Volvo XC40 review

The Volvo XC40 has relatively compact, city-friendly dimensions but still offers plenty of interior space. There’s lots of space to stretch your legs and loads of head room in the front, too, even if you go for the optional panoramic glass roof, which reduces the height available. You won’t be banging elbows with your front passenger, either, because the interior is reasonably broad. 

It’s full of thoughtful details as well. You get a pop-out rubbish bin between the front seats, and carpeted door pockets that are each big enough to take a laptop or two large bottles of water. If you go for the reasonably priced Versatility Pack, you get sliding drawers under the front seats as well as a host of other goodies, which we'll cover in the next few sections.

The XC40 is roomy enough in the back for taller adults to sit comfortably without their heads brushing the ceiling or their knees bashing the seat in front. It’s a tad behind the BMW X1 for leg room, but only a carload of giants will have any cause for complaint. 

Thanks to its relatively wide rear bench, three adults can sit side by side fairly easily, with plenty of space under the front seats for their feet. The middle passenger’s legs will need to straddle a fairly big hump in the floor, though. As for storage space, you get big door bins and a couple of cupholders in the rear centre armrest.

Split-folding rear seats are standard, and if you add the optional Versatility Pack we mentioned earlier they can be lowered electrically with the flick of a switch. However, the seatbacks are split 60/40, rather than the more versatile 40/20/40 arrangement that you get in the X1, Range Rover Evoque and Volkswagen Tiguan. 

It's also pity that, unlike the X1's or Tiguan's rear seats, the XC40's don't recline for extra comfort, or slide back and forth to increase luggage space.

The XC40’s boot has an official capacity of 452 litres – slightly less than you get in the X1 or Tiguan. However, the load bay's commendably square proportions make packing super-easy and, if you don't opt for a spare wheel, you get a massive underfloor storage area that makes up for any shortcomings above deck.

Ultimately, you can squeeze seven carry-on suitcases below the XC40's parcel shelf (the same number we fitted in the Tiguan), while the Evoque swallows only five. Even the Recharge T4 and T5 plug-in versions offer the same space above in the main boot area because, unlike many PHEVs, the battery has no impact on boot space. You do lose the underfloor storage, though.

There’s no lip to negotiate at the boot's entrance and, on all but plug-in hybrid models, opting for the Versatility Pack adds a hinged panel, midway along the floor. It clips up vertically and creates a divider to prevent items from sliding around. That pack also adds handy hooks for hanging shopping bags from, as well as an electric tailgate, which is standard on R-Design and Inscription trims.