Complete Guide to Buying a Volvo XC40

In the land of more famous Germans, being a lesser-known Swedish brand is not easy, especially if the said brand is also associated with public transport. Despite those odds, Volvo has evolved into one of India’s better-performing luxury car brands. The company’s most affordable offering, the XC40, has performed quite well in a highly competitive entry-level luxury SUV market thanks to its understated yet elegant design, impressive safety suite, loads of features, and potent performance. If you’re in the market for one, here’s a Volvo XC40 buying guide that covers everything you should know about the luxury SUV. 

Also read: Best Volvo Cars in India 2023

Volvo XC40 Specifications

Why You Should Consider the Volvo XC40

The Volvo XC40 punches well above its weight as far as sales are concerned, despite playing in the same ring as the GLA, the X1, and the Q3. Here are three reasons why that’s the case and why it makes for a very well-rounded entry-level luxury SUV in India.

Engine and Performance

The Volvo XC40 offers just one powertrain, a petrol mild hybrid engine that produces 200 PS and 300 Nm, paired with an 8-speed torque converter automatic transmission. The operative part here is ‘mild hybrid’ as the system has added roughly 10 PS of power to the engine’s overall output. This combination helps the XC40 achieve 0-100 kmph in around 8 seconds with a top speed nudging 200 kmph. This performance is also delivered in a manner so refined it betrays the fact that this is a large SUV. While it doesn’t get its predecessor’s all-wheel drive, the XC40 is nevertheless a capable handler with suspension that offers a planted ride at all speeds, regardless of the surface. 

Feature-rich Cabin

Perhaps it’s a Swedish thing, ala Ikea, but the XC40’s cabin focuses on functionality over visual maximalism, without cutting corners on the luxury front. It gets a large, panoramic sunroof that makes the cabin airier than it is. The leather-upholstered seats are wonderfully contoured and provide great support, minor misses such as ventilated seats and comfortable seating for three people at the rear notwithstanding. As for tech, you get a 9-inch infotainment unit with connected car features and a huge 12.3-inch instrument cluster. The XC40’s features list is rounded off by LED ambient lighting, a powered tailgate, 14-speaker 600 W Harman Kardon audio system, wireless phone charging, and a dedicated air purifier. 

Safety Tech

The Volvo brand has been synonymous with safe cars well before safety gained traction among car buyers in India. The XC40 ensures this reputation is well-founded as it scored a resounding 5 stars in EURO NCAP crash tests conducted in 2022. In addition to using high-tensile Boron steel to reinforce its cabin cage, the XC40 gets a host of safety features such as 7 airbags, ABS+EBD, ESP, TPMS, and hill ascent and descent control. There’s also ADAS with features including collision mitigation support, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, and blind spot monitor. A salient feature of the ADAS package is that not only does it provide braking support when required, but also offers steering input and tightens the front seat belts to reduce the chances of an injury if a collision is unavoidable.

Why you should not consider the Volvo XC40

Granted that it’s very hard to find fault with the Volvo XC40. However, when paying the sort of premium it commands, buyers may look harder and might find the following two issues disconcerting. 

Lack of Powertrain Options

When launched in 2017, the XC40 was available with only a diesel powertrain, only to switch camps and offer a solitary petrol powertrain with the advent of BS6 emission norms. In isolation, this isn’t a problem as the current powertrain offers enough poke despite the 100 Nm torque deficit compared to the erstwhile diesel unit. However, this might be a downer compared to its rivals. The Mercedes-Benz GLA and the BMW X1 offer diesel powertrains while the Audi Q3 doesn’t. The absence of a diesel engine is said to be one of the reasons the Audi plays second fiddle to the Merc and the Beemer, and it’s inevitable that some buyers might shy away from the Volvo too for the same reason. 

Volvo’s Limited Service Footprint

Volvo cars have an air of exclusivity to them. However, this bragging right comes at a cost as the brand has just about 25 authorised service centres across India. While the company does mitigate this shortcoming with its roadside assistance program and a wide distribution of its limited service centre network, the overall experience still can’t match up to that of rival brands. That difference gets starker if you consider unofficial service centres that work on such luxury cars. 

Volvo XC40 Variants

The Volvo XC40 is available in only one variant in India, the B4 Ultimate powered by a 2.0-litre petrol mild hybrid engine mated to an 8-speed automatic. The XC40 B4 retails at Rs 46.40 lakh, ex-showroom Delhi. 

Best Volvo XC40 Variant to Buy

Once you’ve decided to go for an XC40, Volvo makes your job easy by offering just one variant. However, if you’d like more options including a diesel-powered, all-wheel variant, you can look up a used Volvo XC40. The pre-BS6 version of the XC40 was also available with Volvo’s famed R-Design, which was infused with better dynamic performance compared to the normal-flavoured XC40. 

Volvo XC40 Warranty & Service Cost

The Volvo XC40 comes with a standard warranty of 2 years/unlimited kilometres. And while there’s no extended warranty package that you can buy, Volvo does offer things like a lifetime spare parts warranty and corrosion protection warranty. With the former, any part that a buyer pays for and installs at an authorised Volvo workshop carries a lifetime warranty, inclusive of the part’s cost and labour charges. Applicable once the standard warranty expires, this one-of-a-kind spare parts warranty speaks volumes about Volvo’s parts and service quality. As for the corrosion protection warranty, Volvo offers a 12-year warranty on any part that suffers perforation due to corrosion.

Coming to the Volvo XC40 service cost in India, you can expect an outgo of Rs. 30,000 – 35,000 for a yearly mileage of 10,000 km. This figure includes the cost of regular consumables and labour charges. 

Complete Guide to Buying a Volvo XC40 Summary

In a segment full of flashier cars, the Volvo XC40 is a study in clinical efficiency. However, that’s more of a comment on the way the Swedish SUV delivers its luxury because it’s definitely premium, inside and out. From a deceptively muscular design to advanced safety features, brisk straight-line performance, and innovative technology, the XC40 is a consummate entry-level luxury SUV catering to a variety of lifestyles and needs. With this Volvo XC40 buying guide, you should have a clearer idea on whether you should go for the XC40. 

Technical Editor: Manharjot Singh Guglani