Volvo XC40 - Reliability and safety
There’s lots of safety kit with the Volvo XC40, but it has been slipping down the Driver Power rankings recently
The Volvo XC40 finished 61st out of 75 cars in the 2023 Driver Power owner satisfaction survey, while the Volvo brand came 13th out of 32 in the manufacturers poll. The former is a little disappointing given that the XC40 featured much higher in a previous survey, placing 23rd out of 75 cars in 2021.
Safety continues to be a priority for Volvo, and the XC40 doesn't disappoint. It scored five stars out of five when tested by Euro NCAP in 2018, with an update in 2021 to include the electric versions. It scored an impressive 97 per cent for adult occupant protection and 87 per cent for child occupant protection. You get automatic emergency braking across the range, and it’s capable of spotting cars, pedestrians, and large animals. Every XC40 gets a lane departure system, which will intervene and pull the car back into the lane if it senses you’re going to steer into the path of oncoming traffic.
Warranty
The XC40 comes with a three-year/60,000-mile warranty, which is par for the course in this class, but it can't match the unlimited mileage warranties of either the Alfa Romeo Tonale or BMW X1. Like most brands, Volvo offers extended warranties that'll cover up your car for up to four years/60,000 miles or four year/80,000 miles.
Servicing
Volvo also offers fixed-price service plans for its cars that can be paid for up front or on a monthly basis. These can last from two-five years and cover annual mileages up to 50,000 miles.
More reviews
If you choose to lease your XC40 or EX40 via Volvo’s Subscription service, you’ll get servicing included in the monthly fee. It will also cover wear and tear items such as wiper blades, brakes, and tyres – although perhaps not the latter if you decide to wear them out doing doughnuts around the supermarket car park.
What do owners think?
Below is what owners thought of the Volvo XC40 in the 2024 Driver Power customer satisfaction survey.
| What they like | What they don't like |
| “I love the quiet, smooth and effortless progress in EV mode, but I’m reassured by the fitment of an engine.” | “Too many features are buried in the touchscreen sub-menus. I probably still haven’t found some!” |
| “It looks stylish and modern, and it just screams quality both inside and out. It’s also easy and enjoyable to drive.” | “The worst aspect is the petrol engine/auto gearbox pairing, which is so jerky it’s almost uncomfortable.” |
| “The safety systems are very comprehensive and I’m especially happy with the auto emergency braking.” | “The LED headlights are incredibly disappointing. My old 2016 Mercedes’ lights were miles better.” |
| “The XC40 feels like a class product, with a high-quality cabin and an effortless and refined driving experience.” | “I pride myself on being a smooth driver, but it’s really difficult to modulate the brakes, which lack bite.” |
| “Looks as good after three years as at delivery. Soft-touch plastics and supple leather feel high in quality.” | “Economy is disappointing, given the hybrid tech fitted. And it costs more to service than my Porsche.” |
| “It’s not cheap, but the price is competitive with similarly high-quality products, so I don’t feel short-changed.” | |
| “The handing is generally excellent. There is very little body roll, but the stiffer suspension does mean that severe potholes and rough road surfaces are more noticeable.” | |
| “The front seats are supportive, with lots of adjustment, while the excellent all-round visibility is reassuring. I’m quite small, so being slightly higher up makes driving that bit easier.” | |
| “I can easily fit four six-footers in the car with no complaints. Despite the roomy cabin, there’s also plenty of space in the boot, which is better than most rivals offer, and this is boosted by the loads of handy storage below the boot floor.” |
Tell us what you think of your car! Take the Driver Power survey…
Which Is Best
Cheapest
- Name2.0 B3P Core 5dr Auto
- Gearbox typeSemi-auto
- RRP£36,310
Most Economical
- Name2.0 B3P Core 5dr Auto
- Gearbox typeSemi-auto
- RRP£36,310
Fastest
- Name2.0 B4P Plus Dark 5dr Auto
- Gearbox typeSemi-auto
- RRP£40,960
