2020 Volvo XC40 Reviews

The Volvo XC40 Recharge Plug-in Hybrid is the first PHEV among its luxury European small SUV rivals to hit Australian shores, making Volvo leaders in the field. Does it do enough? Or will you wait for its rivals to bring out a similar offering?

It's in a competitive category with Audi, BMW and Mercedes, so how does the Volvo XC40 stack up against other luxury small SUVs?

This a small SUV comparison with a difference. Why? Because one of these cars is not necessarily like the others. Two of the vehicles here are premium-branded SUVs, and one is a challenger.Mazda Australia is pushing upmarket with the new CX-30 model, which we’ve got here in top spec G25 Astina trim. And up against it? The all-new Audi Q3 35 TFSi - its first appearance in a CarsGuide comparison test - and our reigning pint-size premium SUV champion, the Volvo XC40, which we’ve got in entry-level Momentum spec.All three of these models have a starting list price tag in the $40,000 range, and they are all petrol powered, automatic, and two-wheel drive. Both the Audi and Volvo have a bunch of optional extras fitted that nudge their prices considerably, but the Mazda is almost box-fresh. However, we’re aiming to assess these models not so much on the glittery added bits, but the way they perform in other ways. We’ll assess each of these models against a range of criteria to help you decide which deserves to be on your shopping list. Let’s get to it. 

Volvo's on a roll in the Australian new car market (appropriate given Volvo means 'I roll' in Latin) and the compact XC40 SUV is a key part of that success. How does the sub-$50K, entry-level Momentum fare in the urban jungle?