By Malusi Msomi

The Volvo XC40 is the Swedish marque’s luxury compact SUV which has been on the market for nearly five years. In a bid to spruce the XC40 range, Volvo has added some minor updates to the stylish SUV.

The looks

It’s hard to fault Volvo’s current car designs. Yes, some of them might be getting a little long in the tooth with the Swedish car manufacturer releasing small design changes. Our chariot comes standard with 19-inch wheels and to top of the looks is an optional Thunder Grey paint finish. With the R-Design, you get unique styling elements like the R-Design grille and blacked-out trim pieces to help differentiate it from the other grades.

Inside

The XC40’s interior is sturdy. A digital instrument cluster and a portrait-style infotainment system are standard. The climate control is operated via touch screen with no physical buttons for shortcut inputs. The optional panoramic roof adds to the cabin’s ambiance. Standard on the XC40 is also keyless entry, dual-zone climate control, smartphone integration (Apple CarPlay and Android Auto) as well as wireless charging. We love the seats as they are extremely comfortable and provide plenty of support. It might look like a small SUV, but it has plenty of leg and head for all passengers.

Safety

In terms of safety, the Volvo XC40 T5 AWD R-Design comes with ISOFIX points at the rear, Hill Start Assist, front/curtain and knee airbags (driver’s side). Buyers can also add driver assistance system such as, 360 degree camera and Park Assist Pilot.

The Drive

Powering our test unit is a turbocharged 2.0-litre petrol engine that produces 185kW and 350Nm. An 8-speed automatic transmission sends power to all four wheels. Volvo claims a 0-100 km/h sprint in 6.4 seconds. We enjoyed the drive and performance, but it came at a cost, as we averaged around 10 l/100 km while Volvo claims 7.7 l/100km.

Summary

Volvo has a great offering, but fuel consumption may be an issue in our current climate of high fuel prices. Volvo however, does offer the XC40 Recharge if you’re ever thinking of going fully-electric. The Volvo XC40 T5 R-Design is priced from R840,437.