Volvo XC40 Review 2025: Price, specs & boot space

The Volvo XC40 is an on-trend SUV, from an on-trend premium brand, and it sells for prices that are competitive for this sector. Straight away, this means it'll be right for a lot of people, particularly those bored by their current Audi or BMW.

All Volvo XC40s, even the most affordable versions, have an eye-catching appearance that you’ll be chuffed to see on your drive. You don’t have to spend big on the range-toppers to get a stylish, eye-catching model, which is part of the reason the XC40 is so popular.

We also rate the car’s practicality, particularly for passengers. MPVs feel rather passé these days, as most people switch to SUVs, but the XC40 shows Volvo hasn’t forgotten families who need a car to work day-to-day.

All versions of the Volvo XC40 are pretty good. If you’re an undemanding driver, we’d say even the regular B3 will be fine, while the B4 is a good all-rounder for longer trips and slightly better on fuel. Volvo's realised a stick-shift manual really doesn’t fit in this car, so now only offers the XC40 with an automatic gearbox as standard.

If you're looking at a used Volvo XC40, you're likely to find a fair few diesel-engined examples to choose from. Even the weakest D3 diesel engine has 150PS, while the D4 has 190PS. Only the base D3 model has a manual gearbox. If you can charge it regularly, then one of the plug-in hybrid versions of the XC40 is worth checking out.

What trim should you choose with the Volvo XC40? Until 2022, the XC40 range was made up of Momentum, R-Design and Inscription trim levels. The XC40 in entry-level Momentum trim comes surprisingly well equipped, but the XC40 in R-Design grade offers a sportier look, with just that bit extra visual appeal outside and in. 

If you're buying a newer Volvo XC40, the trims to choose from are Core, Plus and Ultimate, while if you're buying brand new, they've now changed to Core, Plus, Plus Pro and Ultra.

Either way, the Plus strikes probably the best balance of features and value, but the range-topping Ultimate/Ultra cars come dripping with every feature and looks that bit more special. 

The Volvo XC40 is a premium-grade SUV without quite the heady price tag of some alternatives. You get more car for your money here than with an Audi Q2 or BMW X1, for example. The Mercedes-Benz GLB is another pricey alternative, though it does offer seven seats.

Because of the Volvo’s great all-round practicality, it also goes up against big-sellers such as the Volkswagen Tiguan and Ford Kuga, both of which provide a stern challenge. Slower-selling alternatives include the Jaguar E-Pace and Lexus NX, while it’s impossible to ignore the draw of the Range Rover Evoque in this sector, too.

Features such as the central touchscreen, rich leather steering wheel and beautiful chrome-tipped dashboard elements give the Volvo XC40 a real sense of quality. It has a premium appearance and the clear link to more expensive Volvo models helps reinforce this.

We admire some of the design tricks Volvo has used, too. Instead of a hard plastic centre console surround on the XC40, it has extended the carpet up the sides, so it feels plusher and more luxurious. Fitting carpet on the door panels also adds to the sense of comfort.

Outside, the Volvo XC40 has a solidly-built appearance, with high quality paint and excellent panel assembly. It is the sort of design that simply oozes premium quality, and the finish is impeccable. Be in no doubt, this is a genuine premium-grade car.  

The centrepiece of the Volvo XC40 dashboard is the 9.0-inch portrait-style infotainment screen. This is exactly the same as you get in pricier Volvos, which really underlines the ‘shrunken premium car’ impression. It uses Google's Android Automotive and it does take a bit of getting used to, as it is reliant on knowledge of smartphone-style swipes, scrolls and pinches. However, once you’ve mastered the basics, we’re pretty sure you’ll love it.

The XC40's screen is packed with features as standard, including Google Maps for navigation with live traffic information, DAB radio and Bluetooth. There's voice activation in the shape of Google Assistant, while there's access to the Google Play Store to download apps, such as Spotify. This is all possible thanks to Wi-Fi hotspot that the car creates thanks to a built-in SIM card, allowing for online connectivity and even stolen vehicle tracking. Volvo provides new car buyers four years free access to these Google Services, after which a subscription fee will be required. 

Earlier XC40s didn't feature Apple CarPlay but the latest models do, while there's also Android Auto available as well. That said, you can sign into your Google account in the XC40 if you don't want to use a phone. 

We must also mention the stunning optional Harman Kardon sound system. It has 13 speakers, a subwoofer, 600 watts and Dolby Pro Logic TT surround sound. It is absolutely stunning, turning the Volvo XC40 into a concert hall on wheels. 

In terms of exterior dimensions, the Volvo XC40 is 4425mm long, 1873mm wide and 1658mm tall. What do these figures mean in the real world? Well, they mean that the XC40 is slightly shorter that the BMW X1 and the Lexus UX, and it's also narrower than both.

Compared to the larger Volvos, the XC40 has a more spacious and open-plan feel behind the wheel. Front-seat passengers in the XC40 sit up high and the footwells are roomy: it has almost an MPV-like feeling of space behind the wheel, but without the more van-like MPV driving position. 

Volvo excels in terms of front-seat practicality, too. The door bins are gigantic in the XC40, with cleverly-relocated speakers opening up the full width of the bottom of the door for stowage space. It makes all other cars seem wasteful and lacking in practicality. The wide centre console of the Volvo XC40 is also very accommodating: the forward section is just waiting to swallow sunglasses, keys and smartphones, while there are two cupholders further back and, behind them, a roomy central stowage cubby.

In the rear, the tall cabin again gives plenty of space for passengers. There's plenty of headroom, and the rear seat feels wide and accommodating. Again, the bench seat is set high in relation to the floor, so taller people will find it comfortable, plus there’s a good amount of space beneath the front seats for your feet. The XC40 is a great family car, even if the bulky transmission tunnel in the floor means it won’t be quite so welcoming for the middle-seat passenger. 

The only grumble may actually be seeing out: the sporty lines of the rear shoulders cut into the rear side windows, which restricts the view out for smaller kids. Taller people won’t mind, but others might find it feels a bit claustrophobic in there, a rare case of style over passenger-friendly substance in the Volvo XC40.

The boot is extremely well-shaped. It is wide (more than a metre between the wheelarches), and the floor is completely flat, meaning you can make full use of its ample 452-litre capacity with the seats up (that’s a good bit more than a Volkswagen Golf). Its sloping tailgate eats into space above the window line, but this doesn't detract from the fact that the load bay is square and boxy and has no load lip to negotiate when you're sliding heavy luggage safely into place. 

You can get bigger SUVs, but you’ll struggle to find anything more practical than the Volvo XC40, particularly if you have the Convenience Pack, which brings in a multi-function boot floor that doubles as a partition to stop things sliding around. With the rear seats folded, the Volvo XC40's boot space extends to 1336 litres, and you'll squeeze an adult's mountain bike into the back without having to take any of its wheels off.

Volvo's petrol engines in the XC40 are now branded 'B' and not 'T', as they feature 48-volt mild hybrid technology that extends the engine-off period at low revs. Both come with an eight-speed automatic gearbox. The now entry-level B3 produces 163PS and is a sweet engine, with a nice, eager nature and ample pulling power. The B4 produces 197PS and is an accomplished all-rounder. 

Until fairly recently, Volvo offered two plug-in hybrid versions of the XC40. The XC40 T4 and T5 Recharge plug-in hybrids both feature a 1.5-litre turbo engine and rechargeable onboard battery. The combined system outputs are 211PS and 262PS, respectively, with both versions providing 28 miles of electric-only driving. If you do primarily short journeys, these could well be worth seeking out on the used market.

If you're looking at buying a used Volvo XC40 and you're on a budget, there was once a 129PS T2 petrol engine available. While a bit slow against the clock, it does feel better once up to speed.

Volvo has turned its back on diesel power these days, and so neither the D3 and D4 diesel engines are  available to buy new anymore. Both are 2.0-litre four-cylinder engines, with the D3 producing 150PS and the D4 making 190PS. These are actually pretty good engines despite being rather unfashionable, so if you're after a frugal long-distance cruiser, they'll be worth seeking out on the used market. They were once very popular, so you'll have plenty of choice.

A manual gearbox was available on some earlier models, but not anymore, with all new XC40s coming with an automatic gearbox as standard. We reckon it's a car that suits an auto 'box anyway.

Refinement is generally very good with the Volvo XC40. It cruises quietly, with wind noise kept well at bay and road noise well dampened down. There’s more tyre roar on versions with the largest alloy wheels, but that’s inevitable, as is the busier ride quality around town.

The diesel engines are a bit clattery on start-up, but they’re quieter when warmed through and hushed at speed. The lower-power petrol engines are kept a bit busier, and you’ll certainly have to work the T2 rather hard, so it can become raucous. Again, though, their turbocharged pulling power means they’re not too gruff at speed. The B3 and B4 engines are very refined, even more so in town thanks to their extended engine-off range.

The T5 Recharge is extremely hushed in EV mode. When the battery is flat, the engine starts up, but if you’re driving on the motorway, you probably won’t even notice it at first. It’s obviously not as quiet as the pure electric drive, though, which may encourage you to charge it up more.

The all-electric XC40 Recharge is hushed at all speeds and has a strong turn of speed when you ask for it. It's also enjoyable to drive in the same way as other XC40 versions. It's also now called the EX40 after Volvo decided to change its name.

The Volvo XC40 is outstanding for safety, in the typical Volvo way. Euro NCAP awarded it five-stars for crash safety in 2018, with adult occupant protection rated at a near-perfect 97%. Child occupant protection is good, too, at 87%.

Standard safety equipment includes an extensive set of airbags, including a driver’s knee airbag and full-length curtain airbags, ISOFIX child seat mounting points for the outer two rear seats (it’s optional for the front passenger seat), an airbag cut-off switch and a seatbelt reminder for all five seats. The front seats also have Volvo’s WHIPS whiplash protection system.

Active safety features are comprehensive with the Volvo XC40, including City Safety autonomous emergency braking that detects cyclists and pedestrians as well as other cars. Run-off-road protection helps stop the Volvo XC40 driving over road-edge markings and into danger, and there is a driver alertness monitor that sounds a warning when it detects a drowsy driver.

In early XC40s, Volvo also offered the optional IntelliSafe Assist package with the XC40, with adaptive cruise control and pilot assist that helps with steering, plus IntelliSafe Surround that includes a blind-spot and rear collision warnings. It’s a very useful safety aid, and a neat driver convenience feature, too.  In later examples, adaptive cruise is standard across the range, while pilot assist is standard on all but the entry-level car.

In the latest HonestJohn.co.uk Satisfaction Index, Volvo placed 21st out of 33 carmakers in the reliability rankings. The XC40 wasn't namechacked specifically in the study for being particularly good or particularly bad, but we've had very few reports of problems with it.

Volvo's warranty is very average, though, with just bog-standard three-year, 60,000-mile cover provided.

Pick the entry-level Core with either the B3 engine and it falls insurance group 24, though find a used XC40 T2 in Start spec and it's only insurance group 18. 

Even the B4 should be reasonably affordable in terms of insurance, with groups beginning from 28 in Plus spec. The Recharge Ultimate T5 starts from group 31.

These days, it doesn't matter what type of fuel your XC40 runs on, it's still liable for the same flat rate of VED as all other cars built since 2017, a rate that currently stands at £195 per year.

However, cars that cost over £40,000 when brand new are liable for an additional luxury car surcharge. This adds another £425 per year on top of the flat rate for a five-year period between years two and six of the car's life. This liability is passed onto subsequent owners, so you can't swerve it by buying used.

So, does this afflict the XC40? Well, possibly. In years gone by, only a handful of versions bust that price threshold, whereas these days, there are only a handful that don't: that's inflation for you. The moral of the story is that when you're buying used, it's always worth Googling the reg of any potential purchase to make sure you know what you're facing on the VED front.

Brand new XC40s are offered in Core, Plus, Plus Pro and Ultra trim levels. Core gets two-zone climate control, alloy wheels, power tailgate, heated front seats, the full infotainment system, rain-sensing wipers, adaptive cruise control, front- and rear parking sensors, and a reversing camera.

Plus adds blind spot monitoring, cross traffic alert, keyless entry, a handsfree power tailgate and extended ambient lighting, while Plus Pro adds a 360-degree camera, pixel LED headlights and tinted rear windows. Ultra adds a panoramic roof and a Harman Kardon Premium sound system.

Previously, the Volvo XC40 range comprised three core models: Core, Plus and Ultimate. These trims replaced Momentum, R-Design and Inscription trims that were available on new XC40s until about mid-2022 and standard features will vary on these older models. These trims are also mirrored for the XC40 Recharge EV.

The XC40 in Core, Plus and Ultimate trims all feature the latest trims feature LED headlights (including the charismatic LED running light signature), a 12.3-inch TFT active instrument display and 9-inch touchscreen, cruise control, rear parking sensors and built-in navigation. There's now Apple CarPlay, as well as Android Auto. That's not forgetting the XC40's Android Automotive system (this includes Google Maps, Google Play Store and Google Assistant). 

As well as this, there's 18-inch alloys, dual-zone climate control, heated front seats, power tailgate and an 8-speaker stereo system. 

The XC40 Plus builds on this and gets Blind Spot Information System (BLIS) and Cross Traffic Alert, rear camera, front parking sensors, heated rear seats, keyless entry, hands-free powered tailgate and powered driver seat with memory. 

Plump for the XC40 Ultimate and you get larger 19-inch alloys as standard, as well as leather upholstery, powered front passenger seat, Premium Sound by Harman Kardon, tinted rear windows and a panoramic roof.