In case you’ve been sleeping in a cave for the past several years, SUVs have taken over the automotive market. Even Volvo, a champion of the almighty wagon, has given way to this trend. Case in point: the new Volvo XC40.
The Volvo XC40 could be a boon for the car maker as it competes in a red-hot market segment. And judging by its features, it will do just fine.
You’re forgiven if at first glance you mistake the Volvo XC40 for a Land Rover. It has that clean, modern design, yet a rugged element to it. I’m surprised how aggressive of a stance this SUV exhibits. Volvo definitely went bold with the exterior, and it works.
You can get a range of paint colors, plus go with a different option for the roof. In fact, Volvo says shoppers can select one of 17 exterior color combinations. Whoa, that’s quite a selection.
As for the interior, Volvo says the infotainment, safety and connectivity technologies from the 60 and 90 Series models will be included on the XC40. So, expect things like Run-Off Road Protection, Pilot Assist and more. That’s great news.
Volvo promised a revolutionary layout for the interior. From the pictures and descriptions, it looks well-conceived, but not completely crazy. The special phone area where the center stack meets the center console does feature inductive charging, but you can get that on some other vehicles.
One of the most unique elements is a removable garbage bin in the center console, which I must admit would be incredibly handy.
Volvo understands that not everyone wants the same setup, so it has a compelling model lineup prepared for the XC40. The T4 is a front-wheel-drive version, with a 247-horsepower 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine. If you go with the T5, you get the same engine, plus all-wheel drive.
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While a D4 diesel is in the mix, it doesn’t look like a North American release is in Volvo’s plans. That’s due to an unfortunate mix of the Dieselgate fallout, plus Americans’ lack of interest in diesel cars.
We also know Volvo is planning a new three-cylinder engine for the XC40. No doubt, it will promise amazing fuel economy, especially for an SUV. However, there are zero details about it are floating around right now. Not even a ballpark release date.
A plug-in hybrid is also in the mix, but we don’t know really anything about it either. If Volvo’s other plug-in hybrid models are any indication, it should be pretty powerful and efficient.
Finally, a full-electric model will round out the lineup, which is in keeping with company’s pledge to create more Volvo electric cars. But we’ve also go zero details about this variant.
Now that you’ve seen the Volvo XC40 in all its glory, you’re probably wondering when you can get one. Volvo says the T5 model will start shipping in the early part of 2018. As for the T4, it won’t arrive until the summer. There’s no timeline for the plug-in hybrid and fully-electric models, yet.
Shoppers can go to a Volvo dealer today and order an XC40.
For the time, all XC40s are rolling off the company’s assembly line in Belgium. With a big expansion at Volvo’s production facility in the United States, don’t be surprised if the production shifts to this side of the pond as well.
You can expect a new S40 and V40 using this platform to break cover in the near future. Maybe Volvo will even do a V40 Cross Country, if top brass is feeling particularly giddy.
Almost as amazing was another announcement piggybacked onto the XC40 release. Through a new lease program called Care by Volvo, the Swedes want to completely change how you view car ownership.
Like Cadillac’s subscription service, you pay a flat fee each month and can borrow other Volvos if you need something larger or just something else. That fee covers everything associated with the vehicle, including maintenance, taxes and the like. Obviously, Volvo aimed this program directly at Millennials, some of whom aren’t as accepting of the costs of ownership everyone else takes for granted.
Depending on where you are, that monthly fee might cover free cleanings and package deliveries for your online purchases. And after 24 months, you get a new Volvo.
Through the Care by Volvo app, you can also share your Volvo XC40 with friends and family with the Volvo on Call feature. You just create a digital key for them to get in the vehicle and drive it around. It’s kind of like sharing your Netflix password, but without all the grey area in that.
Volvo’s done similar things before, with its package acceptance feature that gave delivery workers a one-time access to the trunk or cargo area. Geely, Volvo’s parent company, owns car-sharing platform Lynk & Co.
The Care by Volvo program is open for enrollment right now.
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