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Volvo’s compact premium SUV – the XC40 – has proven to be a benchmark within its class. It is also the winner of the 2019 European Car of the year competition. A highlight with many other awards under its Swedish bent.

Unique, the XC40 has its own visual presence without looking like a duplicate of its larger siblings, the XC60 and XC90, nor is it like any of its competitors.

Its funky styling means that it is offered in either a solid colour or the optional contrasting black or white roof, white mirror caps and wheels. I would go for the two-tone roof myself. Highly customisable, the XC40 is available in three trim levels: Momentum (classical), Inscription (fancy) and R-Design (sporty).

On the inside, the cabin is large and airy. This is due to generous proportions and a tall roof. Getting in and out of the car is a piece of cake, as the XC40 has a perfect ground-to-seat height ratio. The cabin is roomy with space for five adults. Volvos are revered for having comfortable seats; the same applies to the XC40 – making its occupants feel reassured. Volvo has used good quality materials throughout the cabin, albeit not on the same standard as the larger XC60 and XC90. In line with its youthful design aesthetic, you can opt for Oxide Red leather and ‘Lava’ carpets, which are made from 100% recycled materials. This will allow XC40 customers to express a more individualistic style.

The Inscription trim offers exterior styling choices with 18”, 19” or 20” rims, unique skid plates, side window and grille mesh chrome, plus model-specific car colours. Inside, Inscription adds a newly designed crystal gear knob and the attractive Driftwood deco, which Volvo first introduced in its award-winning XC60 mid-size SUV.

Utility and safety abound in the new XC40. There is an abundance of storage spaces in the car. Volvo has even removed the speakers in the front door panels, positioning them in the dash instead, so there are large bins in the front doors. Speaking of bins – in the centre console, you will find a little trash can with a flip lid. When full, you pull it out and empty its contents. Open the electric tailgate, and you will notice a long and wide boot, making it a handy utility space.

In my opinion, this sized SUV has arguably the best proportions – it is easy to park and manoeuvre, has enough room for up to three kids in the rear and comes with loads of boot space.

Safety is paramount being a Volvo. So, as a standard feature on all XC40s is the City Safety with front collision warning and full auto brake function. The system works day or night. Safety provides three levels of intervention – warning, brake support and full autonomous braking – and uses a combination of instruments and sensors to constantly monitor surrounding conditions.

There are a host of advanced scanners on the car that monitor what or who is around it. The Volvo, whether being parked, reversed, or driven at speed, will keep a safe following distance from any potential accident, almost like a halo shield. It uses the car’s braking and accelerating system to maintain the perfect following distance. So advanced are the car’s scanners, which scan the lanes in the road and makes sure that the XC40 stays within them. The XC40 is fitted with an autonomous steer system that can auto-correct itself to stay in the correct lane. These technologies are utilised all simultaneously when the cruise control is activated, making your drive as easy as pie.

The range offering has increased since its launch, with the XC40 now  available in five engine variants – a 1.5-L turbocharged petrol (110kW), 2.0-L turbocharged petrol (185kW) or (140kW) and a diesel (140kW), namely theT3, T4, T5 and D4. These four engines are mated to a slick shifting 8-speed automatic gearbox. All models, bar the T3 and newly introduced T4, are all-wheel drive with the T3 and T4 being front-wheel drive only.

Additionally, there is the introduction of the range-topping XC40 P8 All Electric, which will arrive in August. But customers may order the vehicle now. Volvo’s first all-electric vehicle, the XC40 P8 Recharge, can travel up to 418km on a single charge. The XC40 P8 Recharge will deliver a brisk performance, with its twin electric motors producing 304 kW of power and 660 Nm of torque to deliver a 0-100km/h time of just 4.9 seconds.

I am pleased to say that this is remains my favourite compact SUV. I’ve driven most of the range and can attest to the XC40’s all-round excellence. This time I review the T3 automatic and like the rest of the range, it is a supple and refined ride combined with punchy performance (0-100km/h in 10 seconds) and wrapped in a funky design that is all about keeping you safe. It is a no-brainer – this car is fantastic and deserves many accolades and sales success.

The Competition

The Audi Q2 and Q3, BMW X1 and X2, Jaguar E-Pace and Mercedes-Benz GLA.

The Pricing

T3 Geartronic Momentum R622 520

T4 Geartronic Momentum R654 580

T3 Geartronic Inscription R675 320

T3 Geartronic R-Design R675 720

T4 Geartronic Inscription R707 380

T4 Geartronic R-Design R707 780

T5 Geartronic Momentum R734 210

D4 Geartronic Momentum R735 950

T5 Geartronic Inscription R787 010

T5 Geartronic R-Design R787 410

D4 Geartronic Inscription R788 750

D4 Geartronic  R-Design R789 150

P8 Recharge Twin Pure Electric R1 200 000

The service and warranty

All Volvos come standard with a 5 year/100 000km warranty and Volvo maintenance plan. This includes a 5 year/unlimited mileage Roadside Assistance (includes a Skytrax tracker unit – hardware and installation).

Included in the pricing of the Volvo XC40 P8 Recharge is the Volvo CARE package. This includes a five-year maintenance plan and warranty, three years of insurance, use of a petrol car for two weeks per year for three years and a home charger that includes charge cables.

myvolvo.co.za/car/buy