2022 Volvo XC40

Volvo isn't known for building canyon-carving sports cars, but the XC40 is surprisingly delightful from behind the wheel. We can tell Volvo tuned it for city driving, with feather-light steering that's easy to operate at slower speeds. There's a bit of on-center vagueness, but the steering provides nice weighting once it loads up through a bend, despite lacking genuine feedback. Body roll is kept to a minimum, but the XC40 Recharge with its floor-mounted batteries offers a more flat cornering experience. Some vehicles in this class fail to deliver a luxurious ride, but even with the massive 21-inch wheels, the XC40 still delivers on Volvo's trademark comfort.

尽管提供北极星性能包,the XC40 wasn't designed with aggressive driving in mind. There are no paddle shifters on the wheel, but the transmission does a fair job keeping the four-pot engine in its sweet spot. With nearly 300 lb-ft of torque on tap with the Polestar tune, the XC40 gets out of its own way in a hurry, though nowhere near as quick as its electric counterpart. The Polestar tune unlocks a Polestar driving mode, which provides more responsive shifts and engine tuning. We could notice the difference, but honestly, the XC40 isn't the type of vehicle that needs such an eager sport mode.

Most vehicles in the subcompact luxury SUV segment come with some major flaws, but the 2022 Volvo XC40 appears to be the most well-rounded and enjoyable option available. During our week of testing, we struggled to find one area where we hated the XC40 (an easy task in some of its rivals). The XC40 is more comfortable than the BMW X1 and Mercedes GLA, more exciting than the Audi Q3, larger than the Lexus UX, and less expensive than the Jaguar E-Pace and Range Rover Evoque. Volvo carefully threaded the needle in this segment, much to our delight.

There is one major reason why we wouldn't purchase the XC40, however; the XC40 Recharge is better value. With over 400 horsepower and a $7,500 federal tax credit, the Recharge's $51,700 starting price seems like a more enticing proposition than a fully-loaded T5 Inscription. If it were our money, we'd go all-in on the electric XC40 instead of the conventional gasoline model.

The XC60 is a larger, more expensive, and more luxurious vehicle. It's been a top-seller for Volvo for some time, and for good reason. The base B5 powertrain in the XC60 produces 247 hp, making it a lot faster than the XC40 T4. It also has more standard features like dual-zone climate control and a laminated panoramic moonroof. Despite being a larger vehicle, the XC60's trunk isn't all that much larger - it's only when you fold the rear seats down that the bigger vehicle's size becomes more apparent. The XC60 begins at $42,650 but it's quite easy to spend over $50,000 on one. There is also a hybrid alternative, which the XC40 doesn't offer. This is a close call as we love the XC40's more playful styling and the combination of its compact size with a spacious interior, but the more comfortable XC60 is a nicer SUV overall.

The omnipresent competition from Germany will always win over badge snobs, but is the Audi Q3 really a better car than the XC40? Starting at a base price of around $36k, the Q3 is a bit more expensive than the entry-level XC40 but is slower, taking 8.6 seconds to reach 60 mph. However, the Q3 does come with AWD as standard. The Audi has a chunkier appearance, a more somber but higher quality interior, and more cargo space behind the second row. With its 228-hp engine, the Q3 is more competitive but the XC40 T5 is still quicker. Another advantage in the Audi's favor is its more user-friendly infotainment system. However, the Audi's advantages are all negligible, whereas the XC40's better performance and lower price tag are hard to argue with. That, together with the Volvo's more special styling, makes it our choice.