Volvo XC40

The cabin of the 2024 Volvo XC40 is classy and practical. There's a great mix of high-end plastic, leather, and wood or metal inlays. The dashboard and door cards get open-pore wood inlays that uplift the cabin ambience. The top-level model comes with driftwood trim and a shift knob crafted from Orrefors crystal. The gloss-black detailing around the air-conditioning vents, the 9.0-inch portrait-oriented touchscreen infotainment unit, and the central console look sleek. The infotainment unit is connected to a 14-speaker Harmon-Kardon audio system. There's a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster with crisp display. The 2024 Volvo XC40 comes with 452 litres of boot space. The load bay has fairly square proportions that make loading and unloading super-easy. All physical knobs are easy to operate and feel solid. The leather-wrapped multifunction steering wheel controls all the multimedia functions.   

The 2024 Volvo XC40 gets sharper styling with more angular headlights that retain the 'Thor's hammer' daytime running lights (DRLs). The car is mounted on Volvo’s Compact Modular Architecture (CMA) platform. There's a new bumper that houses triangular foglamps finished in gloss black. The front fascia is dominated by a big gloss-black grille with the Volvo logo in chrome. The car runs on five-spoke, silver-colour 19-inch alloy wheels with Pirelli Scorpion Zero All Season tires. The upgraded XC40 gets black roof rails and wing mirrors. Changes at the back are minimal. The skid plate now gets a black finishing instead of sliver in the pre-facelift model. The powertrain badge has of course, changed. The sharper exterior design keeps the car in competition with new rivals.

The front seats of the 2024 Volvo XC40 offer excellent cushioning and support and offer loads of electric adjustment. The driver's seat comes with a memory function but doesn't get ventilation which would have been nice. Legroom and headroom and sumptuous. The bench-type rear seats have a good amount of space and offer nice comfort, but the backrest seems a bit upright. The panoramic sunroof makes the cabin more spacious than it actually is. In terms of cabin amenities, the 2024 Volvo XC40 gets a PM 2.5 air purifier. The ride may appear a bit firm at low speed over potholes or broken roads because of the slightly stiff suspension. But it's never uncomfortable because the jolts are rarely felt inside the cabin. 

The 2024 Volvo XC40 B4 Core is hauled by a turbocharged, four-cylinder, 2.0-litre petrol engine that produces 198 PS of maximum power and 300 Nm of peak torque. The motor is mated to an eight-speed automatic. The performance of the upgraded model has improved in terms of output numbers. The engine pulls cleanly, and power delivery is very linear. The car impresses with its stability at high speeds. The SUV feels confident around bends, and body roll is nicely contained. The steering is light and feels consistent. The 2024 Volvo XC40 impresses as a very stable highway cruiser.

All 2024 Volvo XC40 models come with a rearview camera and rear parking sensors, and the Ultimate trim gets a 360-degree camera system. The sat-nav and Google Maps support are built-in. Other standard safety equipment includes pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, and semi-autonomous driving mode.

At a starting price of AED 180,000, the 2024 Volvo XC40 is among the most expensive cars in its segment. But Volvo cars are always worth their price because of the great ride comfort, potent powertrain, and superb safety features. It's a well-packaged, sturdy car.