First Drive: 2023 XC40 Facelift is more tech, more comfort at entry level luxury SUV

Pune: The Swedish automaker Volvo’s electric XC40 Recharge has been well received in the Indian market. But what about the standard combustion-engined Volvo XC40 Petrol Mild Hybrid facelift which has attracted attention of the potential buyers looking for an affordable car in the small luxury SUV segment.

So, I took the XC40 Petrol Mild Hybrid for a spin on the highways to find out the performance of the new mild-hybrid powertrain, technology and the updates inside and out of this new SUV.

The Exteriors

Undoubtedly, the compact SUV still has an upright and smart design with athletic proportions. Most of the subtle changes are focused on the exterior such as the headlights which now house a more angular ‘Thor’s hammer’ Daytime Running Light (DRL) signature and a reprofiled front bumper that features a cleaner look and triangular housings for the fog lights. The rest of the face is largely carried over. However, the changes to the side are a bit of a step back. The alloys for the 18-inch wheels are now a fairly-plain single-tone shade while the dual-tone colour palette has been lost too. But overall, the XC40 facelift continues to look distinctive and contemporary despite now being around for a while. The rear remains largely untouched aside from the new B4 variant badging and a single-tone bumper insert.

The Interiors

The cabin has remained largely unchanged so that plush serene feeling when you step inside is still intact. The quality of materials and finish is the best in this segment, giving you the feeling of luxury from the minimalist design and high quality. The Orrefors glass shifter makes an appearance on the XC40 now, replacing the old quite plasticky one, enhancing this sense more than you would think. It is equipped with the latest Android-based infotainment system that Volvo debuted with the XC60 and S60 earlier this year. The hardware remains unchanged so with newer competitors around you do wish for crisper menus and a higher-resolution screen, but the deep Google integration that brings with it Maps and Assitant and other Google services works naturally. The new digital instrumentation will also show Google Maps right in front of you so navigating is quite easy, although there's little scope for screen customisation otherwise.

The front seats are large and cushioned just right. You even get extendable squabs so it is comfortable over long stints behind the wheel. The door pockets are large and have a rich felt lining to them. Although the backrest cushioning could have been a bit softer, it is still a supportive bench with good amounts of knee and legroom with a flat floor. The panoramic sunroof also does not eat into the headroom too much. The boot space is quite roomy with 452 litres of cargo space with a very usable shape and neat features like the adjustable boot floor. The other new features include a PM 2.5 air filter and USB-C charging. The 14-speaker Harman-Kardon audio system, wireless charging, panoramic sunroof, and lumbar support remain the same.

The Drive Experience

The new 2.0-litre, four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine now gets a 48V mild-hybrid system in the facelift SUV. The new powertrain makes 197 hp and 300 Nm, which is a 7hp improvement to the standard turbo-petrol offered on the previous model. You can feel this as you drive along with the engine more eager to build power due to the mild-hybrid system filling any small gaps in the powerband. As the car rolls out off the line in a smooth manner. And the electric motor appears to do a good job of covering the gaps in the engine's powerband, making for linear in-gear performance across most conditions. It does enhance the sedate, laidback demeanour of this SUV. Without a doubt, the performance is more than adequate on the long highways as well as on the city roads.

But this XC40 is not an SUV for those looking for driving thrills. This car is to be driven calmly to enjoy it and get the best out of it with its straight-line stability, refinement and a general sense of solidity. But when you drive a bit harder and you do notice a sense of body roll as well as some pitching and diving over undulations. The steering also could do with a bit more feel on-centre but this improves as you turn in. Having said that, the SUV is reasonably precise and makes it easy to manoeuvre. The engine offers good levels of refinement with low Noise Vibration Harshness (NVH) levels. The power is sent to the front wheels via an eight-speed automatic gearbox that is not as fast shifting as its competitors but makes up for it in its smooth operation.

Undoubtedly, the 48V mild-hybrid system is well integrated in its operation, with the engine shutting off when you come to a halt at a signal or in traffic, and quickly restarting when you get off the brake pedal. The only time it feels a touch slow is in bumper-to-bumper, stop-start traffic, when it can take a second to restart the engine. Volvo has dropped the multiple drive modes offered on the pre-facelift model, though it has added an off-road mode which can be accessed through the settings in the infotainment system. The mode essentially makes the throttle response even more linear and alters the traction control settings for better performance when traversing looser surfaces.

The suspension system of the XC40 absorbs almost all road imperfection, be it at low city speeds or when cruising down the highway at triple-digit speeds. On the highway, driving the XC40 is exceptionally stable and smooth.

Should I buy it?

The overall package with a handsome design, high-quality interiors with almost all the features you could want, enough safety equipment to keep up with the segment and exceptional ride quality makes it competitive and attractive. This Rs 46.40 lakh SUV is a great car for those who drive themselves within the city as well as highways on weekends. All in all, this SUV is still one of the stronger contenders in this segment with its value-proposition and comforting driving.