Volvo Launches XC40 In India At ₹39.9 lakh
Volvo has added another elegant vehicle to its expanding product lineup in the form of the new XC40 compact crossover. Yours for ₹39.9 lakh, the XC40 offers a modern powertrain, advanced safety features (well of course), clean design both inside and outside, and a bangin’ music system.
The 2019 Volvo XC40 replaces the XC60 as the Swedish automaker’s entry-level crossover. Although Volvo has long been associated with mammoth buses in India and hardy, un-killable station wagons globally, the company does make some rather fine sedans and crossovers. Case in point the 2019 XC40.
The newest li’l Volvo SUV sits on an all-new architecture, dubbed Compact Modular Architecture (CMA), and is the first vehicle to employ the company’s new chassis, rounding up the Volvo SUV lineup in the low-end. The company claims the platform is future-ready for electrification and active safety features. Apparently, Sweden is ready with the EV tech that is already available on the XC40 globally, but our government does not have specific laws, regulations, and taxation norms in place that incentivise EVs over regular gas-guzzling vehicles.
So it’s not electric yet, but the XC40 does offer you a lot for the price, making it a compelling alternative to the usual Germans. For starters, just look at it! Volvo fans who have seen the new S90 or S60 will realise that the headlamps of both the sedans are the same as previous generation, made to look better with the company’s signature hammer DRLs. The 2019 Volvo XC40 carries similar but slightly tweaked DRLs, looking real good at it. The profile is much like any other compact crossover except for raised hump behind the C-Pillar which meets the sloping roof. Makes you wonder if the beltline and roof were adjusted to match the taillamps, which seem to fit well in the car’s defining lines. Volvo India is selling the XC40 R-Design (limited stock) which gets blacked-out roof and body cladding, and those fetching diamond-cut alloys.
Inside, there’s two-zone climate control, leather seats all round, a 12.3-inch instument cluster, 9-inch touchscreen infotainment, and an interior layout that is unmatched in its elegance and simplicity. Everything just falls at your fingertips, so well are the ergonomics thought out. And lest we forget, that bangin’ 13-speaker Haman-Kardon music system is good for 600W of output.
When it comes to safety tech, we know Volvo scoffs at NCAP’s safety rating parameters, adhering to its own loftier ones. Simply put, you cannot find a safer car to drive than a Volvo. Additionally, you cannot hope for life if you are on foot and see anything other than a Volvo car hurtling at you. In line with Volvo’s principles, the 2019 XC40 is loaded to the gills with an advanced web of safety features which also take into account pedestrian safety. In a segment-first, the company has fitted the crossover with RADAR-based safety tech, opening the doors to a host of new systems that call upon the Radar feed. These include Adaptive Cruise Control, City Safety with Steering Assist, On-coming Lane Mitigation, Driver Alerts, Run-off Road protection and roll stability control.
Nowadays, Volvo has been earning accolades coming up with engines that punch way above their weight. The XC40 get one such motor: a 2.0-litre twin-turbocharged diesel motor that generates 190PS and 400Nm while also being BS4 and Euro4 compliant. The engine is mated to an eight-speed auto tranny and a Haldex AWD system with selectable drive modes. These include Eco, Comfort, Dynamic, Off-Road and an individual mode that lets you play about with the car’s various systems. Arrive at a meeting in style or get down and dirty in the bush, Volvo’s got your back (and your bucks too).
The 2019 Volvo XC40 is good-looking, powerful, capable, and advances laziness with its creature comforts. Volvo India have been on a roll delivering reliable products in every segment they are in, and the XC40 is no different. A unique proposition in a sea of rings, propellers, and stars, this compact luxury crossover deserves a serious look-see.
