Volvo XC40 review

Looking at the distinctive design of the Volvo XC40 you begin to wonder if the German premium brands have it wrong – their ‘Russian doll’ designs lead to a very strong resemblance between models, which often leaves you struggling to tell one from another. At the very least, Volvo's creativeness is jolly refreshing.

Of course, the XC40 does retain some distinctive Volvo design cues. Its ‘Thor’s Hammer’ headlight design and equally striking LED rear lights, for instance, ape the company’s other models, keeping the bloodline recognisable. The rest of the car's detailing and its overall proportions are quite different, though. It certainly doesn't look as if Volvo has popped the blueprints for the XC60 or XC90 into a photocopier, selected ‘reduce size’ and pushed ‘print’.

Trim levels range from relatively basic (Momentum Core) to to properly sumptuous (Inscription Pro), and the engine range is even broader, with four petrols (T2, T3, B4 and B5) and two diesels (D3 and D4) offered. The most affordable engines come with front-wheel drive and a manual gearbox, with punchier engines getting an automatic 'box and four-wheel drive. There's even a plug-in hybrid version called the T5 Recharge, which can travel on pure battery power for short distances.

Now, the Volvo XC40 is a previous What Car? Car of the Year, so it's no secret that it's good. But it's been around a while now, so is it still a better buy than cars like the Audi Q3, BMW X1 and Range Rover Evoque? Read on to find out.

And if you decide to buy a Volvo XC40, or any other car for that matter, take a look at our New Car Buying pages. There you'll discover how much we could save you off the list price without any tedious haggling.