AdChoices
Volvo gives and takes away for 2024. Gone is the front-wheel-drive B4 drivetrain that made 194 horsepower. The B5 all-wheel-drive trim becomes the sole choice, using the same turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder making 247 horsepower. Two new exterior colors join the palette, Cloud Blue and Vapour Grey Metallic. The entry-level Core trim spruces up its looks with a Bright Exterior theme that adds shiny trim pieces around the car. Additional standard equipment for this trim includes wireless phone charging and keyless entry. The Plus and Ultimate trims get their choice of Bright or Dark Exterior themes. The Plus trim adds a 360-degree surround-view camera, a cabin air purifier, and larger 19-inch wheels to its list of standard equipment. The Ultimate moves up a wheel size, to 20 inches, and makes cornering lights standard. The Ultimate also picks up the fancier LED headlights fitted to the battery-electric XC40 Recharge.
Engine, Transmission, and Performance
All 2024 XC40s are powered by the same engine: a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder making 247 horsepower and aided by a 48-volt hybrid system. Power goes to all four wheels through a smooth-shifting eight-speed automatic transmission. At our test track, the XC40 hit 60 mph in 6.1 seconds. That time is nothing to complain about in a compact crossover. The exhaust note, on the other hand, is raspy and coarse under heavy throttle. The XC40's towing capacity—a rarity among subcompact-luxury crossovers—remains a stout 3500 pounds.
Interior, Comfort, and Cargo
Contemporary Swedish styling meets fun and functional design inside the XC40. The cabin's light and airy atmosphere imparts a truly upscale vibe even in the base Core trim. Passenger space is commodious in both the front and rear seats. As is the case with its more expensive stablemates—the XC60 and XC90—the XC40 is functional inside, well made, and beautifully designed—if not quite as plush and luxurious. Volvo designers took the opportunity to incorporate more youthful flourishes in the cabin of the Plus trim, such as the textured metallic trim in place of traditional wood inlays and rectilinear vents with floating chrome adjusters. Top-of-the-line Ultimate models sport a classier appearance, with driftwood trim and a shift knob crafted from Orrefors crystal. In our luggage test, the XC40 managed to accommodate 23 carry-on suitcases with its rear seats folded. Additionally, Volvo has integrated several inventive cargo-storage features throughout the XC40's interior, such as a hook that flips out from the glovebox to hold takeout bags, a divider for the cargo area, and a removable garbage bin with a hinged door in the center console.
Infotainment and Connectivity
From its prominent position in the center of the XC40's dashboard, Volvo's Google-based infotainment system is projected brightly on a 9.0-inch touchscreen. Almost everything inside the cabin is controlled via this screen, but there are few physical buttons. System usability is a mixed bag: The main menus are intuitively arranged, but onscreen icons are too small, which makes them fussy to use on the go.