Volvo XC40 SUV - Interior & comfort

Volvo interiors have long been respected for their simple, robust nature and Scandinavian style. Recently, the brand has been on a roll, introducing new materials and pushing the brand upmarket to rival the likes of Audi, BMW and Lexus, and the XC40 benefits from this purple patch.

The same uncluttered style found in the larger XC90 and XC60 models is present here, along with lots of clever touches. For instance, Volvo has found a way to move the bass speakers from the bottom of the doors to behind the dashboard, freeing up room for huge door bins.

Volvo XC40 dashboard

The portrait touchscreen, first seen in the Volvo XC90, has gradually filtered down through the range, and arguably feels even more special at this lower price point. The fact it controls so many aspects of the vehicle can take some getting used to, but it uses Google-based software that's easy to get to grips with and now boasts sharper graphics and faster responses than before.

With a well-finished dashboard, the XC40 feels like a premium product, even if the obligatory soft-touch plastics are few and far between. Volvo also hasn’t forgotten its practical side, with features like a fold-out curry hook integrated into the glovebox to help you get your takeaway home intact.

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Equipment

There are three main trim levels, which are now called Core, Plus and Ultra (instead of Momentum, R-Design and Inscription from a few years back). Even the Core trim is pretty lavish, with dual-zone climate control, 18-inch wheels, rear parking sensors, cruise control, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and the infotainment system described above.

Plus adds some extra luxury in the form of powered and heated seats, plus a hands-free tailgate and a reversing camera. Its heated windscreen will also be a welcome feature during winter. It’s a little surprising that the Pure doesn’t feature the older R-Design’s sportier looks, given how popular the likes of Audi’s S line models are.

Reading more like the equipment list for a luxury SUV, Ultra adds luxury touches like a 360-degree camera, a 12-speaker Harman Kardon stereo system and a panoramic sunroof. The car’s exterior gets some unique details to match, along with a choice of wheels.

Options

Volvo offers some appealing extras bundled into packs to make things less confusing. As you’d expect, the Climate pack adds heated seats, a heated windscreen and a heated steering wheel to the Core model. The Driver Assist pack is worth considering, especially if you spend time on the motorway, adding adaptive cruise control, blind-spot warnings, rear cross-traffic alert and the semi-autonomous Pilot Assist driving aid.

Other options include a spare wheel, leather or wool upholstery and tinted windows.