Smallish XC 40 Swede

THE COMPACT XC40.

- Gary Witzenburg

Staying smartly abreast of the U.S.-market trend away from cars into crossovers, Swedish automaker Volvo is launching its third CUV in two years. And while this ’19 XC40, Volvo’s first premium compact CUV, has a somewhat quirkier look, it is easily identified as a family member. Volvo calls it a design “cousin” to its larger XC60 and XC90 stablemates, but with its own character and attitude. It is also the Swedish maker’s first vehicle on the new Compact Modular Architecture (CMA) platform shared with Chinese parent Geely Automobile, and it’s Volvo’s first model available through an all-inclusive “Care by Volvo” subscription as an alternative to a traditional sale or lease.

Volvo says its XC40 design and engineering teams pursued three key focal areas: expressive design, ingenious storage, and smart technologies. The kick-up C-pillars and contrasting roof colors (black on R-Design, available white on Momentum) are examples of the first; laptop-size door pockets, a removable armrest trash bin, and customizable rear cargo storage embody the second; a digital key mobile phone app for car sharing, a unique air-ventilated audio woofer behind the instrument panel, and the XC40’s extensive suite of active and passive safety features demonstrate the third.