It’s been almost two and a half years since I brought the Volvo XC40 T4 Recharge home. I’ve written about it after a year, and I think it’s about time I did it again. After all, a lot can happen…
The faults
If you’re reading this, chances are you’re interested in getting an XC40, maybe the plug-in version, but you’re also wondering if it’s reliable. After almost 50.000 km at the wheel (bought it at 22.000 km), here’s all the things that went wrong:
Steering wheel creaking at low speeds (parking maneuvers) – the front shock absorbers had to be changed. This is a common issue with the XC40 and the replacement is quite straightforward – it took just under two hours at my nearest Volvo dealer.
The boot struts are also creaking, also a common fault with Volvos. They still do a good job, but I’m not expecting them to last that much. The original parts are expensive, but there’s 3rd party options that keep the cost under €150 (and I can change them without going to the dealer).
The steering wheel leather has peeled off in two places (9 and 12 o’clock positions), which feels like the biggest disappointment. For a premium brand, I expected Volvo to do better in this department, especially considering the car I had before was a 2007 Nissan Qashqai with a leather steering wheel that held up just fine.
During the second winter that I’ve driven it, the EV range stopped showing the maximum 45 km. This could mean the batteries are starting to degrade. Spring and summer temperatures have fixed this “issue”.
The upgrades
My thinking about upgrading any car is this: if it makes life easier, it’s absolutely worth it.
The first thing I did was getting the official glasses holder. Yes, it’s unfortunate Volvo hasn’t fitted its cars with holders above the rearview mirror. And yes, it’s weird the one they sell goes above the driver’s window, but I got used to it.
The second thing I bought was a boot net for the Greece trip from last September. I had to fill the boot up to the brim, which meant removing the parcel shelf and installing a net that would stop the bags from spilling over the back seat headrests.
The third and most important thing I added was Assistive Cruise Control and Pilot Assist through OrBit. I’m puzzled why Volvo doesn’t do this through its own dealer network, because I checked before resorting to OrBit. Anyway, the features work really well and have made long driving journeys much more relaxing.
The long-term conclusion
I haven’t changed my opinion: buying this car has proven to be a good decision. It’s a capable family car, good looking both inside and out, comfortable, has good performance, yet it’s economical (currently sitting at 2l / 100 km or 141 mpg), and can be cooled or warmed from my smartphone.
I have to get back to the Greece trip I mentioned earlier. It was an 800 km drive per leg and after both I came to appreciate even more the seats in the XC40, especially the thigh support. I was expecting pain, numbness, having to recover for two days, these sort of things. I was so glad to be disappointed. So add “long distance cruiser” to the list of things the XC40 can do.
And that’s really it: a solid Scandinavian family car, that has turned me into a Volvo fan.
