Man, I really do value your reviews more than almost every other car youtuber. I follow other channels which weirdly always have VAG car win in comparisons with other brands and your (perceived) integrity is something I really enjoy. You go into detail with pretty much every single thing you review and getting the cars into the shop and talking about the materials that were used is something I don't see much of at all - even though it's very important when it comes to long-term reliability. Even better when you review a car of a brand I'm a fan of (volvo) positively. Love your content, man (would also love it if you didnt like the car btw)
Your videos are so well done..Definitely THE BEST car revew channel on RU-vid. I was surprised everytime by the content and the shooting technique your put togther in the video.
I drove one for a few days. Agree with all the strong points. Had no brake issues in my driving experience. The car has a ton of torque. The 19 inch wheels made the ride a bit too firm for me when going through irregular surface. Overall, ride was good on smoother surfaces. I'd prefer the 18 inch wheels, even if they made the car look less sporty. Interior was a dream. The middle screen was good. I sort of prefer a horizontal screen, as android auto was a bit narrow. It was fine, though. The comfort level is very high. Backseat space amazing. Amazing fit and finish. Feels very expensive. The exterior design is very nice. Has great angles everywhere. Really stands out. People noticed it, a lot. Especially, the white color I drove. Definitely worth a look if you're in that market. Thanks.
Braking feel aside, this car really comes into its own when outfitted with the Polestar software upgrade. It is worth every penny of that option. For what it is, it almost completely fixes the issues with the transmission programming. It also ups the boost a bit. Really gives it a complete feeling. My opinion is the software changes should be standard, this is a great car.
I have Polestar on my XC90. Not much difference in performance and no great 'improvement' in gearbox mapping, but it is 'different'. The good new is that there is about to be a revised Polestar which gives a substantial available power boost for up to 20 seconds of acceleration. I've no idea if this is applicable to all models but I'm looking forward to it on my D5 so it hits 100mph faster when overtaking trucks up hill [hypothetically]
I'm considering the Polestar tune for my T5 XC40 R-Design, but I can't find any videos or numbers about it too see exactly how much of a performance improvement it is. Would like to have a better idea before I drop another grand in it for a seemingly minor improvement.
I’ve driven the XC40 for sometime now and I love it!! Infotainment system works perfectly and the brakes as fine (very normal)...the car is really comfortable and easy to drive
@@thedaniel1235 I'll leave it shut off in my Rdesign. It needs hands on the wheel to run (no two-handed texting!), so where's the value other than the usual "you're crossing a painted line" warning. Annoying when crossing a line to avoid cyclists or pedestrians along the side of the road.
I'm considering getting an XC40 and this review has been helpful in deciding, especially regarding the brakes which I'll pay particular attention to during the test drive. As always, appreciate everything you put into making these reviews and enjoy watching them.
I test drove one and the brakes were fine. Not touchy at all. There was supposedly an issue with the software and braking a year or so ago that also caused brakes to be eaten up on some cars even 3-5000 miles.
I've watched this multiple times.. I now have it lol. It's been 2 months and I still love (and keeps growing) the design of this car and not to mention, it's pretty fun to drive when you're in dynamic mode. I hope they release the hybrid and all electric soon!
I've been waiting a long time for this review. It was worth the wait. Amazing review! A smaller SUV like this makes a lot of sense here in Europe where something like an XC90 is almost impossible to park and maneuver anywhere outside rural areas.
As I bought a XC40 myself, which will be delivered in a few days, I watched literally thousands of YT videos, but never heared concerns about the breaks. Test driving it myself for several hours for me the breaks feels good, too! And yes, I even did simulated emergency breaks as well
This car has very strange brake feel compared to other Volvo products. Its not progressive and tends to be hyperactive. Maybe they fixed the tuning on recent updates.
@@savagegeese After owning the car now for several month I can imagine, what you experienced. The characteristic of the breaks depends on the driving mode. In "D" mode it's very smooth, in "B" mode rather agressive.
@ 5:50 the on/off setup is conducive for most drivers under 30. The idea of pedal fade or brake failure does not equate. The torque range is very impressive for an inline-4.
last weekend I was in the Volvo dealership to check V60CC prices. because the demo cars are not there yet (and pricing is just CRAZY) I did a demo ride in V60.. and then I switched to XC40. and even if I am a huge fan of estate cars I have to admit that if you need a car to drive around the city and not sending your car through cliche corner the XC40 is so much better for 187cm high, 37yo guy. If you don't care about body roll because you are driving in Tempo30 area for 80% of time you start to adore: high seats where you don't have to be gymnastic medalist to sit in the car or doors covering the entire side of the car, so you don't have to be so careful not to ruin your trousers. I really started to like this model after the test drive.
The screens have adjustable brightness using a conventional thumb wheel on the dash between the steering wheel and the door. Or it does on my XC90 and I would be surprised if they cheap-out on that. Odd about the brakes. That is certainly something that is different on the XC40. So is the little shifter. No mention about the Sensus touch control system that you hate so much on the XC90, but this has exactly the same system with controls mostly duplicated through voice and steering wheel buttons. I like it and find it easy, simple and intuitive to use, although I can see that it is not for everyone. There is just a bit of a learning curve, but so there is to anything new if you want to get the best out of it.
I just got a new 2021 XC40 R Design. I can tell you the brakes are exactly as expected. Either Volvo changed something since 2019 or this reviewer got a car that had some kind of defect.
Yes it looks fine and you captured that style on film, nice vertigo shot too! Suspension setup here proofs that less is often more. The sensitive breaks are just one of the results of the overassisted car. Wifes 2018 build car is in the shoppe and she got a 2013 model (which is really a 2008 frame) as rental. She doesnt like it but I do, NA motor and good steering feel, clutch and gearbox take actual efford. But the market demands toy cars nowadays!
Agreed. What's really ridiculous is to have acceleration as a primary criteria for buying a vehicle like this. If it gives you sufficient speed to safely merge onto a highway or to pass on a two-lane, that is sufficient for most. No one is going to take an XC-40 to the Winternationals.
SG, this is one of my favorite cars, sadly many will bypass it when shopping as it may be too quirky or costly. The Mini Clubman shopper may look twice at this model. A dedicated electric power plant will find it's way with this model. Love the home-made band aid look, lol.
I appreciate the honest opinion you present with your reviews. No bs. To the point and precise.Your analysis is impeccable. I have reviewed your presentation on the above luxury compact SUVS. I am undecided to which one should i get. A cross comparison would be beneficial as each one has a flow of its own. Any comment would be obliged. I prefer compact, zest, ease of infotainment use and somewhat better gas mileage. I am patient and have time to wait for the right choice for another 6 to 12 months. U r the best!
Would you recommend not getting the adaptive dampers? I hear good things from volvo's system. I very much would like to get them, as where I live, roads suck, and being able to change, or adapt them would be great. Especially since I do very heavy mixed driving. Mostly free way, but plenty of country roads and even some off roading. But at the same time, if they are not as good, then id rather save the money. Either way, im sold on the car, just currently awaiting time to put the order in.
Just ordered one, not just because of this vid. The braking, to speak as a European, isn't so bad, maybe as we're used to it being so strong. Nice video, thanks for sharing.
I wish it had blood red interior too, then no one would see the stains from all the hitchhikers I kill inside this thing. As always, thanks for the super premium video Mark! Stay warm bud!
A couple of things I didn’t like during my test drive - the display response. Had the latest firmware, but on average it took between 30-45seconds for it to boot and start accepting touch input - way to slow. The engine is definitely a little too harsh. I’m looking forward to a new model with in the T5 twin engine variant. Other than that a great car, very practical, spacious for it’s size.
Harrison Smith Yes. The salesman thought that too. I was expecting some delay, but not that bad. Before I took the car, the service dept, checked the software/Firmware and confirmed it was the latest versions. The tech said they have changed the control boards 3 times at the factory in the last 9 months to try and solve delay issues. Other than that, nice car.
The ONLY interior quality issue I have with this car is the red carpeted areas. I with they were a bit softer. They don't need to by microfiber-soft but I do think it's just a bit too rough to cover such a large surface area on the door.
In the first two thousand miles that I have owned my 2023 XC40 it has been flat-bedded back to the dealer twice. Not for people who only have one car. The central touch screen is tedious with tiny buttons for climate control. Drives nicely. It’s small for tall folks.
I'm not sure how I feel about crossovers this size. On one hand as a GTI owner I find it odd that a vehicle in the category with the word "utility" in its description has less interior space and total cargo capacity than a Golf. Suitable for a trip to Costo but not Ikea. Works for a couple's trip to the shore but less useful for even a small family. I think SG is correct that the higher driver's seating for these (very) small CUV's appeals to many drivers forced to navigate traffic surrounded by humungous vehicles on all sides. Of course, defending oneself in that situation is like nuclear deterrence. Putting more tall vehicles on the road only makes the problem worse. And in the case of this category, the lifted seating doesn't help much anyway. As someone with long standing ties to the University of Texas at Austin I can see the appeal of the XC-40's orange accented interior. (Though the shade of orange looks more like the University of Tennessee than THE UNIVERSITY (of Texas.)). On the other hand, as someone who regularly transports a big shaggy dog, the fuzzy tennis ball-like surface looks like a great fur magnet. I'm skeptical it will be bright and durable in the long run. In an era when crossovers are the "new black" and "sixty is the new forty" I suspect this sub-compact Volvo CUV will do well. But I'll stick with my hatchback.
Don't load it up with useless features then lol imo Volvos models offer pretty great value for money if you don't go mad on the options but stick to really useful/nice stuff.
@@kevinchung1492 www.media.volvocars.com/global/en-gb/media/pressreleases/207630/the-first-new-volvo-xc60-rolls-of-the-production-line-in-torslanda-sweden Actually built in sweden, but okay
@@ptg_st3v3oh62 The XC60s are built in either Sweden or China. Most XC60s available in America are made in China. Now I don't understand why it bothers people - China is only a final assembly place for those cars. Engines are built in Sweden, transmissions are from Japan, many powertrain components are made in Germany etc.
This whole trend of “polarizing” cars is bullshit. Not to long ago everyone was bitching that cars didn’t have the lines and style like they used to. Cars now need to have style that sets them apart like this one. If you don’t like it, don’t buy it. Cars are a reflection of choice. One of your colleagues in a video said he felt like cars looked like transformers these days. What bullshit. Styling is so much cooler now than it ever was before. And I for one, think this car is fucking sexy. Great review Geese!
Me thinks Volvo put such a harsh pedal in because their priority is safety. People often underestimate the needed force applied to the pedal when in an emergency and I think this is the solution they came up with for them to pad their safety statistics.
Great review, as always, SG! It's amazing to me how many recent vehicles are dinged for their transmissions, from the ZF 9-speed in so many crossovers (Jeep, Land Rover, etc.) to this one and many others. And don't even get me started on CVTs. Apparently the fuel economy mandates emanating from DC are leading to bad design choices. Doesn't anyone know how to build a good transmission these days?
I saw one of these on the road for the first time yesterday, and I was shocked at how quickly it commanded my attention. It's quite an attractive little thing.
Hugely informative, thank you!!! I have one with the T4 engine power on order. I didn't notice the break issue when I was test driving, I wonder whether they have made the breaks a little more sensitive for the more powerful T5 engine?
I have own the XC40 D4 (diesel) for 2 years now and i can say that it's not a great car to drive. It does have a great quality and the engine is very powerful, but the gearbox it is just awful, the great power of the engine it's always "out of the right time to be".... when you pass over a speed bump it never knows what gear to engage and that results in a "non thrust" moment with very loud engine noise. Also avoid 20" wheels, they are hard and very uncomfortable for the every day usage. This is a very good car for speedways and you're never feel lack of thrust in up hills, but in the city it is not great. The build quality it is good and the sound (H/K) it's amazing.
less complication is better, no three way hybrid crap, straight forward setup, hope they make a nice sedan with this setup. what's the front/rear power split?
What's the intro? Sounds like Apocalyptica for sure, but what's the "song"? By the way, as a Volvo owner for many many years - love your reviews of this brand. Almost always fair, with your own flair. Did you have brakes on "Dynamic" though? Having had 7 Volvos and 3 SPA/1CMA - I have no idea why you say this about brakes...Unless they are on "Dynamic", they behave just like they're supposed to.
Curious if you sat in the back seat. Me and wife looked at one of these and the back seats were essentially straight up and down. Didn't see a way to recline them so that became a non-starter for me even if I will never sit back there.
I feel like the CX5 is a more usable car long term, vastly less complicated and much cheaper. But the XC40 is a much more stylish light hearted vehicle with more interior design. Id only lease or do the subscription service on it though. I feel like its going to age like an average Avengers sequel.
Really like the XC40 T5 R-design but it's the same price at the Audi S3 & the Ople Grandland X Cosmo is cheaper but fun option. The Mazda CX-5 Signature is coming
