6 Jul 2018
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Volvo’s all-new XC40 small SUV entered showrooms in May 2018 and, by the time the vehicle was officially launched a few weeks later, the first wave of Australian-spec models – dubbed ‘Launch Edition’ variants – were already sold out.
Buyers were clearly drawn to Volvo’s first foray into the burgeoning compact crossover segment, with the XC40 not looking at all like a downsized 3D printout of the successful XC60 but something unique and instantly engaging – both outside and certainly within.
With the Launch Editions sold out, the basic range was pegged back to four variants that covered petrol and diesel power in Momentum and R-Design model grades.
These were perhaps the most familiar aspects of the XC40 – Volvo’s T5 petrol (182kW/350Nm) and D4 diesel (140kW/400Nm) 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engines, both of which drove all four wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission.
The XC40 marked the first application of Volvo’s new compact modular architecture (CMA platform) co-developed with parent company Geely, and each variant was highly specified in keeping with the Swedish brand’s usual emphasis on safety, technology, premium detailing and functionality.
