2019 Volvo XC40 T5 AWD R-Design - Bottom Line Review
(Contributing Editor: Susan Frissell)
Swedish Fish are a colorful fun candy goodwill ambassador from a land whose rugged landscape is less than colorful but begs adventurous exploration. Examining the piscine shape, then biting into starch gummy texture rewarded by a fruity sweet rather than a pickled herring flavor is a youthful pleasure.
With no kettle of boiling fish and potatoes upscent and a colorful Lava Orange cabin in sight, Roadblazing.com was set to feast on the all new 2019 Volvo XC40 cute ute sports activity vehicle from the Swedish carmaker.
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WHAT: 2019 Volvo XC40 T5 AWD R-Design subcompact sport activity vehicle, on the Swedish automaker's Scalable Product Architecture.
Standard Power (T5): transverse intercooled turbocharged 2.0L DOHC 16V DI gas I-4 = 250 hp/ 258 lb-ft @ 1500 rpm + 8-spd. torque converter planetary transmission w/ shift paddles + Haldex IV all-wheel drive.
Front-wheel drive exclusive XC40 T4 = detuned 187 hp/ 221 lb-ft powerplant
(A) STYLING (DIFFERENCE): At least a galaxy away from the last sensuously stodgy 40-Series sub-compact Volvo sedan offered in the U.S.
Cues in Baby Bear's genes inherited from Mama Bear XC60 and Papa Bear XC90 = √ Low slung hood pours over into fender, w/ wider split twin side valleys; √ Defined muscle = pronounced mid fascia and fully scooped coke bottle door cheatline; √ R-Design rugged = Darkened grate version of wide hexagonal grille matching contrasting dark roof, pillars, full lower body cladding; √ Inboard arrow shaped slim wrap-around LED headlamps; √ "Thor's Hammer" alternating white DRLs/ amber flashers;
√ Dark contrast roof spills partly into C-pillar, delineated by exaggerated Hoffmeister kink,
√ Deep liftgate adopts cheatline Kammback bulge; √ Trademark long "S" LED tail-lamps follow from the roof spoiler down to the mid tailgate cheatline, wrapping into the rear quarters; √ Slightly beveled part dark clad svelte bumper cover carries license plate in octagonal bezel; √ Sizeable hockey stick shaped lower corner reflectors; are followed, by twin chrome tetrahedral exhaust outlets.
Summed-up: Lithest of Volvo SUVs also looks meanest.
WHY: Whole lotta' personality and ute from a compact Volvo
WHEN: On-Sale (in the U.S.) since late Spring 2018
WHERE: Volvo new vehicle dealers
WHERE MADE: Ghent, Belgium
WHERE TO: standard (in U.S.) Haldex all-wheel drive, e-varies front/ rear traction from 90/ 10% - lockable at maximum 50/50%, rear e-clutch differential limits the slip; Selectable and Driver customizable Off-Road modes aided by ABS descent control; 8" clearance = Inclement weather beater & light off-roader;
HOW ROADWORTHY: Long pedal travel to reach meat of waste gate driven variable scroll intercooled turbocharged boost is tantamount to "turbo lag;" Thereafter the 8-speed Aisin automatic seems bent on smooth B-lines to the higher (read most efficient) gears.
-1 Joystick toggle center console transmission position shifter frustrates attempts at quick getaways from Park: Not that remembering to depress the separate console flush mount P button when parking is any easier. Such efforts generate a stern "Depress brake pedal before shifting," warning in the gauge cluster.
Quick Haldex IV grants some understeer , then intervening with a maximum 90% torque split the rear open differential with ABS vectoring; Fish Splashing: powerplant noises = guppy mating calls
Compliance = just this side of acceptable for a luxury cute ute; Slightly stiffer R-Design damping & immense 20"-inch wheels emphasize more road imperfections; High center of gravity + short wheelbase emit greater sense of sway, while inert steering feel hampers turn-in sharpeness; The stiff structure can't be faulted;
Utterly reliable Pilot Assist 2 semi-autonomous Level 2 driving, offers competent lane control even on freeway bends; Brake pedal effort seems wooden but slows impressively; -1 Low speed steering squeak
HOW FAR: 24 combined miles per gallon; 430 highway miles
HOW BIG/ LITTLE: √ 5 Occupant 2+3 seating
- For Comparison's Sake:
- 106.4"-inch Wheelbase: 1.3" > BMW X1, 3.0" < Cadillac XT4
- Maximum cargo capacity: 18% < BMW X1, 8% < Infiniti QX30
- 2nd Row legroom: 3.4" > Cadillac XT4, 1.0" < Jaguar E-Pace, 0.9" < BMW X1
HOW USEFUL: √ 60/40% split sliding 2nd Row cushions; √ 2nd Row reclining & flat fold seat backs; √ Remote 2nd Row power seatback release; √ 2nd Row center pass through;
√ Cargo area 12V outlet; √ Power liftgate; √ Folding & tethering cargo floor; √ Sub-cargo floor storage; +1 Ample bottom center stack wireless device bin; √ Sub-front seat storage; √ Deep, carpet-lined front + rear door pockets; √ 2nd Row side pockets; -1 Low end of class cargo capacity; -1 Thick rear pillars and small backlight make optional surround view cameras nearly imperative; Tow Rating: 5000 lbs.
-1 No overhead console retracting sunglass bin; -1 Distant reach to & smaller glove box;
HOW SAFE: √ 7 airbags; √ Surround camera view; sonar front & rear Park Distance Control, √ Blind spot, rear cross traffic & lane departure warning, √ Auto parking brake hold; √ City Safety pedestrian avoidance; √ Auto high beam headlamps; √ Power 2nd Row door child locks
Partial Autonomous Driving: √ Pilot Assist 2; √ Full-adaptive cruise control; √ Lane Keep Assist, √ Forward Collision avoidance braking; √ Active Park Assist; +1 Permits 23 seconds of hands/ foot free driving.
Park Assist Pilot: Parallel and back-in perpendicular parking seems space locating challenged.
HOW PEOPLE FRIENDLY: √ Supportive, 8-way power driver/ 4-way power front passenger seats, manual knee extenders, 2-setting driver's memory; √ Power windows w/ full express x 4; √ 2-Zone auto climate control w/ auto front seat, steering wheel heating; √ 2nd Row privacy glass; √ Power retracting rear headrests; √ Door puddle lamps x 4; √ Panoramic power moon-roof;
Cool Gizmo(s): √ 12.3"-inch LCD Digital Driver Display w/ configurable LCD twin gauges √ Waterproof center console retracting cover trash bin;
Details Done Right: √ Lava orange carpet = mimicked in door panel & pocket felt; √ Aluminum steering wheel, vent, door handle, display bezels & rotary knobs; √ "Cutting Edge" hyphen aluminum dash & door inlays; √ Contrast stitched, perforated Nappa leather + nubuck seating; √ Dashboard & door panel & footwell ambient LEDs; √ Hood mount hanging Swedish flag.
Nearly Non-Descript: -1 Ordinary plastic keyless push start & drive modes switches replace XC90 hammered metal barrels; Un-lined center armrest storage bin & glovebox; Uneven glovebox door gap.
HOW "APP" -LICABLE: √ 9" vertical tablet, pane-swipe, touch LCD infotainment screen, √ Touch script text entry; √ Rotary audio volume dial, selection, defroster & Home screen switches ; √ Voice recognition command hands-free communications w/ SMS, MMS, Email; √ 3-D HDD GPS navigation; √ Subscription based Sirius XM radio & TravelLink; √ Android Auto + Apple CarPlay; Sensus Connected Apps = Pandora, Google Destination, Weather, Park & Pay, Spotify, TuneIn, Yelp, Glympse, Voice record; √ Qi Wireless Charging; √ 12V x 3; USB x 1.
Audibly: √ 13 speaker, 600 W Harman Kardon Q-Logic = boomy bass notes bias
By Subscription: √ SiriusXM ( 90 days incl.); √ 4G LTE by Verizon;
HOW MUCH: $45,935 = as tested 2019 Volvo XC40 T5 AWD R-Design; $800/ mo. Care By Volvo subscription ownership
WHAT'S MISSING: Conventional gated transmission position selector; heated rear seats
ANY COMPETITION: BMW X1: +1 engine response, handling, cabin IT; Cadillac XT4: +1 2nd Row space; Infiniti QX50: +1 Sublime cabin design; Jaguar E-Pace: +1 Cachet, available diesel; Lexus NX 300; +1 Syrupy ride
FINAL WORD: Lingonberry tangy, luxury urban handsome ute
George Straton
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