Volvo XC40 Electric: a trunk at the front as on the Tesla

Another essential point in this type of adventure, the trunk. That of the XC40 claims a volume of 460 liters, which is average for the category. Verdict, after having loaded two very large suitcases (when you do not know how to travel light, we do with it), there was no longer a lot of space, especially in height because it is reduced between the floor and the trunk board. Another grievance, the height of the loading threshold, which requires making weight training sessions each time load or empty the luggage, especially since the XC40 does not have the pneumatic suspension, which makes it possible to lower the checkout height.

Long -term trial – 3,000 km in Volvo XC40: a deserved car title?

After Romania, the Czech Republic, Italy, here I am embarked on my fourth roadtrip. For this time, we head to the north. Direction Scandinavia and precisely Sweden driving the majority of models in the Volvo range. For this journey, my mount will be an XC40, the compact SUV of the Swedish manufacturer crowned with the car title of the year 2018.

Difficult to choose a vehicle when you plan to travel nearly 3,000 km with. Some will crack for a look, others for a motorization. For my part, it is a default choice. The XC40 being the only model of the Swedish brand that I had not yet led, so I set my sights on this compact SUV.

Long -term trial – 3,000 km in Volvo XC40: a deserved car title?

Our 3,000 km journey will therefore bring our XC40 back to its original lands, but not where it is made since assembled in Ghent, Belgium in Belgium. For this immersion in northern Europe, we crossed Germany, Denmark, joined Stockholm and then climbed even further north to finally descend to Götebord, the fief of Volvo.

From Paris, I am quite proud of myself because I played the card of reason. The XC40 is indeed the smallest, the least powerful, the cheapest, the only two -wheel drive from the five vehicles in this roadtrip. But beware, he is the only one to have received the car title of the year, it was in 2018. What make his traveling companions jealous. It remains of course to know what will be our verdict at the end of this a week adventure.

Aesthetically, the XC40 logically has a typical design of the XC range. The lines are muscular without being too angular, except the rear shoulder of the marked box.

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The grille or daytime fires in the shape of a “T” are some of the characteristic features of current Volvo including the XC40.

Using the stylistic codes of SUVs with its horizontal hood and large diameter wheels, the XC40 shares many points with the other models of the brand, such as the large grille composed only of vertical bars and adorned in its center by the logo (round barred with an arrow, ancient chemical symbol of iron reminiscent of Swedish steel) which has not changed since the creation of the brand, in 1927. The light signature is also common with day -shaped daytime fires to refer to the Nordic god Hammer Thor, while rear those have a shape close to the. The only peculiarity lies in the rear window divided into two parts with an attached custom.

With its 4.43 m long, this XC40 is the smallest of Volvo SUVs. It is therefore positioned below the XC60 and XC90. Next to his big brothers at the Champ de Mars, this difference is immediately noticed, although the XC40 is still a respectable template.

In the passenger compartment, without any surprises, he takes up the dashboard dear to the Swedish manufacturer. It consists of 100 % digital instrumentation and a 9 -inch touch -up multimedia screen established vertically. Its presentation is clearly offset from other SUV models. We also advise you to opt for a clear shade for the cabin, which will strengthen the Zen side and also visual approval. The quality of the materials is a bit disappointing. So certainly, plastics are foamed on the upper part but the bottom of the dashboard is hard plastic. Too bad for a premium vehicle.

The storage is, however, very numerous and rather large, such as those in the door or at the central console, the latter allowing to store various and varied objects such as cans, keys or even load your mobile phone by induction. Very practical when you are about to make a long trip. Some tips are welcome, like the removable basket placed in front of the armrest.

Another essential point in this type of adventure, the trunk. That of the XC40 claims a volume of 460 liters, which is average for the category. Verdict, after having loaded two very large suitcases (when you do not know how to travel light, we do with it), there was no longer a lot of space, especially in height because it is reduced between the floor and the trunk board. Another grievance, the height of the loading threshold, which requires making weight training sessions each time load or empty the luggage, especially since the XC40 does not have the pneumatic suspension, which makes it possible to lower the checkout height.

Volvo XC40 Electric: a trunk at the front as on the Tesla

The Swedish manufacturer continues to communicate information on its new version of the SUV XC40 in drop. After the security component, some specificities allowed by the 100% electric motorization that are highlighted.

A chest instead of the engine

Since there are no more voluminous heat engine and the batteries are staying at the floor, why not install a trunk under the hood, at the front ? An idea already implemented by Tesla for years, and to a lesser extent by BMW, for its i3. The other manufacturers often take advantage of this location to place the gas factory of the package system of the pack, and key elements of the electric traction chain.

On the XC40, which the manufacturer will present entirely on October 16, the trunk has a small volume of 30 liters. Other storage spaces will be offered on board, distributed to the four corners of the passenger compartment (door panels, under the seats, removable trash, etc.)).

A full grille

The grille having become useless because of a lower need at the air inlet, a choice had to be made: to keep it for aesthetics or make it full and painted the same color as the bodywork. It is for this second option that Volvo opted, in order to create a visual identity distinct from thermal models, and to best integrate the radars, cameras and ultrasonic sensors of the modular ADAS platform (Advanced Drivers Assistance Systems) which will benefit then to future autonomous vehicles of the group.

This first 100% electric car of the manufacturer will be deliverable with one of the 8 shades offered in the catalog. On this subject, Volvo only communicates on a new shade: metallic sage green.

Scandinavian design

Vice-president in charge of design at Volvo Cars, Robin Page sees in the disappearance of exhaust pots and the usual grille a return to “Scandinavian design [which] finds its roots in clarity and minimalism”. It describes as “sober” and “more modern” the new front side permitted by the 100% electric motorcycle group.

This “daring, more refined and contemporary profile than ever”, the manager promises to transmit it to other models affected by the Volvo range electrification program.