* The Volvo XC40's stylish profile.
 |
* ... and a minimalist dash layout. |
Volvo XC40 road test by Steve Rogers
My irritation with voice control in cars has,
apparently, become legendary and even sparked a discussion in a pub.
The trouble is two-fold. You have to go through hoops
to get the right function and once there it does not always do what you ask. I
even lost my temper with a Lexus (how stupid is that) because it went to radio
when I wanted to put in a postcode for navigation.
Well, I have finally come across a car with no quibble
voice control. Tell a Volvo what you want and 'your wish is my command'. In
this case it was the XC40 compact SUV, the latest and smallest in the line, but
equipped with the same Sensus connectivity as all other Volvos.
This means just about every function is stored away in
a tablet style computer sitting smack in the centre of the dashboard. It is a
big vertical screen and yes, the system is intimidating, some might find it
baffling.
The majority of cars have touchsceen infotainment
centres but for me the Volvo is the most complex. To be fair it is a
masterpiece of technology and people used to doing everything on smart phones
will get their heads around it in no time just as new Volvo owners will get
used to it....eventually.
But I didn't need to worry because the voice control
is brilliant. Tell it to tune to a radio station, put in a post code, change
the heating temperature or the fan speed and it does it. And they are the
functions we use most when driving. Result.
There is, of course, a lot more to XC40. In many ways
it is an exceptional car with eye catching styling, a stunning minimalist interior
(very Swedish), plenty of room and oodles of high end safety features. Would we
expect anything less from Volvo when it comes to keeping us safe?
You would not want to temp fete but about the only way
you will have an accident is if someone else causes it. Pilot assist will keep
you in your lane and control braking and speed, you will be warned not to pull
out if a car is overtaking, or if a vehicle is approaching when reversing out
of a parking slot. Very handy in supermarket car parks where some people drive
ridiculously quickly.
For all that the XC40's outstanding feature is comfort.
My test car was the R-Design which has sporty suspension so you might expect
ride to be a bit raw. It turned out to be the total opposite with the most
settled ride of any compact SUV I have driven and able to keep its composure
when pushed through twists and turns.
The seats, particularly the front, are very
comfortable and with generous rear legroom XC40 is a good family car. There is
a decent sized boot (R-Design has a powered tailgate) with a wide opening and
flat loading area with the back seats folded.
Volvo has switched emphasis to smaller petrol engines
and hybrid and electric power, you don't get anything over two litres, and has
developed a turbocharged 1.5 litre petrol as its entry point for XC40.
This three-cylinder engine musters a formidable 163bhp
and is quick off the mark but it does lack refinement and is noisy once the
needle passes 4000rpm. Economy is not brilliant either, I never managed to
reach 40mpg on the trip computer which is in line with the official figures but
I would hope for better. Volkswagen does a better job with its 1.5litre petrol.
For those wanting more economy take a look at the D3
diesel.
This is another fine car from Volvo which is almost
mirroring Audi in the way it has risen up the premium ranks. It has both style
and substance, is reasonably priced, and although it is not quite the best at
everything, it still does everything very well.
Key facts
XC40 R-Design 8sp auto
£31,500
1.5litre T3 turbo
163bhp
0-62mph 9.6secs;
124mph
35.8-39.2mpg
combined
148g/km. 1st year
tax £210
Insurance group 22
Boot: 586 litres
No comments:
Post a Comment