Item: Used Volvo XC40 2017-present
Rating: 5
Author: What Car? Team

The <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/x1/estate/used-review/n812">BMW X1</a> in its latest guise is a deservedly popular SUV, with a spacious, practical and high-quality interior. You also get a fine-handling car and a class-leading infotainment system. It’s not the quietest car, but it does feel larger than the XC40.

The <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/tiguan/estate/used-review/n938">Volkswagen Tiguan</a> is one of the best-selling cars in this segment. It has a spacious and practical interior, is good to drive and has plenty of kit as standard. Against that, the diesel engines are gruff and it’s quite pricey, even used.

For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the What Car? newsletter&nbsp;<a href="http://pages.haymarket.com/whatcar/wcar-form.html">here</a>

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What is it like?

Ownership cost

Advice for buyers

Our recommendations

Alternatives

<h3>Automatic emergency braking (AEB)</h3>

The AEB system, which is supposed to apply the brakes when the forward collision sensors&nbsp;detect&nbsp;an imminent collision, might not actually do so. A software update is all that is required to sort the issue, and it&nbsp;applies to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volvo/v60/estate/used-review/n19188">V60</a>, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volvo/s90/saloon/used-review/n833">S90</a>, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volvo/v90/estate/used-review/n841">V90</a>, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volvo/xc40/estate/used-review/n17574">XC40</a>, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volvo/xc60/4x4/used-review/n978">XC60</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volvo/xc90/4x4/used-review/n838">XC90</a> models built after 21 January 2019. The fix&nbsp;can be completed by any Volvo dealer, and owners should have been contacted regarding this. However,&nbsp;you can also speak with&nbsp;your local retailer for further information.

<h3 dir="ltr">Software issue</h3>

A problem was found with the vehicle connectivity module (VCM)&nbsp;that&nbsp;sends location information to the emergency services after a collision. It applies to cars constructed between 6&nbsp;October&nbsp;2017&nbsp;and 30 October&nbsp;2018. Any&nbsp;Volvo dealer should be able to&nbsp;perform a software update to fix the issue for you.

<h3 dir="ltr">Rear seatbacks</h3>

The rear seatbacks might not remain in the upright position, because the lock strikers might be missing on both sides of the bench. The small number of examples built between 20-21 June 2018 that are affected by this recall&nbsp;will need to have these strikers fitted to resolve the issue. Any Volvo dealer will be able to do this for you free of charge.

<h3 dir="ltr">Brake booster</h3>

One of the nuts securing the brake booster (that's part of the vehicle's&nbsp;braking system) could be missing on a small number of examples made between 29 November 2019 and 21 February 2020. Speak to a Volvo dealer to find out if your XC40 is affected by this.

In the most recent What Car? Reliability Survey, petrol versions of the&nbsp;XC40 proved to be slightly more reliable than diesel models, coming in fifth and eight places respectively&nbsp;out of a class of 25 family SUVs.

Meanwhile, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-reviews/make/volvo">Volvo</a> as a manufacturer&nbsp;ranked&nbsp;16th in the same survey out of&nbsp;31 brands.

If you would like to see the full reliability list, head to the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/2020-what-car-reliability-survey-family-suvs/n20064">What Car? Reliability Survey</a> pages for more information.

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Estate

Volvo is now a true rival to the likes of Audi, BMW, Jaguar and Mercedes-Benz, offering an alternative take on premium executive cars to a rapidly growing fanbase.

After a string of strong launches – notably with the Mk2 XC90 and XC60 SUVs – it struck gold in early 2018 when it launched its smallest SUV, the XC40. When our testers compared the car with its rivals, they concluded that it was the best launch of the previous 12 months, earning it our coveted overall Car of the Year Award.

The good news is that, like many car makers, Volvo now uses the same structure underneath most of its cars – so if they get it right on one model, it usually bodes well for the rest. That’s the case here, with Volvo’s subsequent saloon and estate launches complementing the SUVs and making for a generally extremely appealing line-up.

VOLVO

XC40

The XC40 mixes style, space and comfort with cutting-edge safety. It's a highly desirable used choice.

Used Volvo XC40 2017-present

<h3>MPG</h3>

On paper, the most economical XC40 is the diesel 2.0 D3&nbsp;with an official combined fuel consumption figure of 47.1mpg. The more powerful D4 gets close&nbsp;with 44.1mpg. The best-performing petrols are the&nbsp;T2 and&nbsp;T3 models, with each returning 40.4mpg.&nbsp;

The regular T4 and T5 petrols offer the worst figures at 35.3mpg and 34.0mpg&nbsp;respectively. Things improve with the mild hybrid B4 at 39.2mpg, while the B5 manages 36.7mpg.

In order to&nbsp;achieve something close to the 134.5mpg figure quoted for the Recharge T4 and T5 plug-in hybrid models, you'll need to regularly charge the car and utilise its electric motor. All-electric T8 XC40s have a 78kWh battery that can accept a 150kW charge for a 10-80% recharge time of roughly 30 minutes, while a 7kW wall charger at home will take 12 hours to refill an empty battery to 100%.

<h3>Insurance</h3>

Insurance costs are fairly low for the XC40, laden as it is with safety and security kit; Volvo’s safety record helps to keep the car in the 30-33 groupings.

<h3>Road tax </h3>

Annual road tax will be the same for all models registered after the tax changes of April 2017. It’s worth making sure the on-the-road cost of the XC40 you’re looking at didn’t creep past £40,000 when it was new, because at this point it will attract an extra luxury car tax surcharge.&nbsp;To find out more about the current <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/car-tax-changes-in-2019-%E2%80%93-what-do-i-need-to-know/n1153">road tax costs, click here</a>.

<h3>Servicing </h3>

Servicing costs are reasonable and you can opt for a number of servicing plans for your used car that can help you spread the cost.

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The XC40 mixes style, space and comfort with cutting-edge safety. It's a highly desirable used choice.

Because it's desirable,&nbsp;the XC40&nbsp;maintains its value rather well;&nbsp;you'll need at least £22,000 to buy&nbsp;an early example of a T3 petrol or D3 diesel.&nbsp;

Aim to spend £26,000 to get our preferred R-Design trim with a D3 diesel engine and automatic gearbox.

A plug-in hybrid model can be found for a little over £33,000.

Check the value of a used Volvo XC40 with <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/valuations/">What Car? Valuations</a>

<h3>Engines</h3>

We’d seek out the D3 variant. This 148bhp 2.0-litre diesel sounds a bit grumbly at idle&nbsp;but quietens down on the move and transmits little vibration into the car. It’ll whisk you up to motorway speeds easily enough&nbsp;and should be more economical than the&nbsp;D4, which is&nbsp;lumbered with four-wheel drive.

If you mostly do shorter,&nbsp;urban journeys,&nbsp;go for the 154bhp T3 petrol. It should have all the performance you'd need without being horrendously thirsty. The only point of note is that in 2018&nbsp;the engine went&nbsp;from being a 2.0-litre&nbsp;four-cylinder unit to a smaller three-cylinder 1.5. Both produce 154bhp (up until 2019, when it got a boost to 161bhp).&nbsp;

<h3>Trims </h3>

Well equipped, sporty looking and reasonably priced, R-Design is our favourite trim, because this version handles better on its sports suspension than the rest of the range. Don't bother with a Pro version&nbsp;of this trim level, because that'll give you 20in wheels that spoil the ride.&nbsp;

Our favourite Volvo XC40 D3 R-Design

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<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Comfortable ride </li> <li>Feature-filled infotainment </li> <li>Space for child seats </li> <li>Robust build quality </li> <li>Practical storage spaces </li> <li>A boot fit for a family holiday </li> <li>Fuel-efficient engines</li></ul>

While we define a small SUV&nbsp;as something&nbsp;less than 4.3 metres long and a large SUV as measuring more than 4.5 metres, family SUVs tread the middle ground.

As the name suggests, the vast majority are&nbsp;designed for family duties rather than serious off-roading, so practicality is paramount. However, that&nbsp;shouldn't come at the expense of a decent drive; the best examples combine tidy handling with smooth engines&nbsp;and a ride that's comfortable&nbsp;enough to ensure the kids aren't left feeling queasy.

The Seat Ateca and&nbsp;Skoda Karoq should definitely be on your shortlist. But if you have a bit more to spend,&nbsp;the Range Rover Evoque is another strong option. If money is a concern, then the Dacia Duster provides comfortable, spacious and well-equipped transportation for an affordable price.

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Family SUV

It may&nbsp;be an SUV, but forward visibility is never really an issue thanks to&nbsp;large windows and a commanding seating position. However, despite&nbsp;big door mirrors and standard rear parking sensors,&nbsp;the rear pillar can obscure some obstacles, so check the extremities for any scuffs and dents picked up in tight supermarket car parks and urban rat runs. Also, check the alloy wheels for any kerb damage&nbsp;and that the tailgate operates correctly, if it's electric.

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To many, Volvo's&nbsp;are&nbsp;seen&nbsp;as being well thought out,&nbsp;'fit for purpose' cars that&nbsp;are also very&nbsp;safe. But&nbsp;there have been a few desirable and stylish examples,&nbsp;such as the P1800, 480 ES and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volvo/c30/coupe/used-review/n729">C30 Coupé</a>, that have bucked this stereotype, albeit at the expense of practicality.&nbsp;

However,&nbsp;a host of good-looking Volvo SUVs, such as&nbsp;the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volvo/xc60/4x4/used-review/n978">XC60</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volvo/xc90/4x4/used-review/n17382">XC90</a>, manage to satisfy both criteria. None more so than the smaller, more compact&nbsp;XC40 – a car that oozes style both inside and out - and can be had for a decent saving over what they cost when new in 2017, when we gave it our&nbsp;overall&nbsp;Car of the Year award.

It offers a wide range of engine options,&nbsp;too. Under the bonnet, to begin with, was&nbsp;a range of 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol and diesel engines. Petrols on offer comprised a 154bhp&nbsp;T3, 187bhp T4 and 244bhp T5. A downsized three-cylinder 1.5 arrived in 2018 as a direct&nbsp;replacement for&nbsp;the existing T3 (upgraded in 2019 to 161bhp).

This smaller engine&nbsp;allowed for a slew&nbsp;of plug-in hybrids to join&nbsp;the range in 2020 with the 204bhp T4 and 258bhp&nbsp;T5 Recharge models. A fully electric Recharge T8 with a range of around 250 miles also arrived in 2020, as did&nbsp;an entry-level 127bhp T2 petrol. The existing T4 and T5 petrol engines gained 48V mild hybrid technology and a boost in power to become the 194bhp B4 and 247bhp B5 models.

There are also two 2.0-litre diesels:&nbsp;the 148bhp D3 and 187bhp D4. These diesels, however, were dropped in late 2020 in preference for&nbsp;the&nbsp;plug-in hybrid models.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Trims start off with entry-level Momentum. This comes with lots of goodies, including cruise control, dual-zone climate control, a 9.0in tablet touchscreen, digital instruments, 18in alloy wheels, LED headlights and rear parking sensors. Next up is the sportier R-Design. This adds seats trimmed in leather and nubuck, power-folding door mirrors, privacy glass and&nbsp;ambient interior&nbsp;lighting. The more luxurious Inscription model completes the range with&nbsp;an electrically adjustable driver’s seat, front parking sensors, an electric&nbsp;tailgate, wood trim inlays and a crystal gear selector&nbsp;on automatic versions.

Trims with 'Pro' at the end of the name add adaptive LED headlights, heated front seats, an electrically adjustable passenger seat with memory function, headlight washers, a heated windscreen and 19in or 20in alloy wheels. Options worth seeking out include the Convenience Pack&nbsp;for its extra practicality.

On the road, the XC40 is a smooth and hushed performer, with a low level of wind and road noise, helping to make the interior a noticeably refined place in which to spend time, and most engines provide&nbsp;more than enough oomph.

Fling it through a series of bends and the XC40 reveals itself as competent, though not inspiring. It leans a fair bit and the steering, while reasonably quick, is a little imprecise, but there’s plenty of grip. The car rides well, being composed and breezing&nbsp;over road ripples easily, although oddly it’s rather better on the ‘sports’ suspension fitted to R-Design models than the softer ‘dynamic’ suspension. Our experience of the car on the optional adaptive suspension suggests it’s not worth seeking out a car with this fitted.

Inside, you'll find an excellent driving position&nbsp;with good visibility, a comfortable seat and plenty of adjustment. The standard digital instruments&nbsp;prove easy to read at a glance, and because the minimalist dashboard design carries few physical buttons, it’s easy to interpret those that are there. However, you do have to access quite a lot of functions through the&nbsp;infotainment touchscreen; this can&nbsp;be a faff, but at least the screen is crystal-clear.

When it comes to interior quality, the XC40 is exceptionally classy. All the surfaces that you interact with regularly feel suitably upmarket, thanks to plush, soft-faced materials, smart wood veneer or metal highlights. Everything feels robust, too, so it&nbsp;should stand the test of time and the demands of family use.

There’s plenty of space up front, while rear passengers have enough leg and head room, although rivals such as the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/x1/estate/used-review/n812">BMW X1</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/tiguan/estate/used-review/n938">Volkswagen Tiguan</a> offer slightly more. On paper, the XC40’s boot is smaller than those rivals', too, but in everyday use it’s wide, deep and easily accessible, with a useful underfloor storage area.

If you're interested in finding a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars/volvo/xc40">used XC40</a>, or any of the other SUVs mentioned here, head over to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars">Used Car Buying</a>&nbsp;pages to find lots of cars listed for sale at great prices.

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Used Volvo XC40 2017-present review

Alternatives

What alternatives should I consider to a used Volvo XC40 estate?