What to love or hate about the 2018+ Volvo XC40?
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Maybe I'm biased from previous vehicles that I own or have owned but here is my (subjective) list:
Likes:
- Smooth ride (compared to my other vehicles).
- Punchy acceleration in 2nd & 3rd gears (in dynamic mode).
- Attractive exterior design.
- Safety systems (after all, it is a Volvo :smile) .
Dislikes:
- Too much molded plastic inside and outside.
- Would have preferred an option for cooled seats, not just heated seats.
- Sensus system is somewhat slow and buggy at times. I've had the screen crash a couple of times where it just goes blank while driving.
- Climate controls are integrated into the Sensus system, when they should have dedicated buttons so that you can change them without looking at a screen.
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Overall, it’s a great ride. I concur with all the positives people have. I only have two things that basically don’t really work: the foot activated rear door and the voice controls with regard to navigation. The foot thing works maybe 20% of the time. I have yet to get the navigation by voice to work. Using Siri with Apple CarPlay works tons better. Other than that, very happy with the vehicle.
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back seat comfort
Seat angle on rear seats is not all the comfortable.
Adding to the misery, the plastic material on back of the front seats not so good as to leg room for rear seat adults.
Seat angle on rear seats is not all the comfortable.
Adding to the misery, the plastic material on back of the front seats not so good as to leg room for rear seat adults.
3 weeks in & I have lists! Stuff you won't hear from pro auto reviewers! 
Likes:
Dislikes:
Likes:
- Really nice, well made vehicle. Seems real solid. Everything you touch, turn, flip, click, push just feels great.
- Incredible interior quality, including the plastic bits. Blows BMW, Audi way out of the water - and they are far more expensive vehicles.
- Perfect steering wheel! Feels great in your hands.
- Voice activation for the common functions is pretty cool - when it works, which is really rare.
- The full-blown HK sound system really sounds damned good! I was shocked because my expectations were quite low - the HK system in my M235i sounded like crap. I don't even feel the need to qualify how great it sounds with "for an OEM sound system". Seriously - it sounds great (with couple of exceptions. See the dislikes.)
- Flat out killer looking SUV! Other SUV manufacturers take note!
- Smooth, comfortable ride.
- LOVE the voice-to-text feature!
- BRIGHT headlights - really illuminate a WIDE & HIGH area ahead of you, too. It's a big confidence booster at night, especially on country roads.
- Excellent, surprising value - you get a TON for your money, done very well!
Dislikes:
- Has anyone else noticed how tough it is to get your phone to charge on the charge pad? Well, I found that the wireless charge pad's cover does not touch the plate beneath it - there is an ever-so-slight gap. That gap is big enough that the phone won't charge when I lay it down. I have to 1) take off my phone's protective case, and 2) press on my phone - HARD - to close that gap to get the phone to charge. The pad is also very slippery - phone is always sliding around as I turn. Which then stops the phone from charging & I have to put it back in the center, press down real hard again to get the phone to charge.
- Auto start/stop restart is ROUGH! Take your foot off the brake when the engine restarts & your will lurch forward, even. My BMW, you were BARELY aware the engine stopped/restarted & it has a WAY more powerful turbo inline 6 motor.
- The TPMS does not tell you the actual tire pressure in each tire. Words escape me, much like how common sense escaped Volvo on this one.
- Should be able to independently adjust how far down the driver & passenger side view mirrors dip in reverse. Volvo, in case you didn't know, people are not the same height & folks might set the seat position differently - both of which affect how far down the mirrors should dip. Amazing how few car mfrs get this right (way to go Land Rover!!)
- There aren't knobs/buttons for commonly used functions. Some things can't be buried in some multi-level touch screen menu system that you have to look at (and away from the road) to find a function & the exact spot where one needs to press.
- No paddle shifters in Momentum trim. That is standard on so many automatic vehicles today it's a major miss that a car this nice & so fully featured doesn't have it.
- No dedicated answer call/hang up buttons on the steering wheel, like how I see in every other modern car I've been in in the last 3 years - and some even older. Multi-button-push-while-taking-your-eyes-off-the-road process that Volvo seems to be fascinated with because someone there seems to think "advanced" means no tactile buttons.
- No dedicated heated steering wheel switch. EASY placement on, oh I dunno... the steering wheel perhaps, so I don't have to look away to the center screen to find the precise spot to press - multiple times - to turn it on/off or change the setting. Crazy stupid.
- No dedicated seat heater buttons. Need em for same reasons as the heated steering wheel needs one. More crazier stupider.
- Voice activation is a royal PIA. Say "Fan off" & the system says "Fan on". Say "Fan on" and system says (you guessed it) "Fan off". And it thinks "Connecticut" is "California" - they don't even sound close if you're drunk AND have a mouthful of marbles! I had a car full of people absolutely pissing themselves as I demonstrated all of this to them (so I do like that the voice control system serves as entertainment while tooling around town.) Each of them tried it - no go!! System did the exact same thing. Hilarity ensued.
- The left foot rest is situated too far into the wheel well, putting your left foot in a odd position "at rest". When I don't "think" about where to put my foot & move it to where it wants to go naturally/comfortably, it can't because the side trim panel sticks out into the well by 2-3" too far, pushing the foot-rest too far to the right of where it really should be.
- Touch screen is really tough to clean without some kind of spray cleaner. You really gotta rub HARD using the dry cloth to get rid of finger prints, and you risk scratching the screen.
- Exterior paint finish!!!!!! Clear coat is not very tough - it gets the fine spider-web scratches in it way too easily. ORANGE PEEL GALORE. I think Volvo's paint robots are blind.
- You have to activate auto-high beam function every time you get into the car. Other cars, you set the headlights to auto, high beam assist to auto - and it stays there for the next time you get into the car. Should not have to reset this every. single. time.
- Auto-high beam "off" is WAY WAY WAY too sensitive! It's constantly switching to low beam due to reflected light bouncing back from reflectors on the side of the road/guard rails, light poles, mailbox posts - even trees/shrubs close to the edge of the road - EXACTLY when you NEED high beams to spot animals or people! Fix it, Volvo!
- You have to set drive mode every time you start the car. Should just stay with last setting after shutting off the vehicle.
- The view in the center display resets every time you turn off the vehicle. For example, I like to see "Now Playing" displayed in the center screen - just default to last view, or allow the user to set a "default start-up view".
- As good as the sound system is, the bass is muddy/boomy and there is something "missing" from the sound... midbass. You can correct some of this with the EQ, but you can't really dial it in perfectly.
- Pilot-assist is pretty annoying. You can't possibly hold the vehicle in the dead center of the lane, so you're constantly feeling the system adjust the steering wheel to get you back to dead-center. It gets annoying very fast. Glad it can be permanently turned off.
- There is a slot-like shelf in the glove box meant to hold your manuals & paperwork. And the manuals/paperwork are made to fit in this pretty little leatherette folder. Which doesn't fit in the slot. And the glove-box isn't quite deep enough to hold it either. (Manuals are in the slot, folder is in the trash.)
- That pathetic under-seat drawer that can hold like, a Kit-Kat & maybe a mini York Peppermint Patty or 2. The manuals can't even fit under there.
- That Volvo (or my dealer) installed the mudflaps in FRONT of the wheels! LOL LOL LOL
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Mash,
Welcome to the forum! Thanks for taking the time to fill us in on your likes and dislikes with your XC40. I ordered a R design back in late April and received my VIN# last week with an est. delivery date of early to mid November. I'm really looking forward to getting this car but will keep in mind the things you have posted here. I'm cracking up just imagining the folks in your car cracking up with the voice activation system! Looks like we will have to get use to manually doing things on a constant basis but once you get use to it I guess it won't be so bad. Once again, welcome, thanks for your review and please keep us posted with any other good or bad you may find. BTW, saw the photo you posted and she is beautiful! Take care!
Welcome to the forum! Thanks for taking the time to fill us in on your likes and dislikes with your XC40. I ordered a R design back in late April and received my VIN# last week with an est. delivery date of early to mid November. I'm really looking forward to getting this car but will keep in mind the things you have posted here. I'm cracking up just imagining the folks in your car cracking up with the voice activation system! Looks like we will have to get use to manually doing things on a constant basis but once you get use to it I guess it won't be so bad. Once again, welcome, thanks for your review and please keep us posted with any other good or bad you may find. BTW, saw the photo you posted and she is beautiful! Take care!
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4 Posts
Mash,
Thank you. While this in not the kind of info I want to hear, it is what I, (and maybe Volvo) need to hear. The last time I got on a waiting list, and waited a full year to get a car was for a Merc CLA 45, the AMG version of the car. Within a year I had to eat the depreciation because the car was so awful. I forget what the loss was, but I think it cost me about $15K to be miserable every day in the car.
Thank you. While this in not the kind of info I want to hear, it is what I, (and maybe Volvo) need to hear. The last time I got on a waiting list, and waited a full year to get a car was for a Merc CLA 45, the AMG version of the car. Within a year I had to eat the depreciation because the car was so awful. I forget what the loss was, but I think it cost me about $15K to be miserable every day in the car.
Some comments about the XC40 from CNET Roadshow (Steven Ewing 03/12/19). I'd venture to guess that most of us that own an XC40 would agree with these or have noticed them ourselves:
"When I first reviewed the Volvo XC40 last year, I called it 'my favorite of the bunch,' compared to other subcompact offerings like the BMW X1, Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class and even the plucky Mini Countryman. Other Roadshow staffers agreed. So in order to see if we like it so much we'd put a ring on it, we've added a 2019 Volvo XC40 to our long-term test fleet to see how this subcompact Swede holds up after a year of thorough testing."
"The XC40 is a car I never tire of driving -- not because it's super engaging, but because it's just so darn pleasant all of the time. The T5 engine offers plenty of power, and the XC40 moves down the road with great poise. There's excellent outward visibility, and it's a breeze to park in tight city lots."
"I like the different drive modes, and I frequently use the Individual setting because I like the steering and brake feel to be in their "Dynamic" settings. My gripe is, I wish the car would default to the Individual setting every time. The car always starts in its default "Comfort" mode, which is fine most of the time, but having to toggle the drive mode selector down to "Individual" upon each startup is sort of annoying, especially because -- stop me if you've heard this one before -- the Sensus infotainment system isn't always the quickest to boot up upon vehicle start."
"The Volvo On Call app shows me that, after 1,500 miles, our XC40 is averaging just 21.9 miles per gallon, which is a far cry from the XC40 T5's EPA ratings of 23 mpg city, 31 mpg highway and 26 mpg combined. I'll be curious to see how this improves as we add more miles, but it's worth noting that pretty much everyone at Roadshow has had a hard time achieving the EPA fuel economy estimates in just about every new Volvo car."
"When I first reviewed the Volvo XC40 last year, I called it 'my favorite of the bunch,' compared to other subcompact offerings like the BMW X1, Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class and even the plucky Mini Countryman. Other Roadshow staffers agreed. So in order to see if we like it so much we'd put a ring on it, we've added a 2019 Volvo XC40 to our long-term test fleet to see how this subcompact Swede holds up after a year of thorough testing."
"The XC40 is a car I never tire of driving -- not because it's super engaging, but because it's just so darn pleasant all of the time. The T5 engine offers plenty of power, and the XC40 moves down the road with great poise. There's excellent outward visibility, and it's a breeze to park in tight city lots."
"I like the different drive modes, and I frequently use the Individual setting because I like the steering and brake feel to be in their "Dynamic" settings. My gripe is, I wish the car would default to the Individual setting every time. The car always starts in its default "Comfort" mode, which is fine most of the time, but having to toggle the drive mode selector down to "Individual" upon each startup is sort of annoying, especially because -- stop me if you've heard this one before -- the Sensus infotainment system isn't always the quickest to boot up upon vehicle start."
"The Volvo On Call app shows me that, after 1,500 miles, our XC40 is averaging just 21.9 miles per gallon, which is a far cry from the XC40 T5's EPA ratings of 23 mpg city, 31 mpg highway and 26 mpg combined. I'll be curious to see how this improves as we add more miles, but it's worth noting that pretty much everyone at Roadshow has had a hard time achieving the EPA fuel economy estimates in just about every new Volvo car."
I agree with the comments above, so I won't repeat them.
The thing I like the least about Sensus is the navigation system. It is unintuitive to find/enter an address. You cannot easily enter an address while driving even with voice control.
The thing I like the most is the navigation system implemented through the Volvo On Call app. It uses Google maps and Google voice commands. Once you have the address then send it to the car and let Sensus navigation get you there.
Or you can use Android Auto/Apple Car Play and use Waze or Google Maps.
The thing I like the least about Sensus is the navigation system. It is unintuitive to find/enter an address. You cannot easily enter an address while driving even with voice control.
The thing I like the most is the navigation system implemented through the Volvo On Call app. It uses Google maps and Google voice commands. Once you have the address then send it to the car and let Sensus navigation get you there.
Or you can use Android Auto/Apple Car Play and use Waze or Google Maps.
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250 Posts
We have had a 21 T5 R-Design a short period, but my overall comments understanding this is my wife’s car;
Not a bad car, curious to see how it holds up over time since other than my Audi this is first non-Asian car
- 20s ride is a tad firm for me
- car in bursting blue looks amazing
- while 20s make the ride more firm they look amazing
- darn Europeans, show me the TPMS readout for per tire pressure (huge pet peeve for me)
- do not like that the auto trip computer resets after sitting 4 hours, give me the option of time or fuel fill up. Miss that on my Acura’s that would reset trip A on fuel fill up. Makes it easier to estimate your remains range as fuels gauges suck for accuracy.
- Rear hatch power motor sounds like it is straining, but it is fast
- love the option to close rear hatch and lock the car with one push button
- Love the camera resolution and the 360 camera view
- gauge cluster is beautiful
- have read complaints about Sense and the center stack, but it is very responsive and seems reasonably intuitive once you get the basics
- center screen resolution is excellent
- oddly I have drive this and a P8 and the seats I. The T5 seems fine (bordering on too firm for me),but the P8 was much firmer and stiffer
- hate the side like inserts, this has become the norm now in “sporty” models, but I hate it as it makes seat feel warmer and precluded vented seats, which I prefer. Curious to see the inserted sided after 3-4 years, bet they look worse than 3-4 year old leather
- Car lacks that tight build feel. Door closing lacks the thud tight sound I have been used to in every car I have had for over 15 years.
- Polestar option seems to be a money grab by dealers since most of their R-Design cars have the option installed and is a waste compared to the standard Dynamic mode.
- Standard sound system is adequate for mainstream users, but wish we had the HK, but most cars did not have that option.
- And for a "luxury" car in 2021 it needs wireless android auto and apple carplay, surprised so many higher trim cars have been so slow with this
- Minor complain that it needs Premium gas in the T4, I get it, but many brands have moved to better engine designs that will have knock sensors and if you give them premium they perform better, if not they run fine on regular.
Not a bad car, curious to see how it holds up over time since other than my Audi this is first non-Asian car
Regarding your fourth bullet, there are two trip computers. I believe the one you are referring to is the TA which resets automatically. There is also a TM which you can reset manually whenever you wish. Like you, I reset that every time I get gas so I can calculate MPG based on miles driven since the last fillup. You can change your dash display to show either trip computer, TA or TM. Switch to TM and I think you'll have what you're looking for. The reset button is on the end of the turn signal lever; just press and hold for a few seconds until you see the mileage return to zero.
I hate all the deletes in the 2021.
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