monthly estimates based on costs in Iowa

$168/mo

$152/mo

Avg. Compact SUV

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Volvo XC40 Owner Reviews

4.1

64 reviews

5(59%)

4(11%)

3(16%)

2(8%)

1(6%)

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Most Helpful Owner Reviews

An awesome compact SUV part 1

Raoul Watson, 01/11/2019

2019 Volvo XC40 T5 R-Design 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A)

This is the first Volvo I have ever owned in my life, my previous car was a 2015 Chevy Impala (see my review on the Impala). I always wanted a Volvo but always was apprehensive due to design and reliability reports from owners. The 2019 XC 40 however, seems to be a very solid crossover/SUV border lining a luxurious car. 1. Appearance: The 2019 Volvo XC 40 is a very handsome looking … compact SUV. It is the smallest version of the Volvo SUV and it seems a good crossover for "SUV beginners" like me. I like the fact that it is not too tall which would make entry a challenge. Everything on the outside points to a very well thought off design. I was a little surprised that the placement of the side mirror on the side door is not a little bit further to the front. Because of this further back placement, when the driver looks at the side view mirror, there is a gap between the vehicle body and the mirror, which to me is a little annoying and takes a little getting used to. 2. Performance: The 2.0 liter turbocharged four cylinder 248-hp engine, 8 speed auto transmission is impressive. Just a little push on the gas and it goes from zero to sixty in about 7 seconds. The handling is nimble and almost sporty. The powertrain is quick and responsive but it has an annoying start and stop system. As with most newer cars, when you stop, the XC 40 idles the engine completely down to a point that the engine is shut off. This system would cause an abrupt jerking when restarting. The SUV would lurch forward when starting up from a stop light. It takes a while getting used to but I found out that it is better to release the brakes and wait two second before applying acceleration to avoid the lurching. 3. Safety: The XC 40 is loaded with the safety features found in luxury cars and as always, Volvo is synonymous with safety. ABS, traction, and stability control comes standard along with Volvo's City Safety package. This includes automatic emergency braking along with sensors to detect other vehicles, pedestrians, bicyclists, and other city perils in the vehicle’s path. It includes adaptive cruise control; forward collision warning; lane departure warning; blind spot warning (on the side mirrors); and rear cross-traffic alert making it the most complete crash avoidance system you can get. The optional Pilot Assist / driver assistance system is impressive. I tested it one evening and found that the system has good judgement identifying lane markings and responding to vehicles surrounding us. As a pilot I am not a stranger in trusting an "autopilot" system but with a car, because of the visualization interpretation, I would not be very comfortable trusting it 100%. For example, in NY the presence of highway construction means lanes are repainted so multiple crossing lanes would just confuse the pilot assist. So I would use it only on long distance good quality highways. The adaptive cruise control is convenient. It slows the vehicle during traffic slowdowns, and even stop the car to resume progress all on its own. With the addition of daylight running light of beautiful LEDs, all these safety features will give you a handsome insurance discount. 4. Ergonomics: In this department Volvo did not fare very well in my opinion. The human interface of the controls of this car is not always logical. For starters, the gear/transmission shifter it's horrible. It requires a two-step action. For example, to engage reverse or drive, one must move the gear selector twice; one to the back, then in the appropriate direction to select drive or reverse. This is extremely annoying during parking maneuvers and is very frustrating. Of course the argument could be that I should use the automated parking assistance but the shifter is just very unnatural for drivers. While you can operate almost every control from the steering wheel and the voice recognition is a nice addition, the central control screen is extremely convoluted and requires a high degree of learning curve. Coming from Volvo, particularly because it sees itself as a safety brand, the central control screen is just unsafe because it is almost impossible to operate safely while driving. There are too many unintuitive multiple taps, swipes and scrolls necessary to navigate the system. In addition, the system is awfully slow to respond. For example, changing a driver profile can take over a minute to load. If there are two things requiring a redesign, it would be the shifter and the control screen. The goal obviously should be to reduce the distraction and the precious seconds’ loss with eyes off the road to do basic functions as changing cabin temperature and audio source. --see continuation on part 2 (5. Interior and Comfort, 6. Technology)

Great car just - first year issues

Smitty8, 10/23/2018

2019 Volvo XC40 T5 R-Design 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A)

I love my new XC40 Rdesign- great looking car- great performance- comfortable- just in the shop too much. Picked mine up April 7- has been back to dealer 2 times making appt for 3rd visit- all software hardware issues with safety features- my issue is with ABS and Electronic Stability control- both go off and on everytime it is driven. Each time I take it to the dealership they fix the …

All around greatness (former GTI owner)

Tom E, 09/09/2019

2020 Volvo XC40 T5 R-Design 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A)

We’ve owned our fair share of cars (Jeep Grand Cherokee, VW GTI and Sportwagen, BMW 3 series and more) but this one takes the cake. Our Jeep was 11 yrs old and it was time to replace it. We liked the XC90, but felt a little guilty about it since we live in the city and didn’t really need all that space 99% of the time. If we did, it would be for a long road trip and then we wouldn’t want … that mileage on our car anyway. The XC60 was nice, but we really clicked with the XC40 because unlike other companies, the XC40 doesn’t feel any less nice than the 60, just more compact. It doesn’t have as many features, but it wasn’t anything we needed. Driving - It drives more like a GTI (very sporty) but a lot less bumpy. Roads in Brooklyn can be really beat up. Initially when we saw a pothole, we’d cringe waiting for the bump to jostle us (as it did in the GTI) but it feels somehow very smooth and still stiff and connected to the road. We got the Polestar too and it just adds a little more sportiness without sacrifice and with the additional torque in the mid-range. We really love it, more so than the 3 series even, and my wife and I are now constantly arguing who’s turn it is to drive. Safety - All cars are not created equal and the safety in this car is incredible. You have to realize that Volvo prioritizes safety beyond requirements and other manufacturers, and if you research it you’ll see that they do not skimp on anything. In government crash testing, the front passenger is not treated to the same scrutiny as the driver, but Volvo ensures it is as safe as can be. City safety is also incredible and with bikers, pedestrians, cabs, etc. it really gives us a piece of mind. Technology - Volvo uses a tablet-like setup. I do wish it had a few more physical buttons for the climate control. However, despite the learning curve, we found the infotainment to be relatively easy to use after a few days. After that initial learning curve, you realize that you have an ability to really customize a lot and we really like it. I rated it 4 stars because of that initial learning curve, but it’s not far off from being great. Features - First thing you notice is that Volvo put thought into everything from the materials, to storage and the designs. Feels like a much more expensive car. The panoramic moonroof, the materials, seat cushion extensions, 8 way front seats (both!) and lighting options are just scratching the surface. I also love that with the two keys we use, the car knows when it’s me or my wife and remembers our preferences for the seat, mirrors, and more. Comfort - The front seats are great and the seat cushion extension is great for my 6’ 2” frame. The backseat is good, but it is a small car and that’s probably where I find it a little lacking as it is a fixed seat and a little short for someone 6’2” (then again, I’m rarely in the back). I really wish you could move or recline the seat. Not a deal breaker, but would be nice. The look - We love the R-design look for its sporty yet elegant look. The 19” wheels look fantastic and the gray with blue tinge exterior (new color) against the black top make it eye-catching against the boring crowd. People always stare at it and the first time we parked it after the dealership someone made a comment about it being a beautiful car. It’s definitely a head turner. On the inside, I do wish we could opt for lighter cabin materials, which you cannot do in the R-design, but we overlook it because of the huge moonroof, great seats and plenty of light in the spacious cabin. Overall - We’d highly recommend this car if you’re looking for something practical and sporty with great features, storage and the right amount of luxury. The price can tick up quickly, but nothing else checks almost all the boxes in such a wonderful package that gets you excited to drive it every time while knowing you’re safe. We’re very happy.

Brilliant small SUV, perfect if a few tweaks

Rebecca Caldwell, 07/18/2018

2019 Volvo XC40 T5 R-Design 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A)

January 2021: 3 years and I still love this little car. In fact, I love it so much that I am upgrading to the new XC40 Recharge in March and can't wait. I can't say enough how fun this little SUV is. July 2020: still in love with the xc40. Lease is up next year and already reserved my electric version of the xc40. January 2020: still in love with this car. No new concerns or issues. … Update July 2019: 1 year later and I still love my Volvo. The issues I listed a year ago, while not big issues, remain (except the moonroof screen issue... Volvo was able to correct the problem) and I would love to see them resolved in the next model. Nothing I have found would prevent me from either keeping the model I have or buying the next model. I am an absolute convert to the Volvo brand with this little SUV. I have owned Toyotas, Hondas, Fords, Subarus and Chevy's (this is my first Volvo but my 19th vehicle). This is BY FAR my favorite. Let me qualify my review by saying I have no kids and rarely take passengers other than a couple large dogs so wanted an AWD SUV that was compact but did not lack any of the larger SUV perks and got good gas mileage while still having get-up-and-go. This is the only SUV I found that gives you the same options as the larger SUVs (I'm a gadget snob) while still giving you a decent size engine to get you there as quick as you want with good gas mileage (for an SUV). This does every bit of what I was looking for and does it in still. It is truly a fun car to drive and am so happy I got it. The pros FAR FAR FAR FAR outweigh any of the petty first-world issues I have come across, most of which are to be expected on a first-model year vehicle. The only issues I can find are as follows: CELL PHONE CHARGING: 1) The wireless charger is pretty useless as there is no ventilation in the compartment so it overheats within minutes, 2) with a larger phone (I have a Note 8) you cannot wirelessly charge the phone and use Android Auto (which requires you to use a cable) as there isn't enough physical space, 3) the port to use Android Auto is not fast charging so if you cannot use the wireless charger while using Android Auto, you essentially cannot charge your phone, 4) the only fast charging port in the vehicle is the USB-C facing the rear seats in the center console; LANE KEEP: 1) I find myself "fighting" the lane keep assistant as it picks up cracks in the road and is a bit hyper-sensitive at times, even set on the lowest/mildest setting; PANORAMIC MOONROOF: 1) uses a multi-function button that can be overly sensitive and opens things you didn't intend, 2) the screen doesn't always close completely, which may be in part due to the multi-function button trying to open the vent end of the moonroof; DRIVING MODE SETTINGS: 1) The XC40 allows you to set and save individual driving settings (everything from seats to display appearances and driving preferences) and recognizes the driver by the key fob used but, even with this, you still have to change the driving mode setting every time you get in the car (eco mode, performance, etc) - you would think you could make that a default setting with the others; and, finally A/C: 1) other manufacturers have vehicles that do not start air blowing from vents until the air coming out is cool (for A/C) or warm (for heat) but Volvo does not do this so went you turn on the A/C you get outside temp air until the system blows it through and gets to the cool/warm air. OVERALL IMPRESSION: I love this SUV and with a few minor tweaks think it could be the perfect car. I look forward to seeing the coming model years and the perfection that is sure to come. UPDATE January 2019: After driving the xc40 for 8 months I can say I like it as much or more than when I wrote this. The minor issues still should be improved in future models but it doesn't change my love for this fun and exciting little suv. Can't wait to see this model with the little bugs worked out!

We have a limited number of reviews for the 2020 Volvo XC40, so we've included reviews for other years of the XC40 since its last redesign.

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2020 XC40 Highlights

Trim:

T4 Momentum

Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee	$33,700
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	27 MPG
Cost to Drive	$168/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	20.7 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	4 years / 50,000 miles

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Safety

Our experts like the XC40 models:

City Safety with Auto Braking: Warns the driver and automatically applies the brakes if a front collision is imminent. Can detect vehicles, pedestrians and animals.
Lane Keeping Aid: Alerts the driver if the vehicle begins drifting out of the lane, then applies steering and braking force to guide it back.
Park Assist Pilot: Guides the XC40 into an adjacent parking spot with minimal driver assistance.

NHTSA Overall Rating

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.

Frontal Barrier Crash Rating
Overall5 / 5
Driver5 / 5
Passenger5 / 5
Side Crash Rating
Overall5 / 5
Side Barrier Rating
Overall5 / 5
Driver5 / 5
Passenger5 / 5
Combined Side Barrier & Pole Ratings
Front Seat5 / 5
Back Seat5 / 5
Rollover
Rollover4 / 5
Dynamic Test ResultNo Tip
Risk Of Rollover15.5%

IIHS Rating

The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.

Small Overlap Front Driver-Side Test
Good
Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side Test
Good
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Original
Good
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Updated
Not Tested
Side Impact Test – Original
Good
Side Impact Test – Updated
Acceptable
Roof Strength Test
Good
Rear Crash Protection / Head Restraint
Good

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2020 Volvo XC40 Review

Price & Payment

2020 Volvo XC40 Review

What's new

Cost to Drive

Volvo XC40 Owner Reviews

Most Helpful Owner Reviews

Trending topics

An awesome compact SUV part 1

Great car just - first year issues

All around greatness (former GTI owner)

Brilliant small SUV, perfect if a few tweaks

2020 XC40 Highlights

Safety

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