Volvo XC40 Engine and Performance
Volvo will offer the XC40 will a single engine option at launch. Power comes from a 2.0 litre four cylinder diesel engine (D4) that develops 190 horsepower and 400 Nm of torque. The 0 to 100 kph sprint is done in a claimed 7.9 seconds. While low end is decent, there is a very healthy mid-range. The motor has top notch refinement levels and you can’t hear a thing when at idle or at relaxed cruising speeds. It is only when push hard at higher rpms that the engine gets audible. The eight speed automatic gearbox by Aisin has silky smooth shifts and the ratios are well calibrated. You can also shift manually via the paddle shifters. One grouse that we had was with the gear selector. It takes two taps to go into D or R. One tap simply takes it to Neutral. It does get irritating and takes a while getting used to. For going into P, simply press a button under the gear selector. There are driving modes too: Eco, Comfort, Off-Road, Dynamic and Individual. Each mode alters the driving characteristics and engine response. The XC40 also gets a Haldex all wheel drive system that’s good for some mild off-roading.
The suspension set up comprises of steel springs all around. While there is a certain stiffness felt, the ride quality is quite composed. The normal undulations on the roads are not felt in the cabin. The larger ones do filter into the cabin. High speed stability is excellent and brakes are very efficient too. There is confidence going around corners but there is noticeable body roll that remind you that this is an SUV.
Volvo XC40 Safety
So the XC40 is the baby of the Volvo SUV range, so does that make it less safe? Not a chance. The XC40 gets every safety feature that has come to be expected from a Volvo. What’s interesting is that it also gets the radar based safety systems that are available on the XC60 and the XC90. These include adaptive cruise control, Pilot Assist, oncoming lane mitigation, Lane Keeping Aid and City Safety for pedestrian, cyclists and animal dedication. The Hyderabad Outer Ring Road (ORR) was perfect ground to test these features and they worked like a charm. The adaptive cruise control and Pilot Assist get quite addictive and the car will drive itself and you are safe as long as you have a hand near the steering. A couple of cars that overtook us looked in shock as they saw the car steering itself. Quite a moment that.
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