If you're looking for a thorough review of an XC40, or any Volvo for that matter, watch another video. I feel like these reviewers lack the above average information required when you're claiming to review this car. This is less a review, and more a subjective opinion piece. For example, gunning it, and then saying "I'm getting 9.6 litres and this is a mild hybrid" ..."what is the mild hybrid doing!?" Complaining that the car "shuts off when you open the door"- doing a little research you'd find that that's a setting, and a feature of the integrated started generator (mild hybrid). It provides a much smoother stop/start, and improves fuel economy while reducing CO2 emissions. This info is all readily available with a simple google search. They simply don't know how the car works, and therefore cant provide an objective review. Here is a summary of the review: " C'mon guys. What's this?!"- "I don't know."- "Well then it's dumb". 😅
Our fuel economy numbers always have the disclaimer that they will be above average, as during the filming we idle quite a bit and do the acceleration runs. But this is the fuel economy over the whole week, not just one day, and all cars are subject to the same procedures so our fuel economy numbers are comparable to one another. The XC40 still returned subpar numbers. As for the auto-shut off, as soon as we pick up a car we go through all settings menus. If this is indeed a setting, please let us know where it is located so we can correct this criticism in future reviews. And lastly, "This is less a review, and more a subjective opinion piece." - That's the whole point, isn't it? We're giving you our opinion on the vehicle. We never claim that to be the ultimate truth, simply our opinion when compared to other vehicles in the class.
Doesn't the car have voice control's to turn on and off the heated seats, steering wheel etc. You wouldn't have to touch the screen when driving. You didn't mention that when criticising the system. Your review made some good points, but it seems like you didn't like the car from the start. Some of the negativity was just picky and over the top. I have also driven the 2024 XC40 and had a different experience to your review.
We do tend to be a little more nitpicky than other reviewers, but do that for all of our vehicles so it equals out in the end. As for the voice controls, yes those are available. However, if you're listening to music you'll have to briefly interrupt that. Same for any ongoing conversations in the vehicle. Then you have to activate the voice assistant and talk to it... so even if everything works it will take about 5 seconds. A well integrated physical button takes 1s to activate, without any interruptions, and no need to take the eyes of the road.
@GCCarsCA fair enough. To balance that point, even physical buttons, you have to take your eyes off the road for a second, so talking to the car is probably safer, which is what volvo is all about. Also, a little nit picky by me. 5 seconds of journey is not really much to stop music or talking to a passenger. I suppose my main point is that you never even mentioned it as an alternative way to operate the system in your review, which is one of the main reasons for lack of physical buttons in the car.
It seems like we have a different preference for how to control certain features of the vehicles, which is totally ok. I appreciate your point about not even mentioning the voice controls - we'll make an effort from now on that if we criticize the lack of physical buttons, we'll mention if it can alternatively be controlled by voice commands.
I have a 2023 xc40. I have driven it for one year. The seats are not that firm. It feels like I'm sitting in a La-Z-Boy chair while driving at the same time. Yes, there is piano black in the car, but it does not take away from the feeling, except it does attract dust. I'll give you that. The infotainment screen system is super easy to use. One complaint I have is that I can't see what music is playing and have Google Maps on the screen at the same time. Other than that, I have no problems with it. You can adjust the brightness of the infotainment screen. Another complaint I have is that gas mileage could be better, even though it's a hybrid, and the engine could be quieter. My neighbor has an XC 90, and I can always hear the engine coming into his driveway. My car does not turn itself off when I put it in park and open the door; instead, it tells me the engine is still running. They may have fixed that problem in the update. YES!!! I hate that it doesn't have a HUD. The sound system, though is absolutely fantastic. One super annoying thing about the driving assist is that it will suddenly shut itself off and display a warning that says my hands are not on the wheel when they ARE on the wheel. Suddenly shutting off the driver assist system, which auto steers the car, is very, very dangerous. I remember the first time it happened to me, I heard the quiet chime alerting me, but I had no idea what the sound meant until I noticed the car drifting. As an owner of this vehicle, the above-mentioned complaints were the only issues. I'm sure every car has something to complain about. Having said all that, I absolutely adore my XC40.
"Every car has something to complain about" - you're absolutely correct on that! A lot of people misunderstand our videos and think that we dislike a car, simply because we have a few flaws / frustrations to point out. But no product is perfect, and there is very few actually "bad" cars out there these days. Thank you for sharing your thoughts on the XC40 owner experience, and we're glad to hear that you are happy with yours!
I have ordered brand new XC40 Plus B3 with 18% discount. The price is lower than lower class cars (Toyota Corolla Cross or Kia Sportage) with similar equipment (I topped it up with Autopilot and 360 camera). While comparing the catalogue prices of XC40 and X1 the latter one wins, with the actual price I simply did not find any competitor for XC40.
Hi, we did order an XC40 plus B3, came out just under 40k, but when enquired about fitting Harman sound system, were told, they stopped making custom ugrades ?
I own a 2023 XC40 B5 core and it’s a pretty good car. I’m not sure that it’s worth the money though. I will probably shop around a little bit more when I go to get my next car.
I like your approach. it is even not nitpicky enough. Cars seems nowadays to be designed in an office, by managers that look at marketing and cost sheets. They seem to drive their designs only rarely and only in ideal circumstances. Some examples. The XC40 garbage can is mentionned as a big invention - marketing tool - in all Volvo docs and reviews. But seldom it is mentionned that consequently the central arm rest is way too short. You did not notice it in your review maybe because the seats were in the full back position to have a better camera view, or you did not drive long enough to have the need to rest your arm? Before my new XC40 with Google navigation, I owned an XC60 with the previous software. The Google navigation is a great progress, but also some essentials disappeard. Like adjustment of the brightness of the screen displays by a handy turnbutton. The button has disappeared and now you have to tap, slide, tap, slide agian... Did nobody at Volvo drive the car at night, with sudden changing light intensities like going through a tunnel? This is not nitpicking, but essential safety. Is safety no longer a Volvo priority, like omitting an head-up display? (In the new EX30 there is even no longer a driver display...). When the navigation screen is on, nowhere is indicated what media or radio station is playing. You want to know: slide, tap slide... Want to know the time? Look sharply at the upper right corner of the central screen for the very small figures, here also looking away from the road. With the previous software it was in large characters and also on the driver display just in front of you. There is more annoyances that one only realises after some days or weeks of use. It will most probably not lead to customers returning their car because of this, but with the nickpicking, maybe the designers and marketing managers will be more open to user experience before their customers stay away. So please persevere!
As for the voice controls, yes those are available. However, if you're listening to music you'll have to briefly interrupt that. Same for any ongoing conversations in the vehicle. Then you have to activate the voice assistant and talk to it... so even if everything works it will take about 5 seconds. A well integrated physical button takes 1s to activate, without any interruptions, and no need to take the eyes of the road.
This review comes off as if middle schoolers are trying to review a car...total failure. Complaining about the geated seats buttons?? Like 85% of heated seats are activated the same way. Complaining about a dial on the vent? Really? Android Automotive is far better than having to use Bluetooth or a cable to use auto features. Its a plus.
Most vehicles have heated seat *physical buttons*. And those that don't, have it implemented into their infotainment in a way that requires fewer taps. As for Android Automotive - we love that system. Just turns out that Volvo's implementation is horrendous. Most other people agree on that.
It just refused to start. The XC40 doesn't use an "Engine Start" button like most cars, it simply activates once you enter the car and put it into drive. However, as it also automatically turns off once you exit it simply refused to start. We couldn't put it into drive and all other solutions we searched for online didn't help either for about 5 minutes. After twenty-ish tries the car finally started... not very confidence inspiring.
Seems counter intuitive when all a carjacker has to do is open your door and now you're completely vulnerable, instead of being able to drive off. Right?
I leased an EV version of this car and frustrated with: 1. Heating is rubbish for a Scandinavian car. Check out the Volvo xc40 forum full of complaints about condensation. I need to use the blower every 5 mins in real winter. 2. Changing climate controls during driving is dangerous as it's all tiny stuff on the touchscreen. 3. Haven't managed to connect Android auto in 4 months. Stuck with Google, can't use Waze. 4. The touchscreen isn't ergonomic and you often need to go through multiple clicks to find a setting 5. The Volvo cars app doesn't work 6. EV range is lower than our previous Kia e-Niro which is half the price of this Volvo. 7. Side mirrors are set bit backwards on the doors. This means you really need to turn your head to check mirrors while driving. Again, not ergonomic. Wife really struggles as she is short and has the seat forward. Thank God I didn't buy this car, only leased it.
We just tested the XC40 Recharge (review coming soon) and a lot of your frustrations are very familiar to us. Not having Android Auto while using an Android Automotive based infotainment system is baffling...
