My Grandad has a Volvo 850, a big boxy estate and that's what I thought all Volvos were like, renowned for their safety and practicality… until I picked up the Volvo XC40! Safety and practicality are both still there in spades, but what an awesome looking little SUV, no longer boxy and sensible looking; this thing is chiselled and has some nice rear angles! Let's find out how good it is as a BabyDrive…
It's a pretty awesome little SUV! The stylish and modern exterior continues to the interior too where I was surprised to find a glass gear knob and a very minimal dash in terms of buttons and dials.
All the features and settings you would normally control with knobs and buttons scattered on the dash and central console of most cars are set within the large, portrait media screen. I did find this difficult to get my head around to start with but I think over time you would get quite used to where everything is.
I found my favourites, turning off auto engine cut-out for example, easy to find and habitual by the end of my week with the XC40. It also has Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which is great.
There are some handy features I found too, like the DAB digital radio and Spotify and even the ability to dictate my car review and send it to myself. I wish all cars had this feature!!
Storage is fantastic in the front of the XC40 and there are some nice details like the bag hook that comes out of the glove box, rubbish bin in the central console, under seat storage drawer and the storage well in the side of the central console.
I was surprised I could only fit two child seats in the back of the XC40, I really thought I would get three because it feels so spacious in the back. I could fit two forward-facing or two rear facing in the outer seats but found there was not enough room for me to sit between them. There is a gap at either end of the second-row seat base, which the VW Tiguan has too, as I understand this is designed to give some distance between the second-row occupants and the rear doors in the event of a side impact collision. Legroom is good in the XC40, we could fit a 182cm driver in front of a rear facing child seat.
The boot is a good size, holding twelve shopping bags from empty. That's the same as the VW Tiguan, one more than the Jaguar E-Pace and two more than the BMW X2 and Audi Q2.
The boot floor can be folded back to give you a lower position, about 10cm deeper, which is especially useful for fitting tandem strollers with components that stack on top of each other. However, it doesn't make a flat even floor as there is a ledge at the back which I found unhelpful.
The reversing camera image is excellent quality, the image is really crisp and clear.
You can select between camera angles which is really helpful when parking. The best feature about this is you can turn the volume of the sensors up and down using the volume knob on the dashboard which is excellent!
The Volvo XC40 is very nice to drive, it feels strong and robust on the road but not brutish and it is light to steer and it is very quiet and a peaceful drive.
BabyDrive Indepth - Storage
How big is the boot of the Volvo XC40?
The Volvo XC40 has a very generous size boot. From empty, I could fit 12 shopping bags in there, which is the same as the VW Tiguan, one more than the Jaguar E-Pace and two more than the BMW X2 and Audi Q2.
The Mountain Buggy Duet twin stroller fits with one shopping bag.
The Britax Flexx tandem stroller fits with three shopping bags.
The boot space and its functionality are really important. I like to have a big boot space and little side wells or areas I can divide things into. So something I don’t want to move around while I’m driving such as Tulsi’s lunch bag or her wet swimming gear can be sectioned off in a little well where it’s not going to spill or get squashed by the rest of the things in the boot.
Hooks for securing shopping bags to are also favourites of mine, I like being able to secure the bag containing more fragile things like eggs so they don’t move around on the journey.
I measure the boot space in freezer shopping bags, prams and dogs. Not because I think all there is to a mum’s life is food shopping, prams and dogs. (Although it can feel like it sometimes!!) But because these are visually mesurable items we can all associate with. For me, the car company boot measurement of litres is not an amount I can easily visualise and 400L in one car may differ in usability to that in another due to the configuration or shape of the space.
The Mountain Buggy Urban Jungle single stroller fits with four shopping bags beside it.
The Mountain Buggy Nano compact stroller fitted with eight shopping bags beside it.
Or you could fit a large size dog in there!
The boot floor is flat when in its raised position, which is good for an emergency nappy change. There are storage wells on either side behind the wheel arches and a 12V socket on the right-hand side.
The boot floor can be folded back to reveal another floor about 10cm deeper. This would help with stacking tandem strollers in the boot. Having the upper boot floor stored at the back of the boot like this doesn't give you a flat boot surface though.
How good is storage inside the Volvo XC40?
Storage in the cabin of the XC40 is excellent, it is practical and functional and there are some great extra features too. There are two cup holders in the central console that will hold a re-usable or disposable coffee cup and a large refillable water bottle fits in them too. In front of them is a wireless phone charging well plus one 12V socket and two USBs.
The central console storage box is a good size and in front of that is a little rubbish bin which I found really useful over the week we had the XC40 because I could just take it out, empty it and wash it out before putting it back in.
The glove box is small, it would only hold my wallet with the manual, the iPad would not fit.
There is a fold out bag hook in the glove box which I found I frequently used so my bag wasn't draped in the passenger footwell constantly! There is also a storage well in the side of the central console by the front passenger's right knee.
There is a hidden storage drawer underneath the driver's seat which I found great for leaving my wallet and phone when going to the park.
The door bins in the front will hold a large refillable water bottle and an iPad easily fits in them too. The door panels are lined with carpet fabric so things don't rattle in the door bins. In some of the models I looked at in the showroom these panels were bright contrast colours which were really great fun!
There is no glasses case in the ceiling which was disappointing and there are lit vanity mirrors in both front visors.
In the back, the door bins are smaller and will hold a 600ml water bottle.
There are net map pockets on the back of both front seats that will hold but not conceal an iPad.
In a fold-down armrest in the central seatback are two cup holders. They would hold a disposable or reusable coffee cup and a large refillable water bottle fits in there too.
BabyDrive Indepth - Noise
How noisy is the Volvo XC40?
The Volvo XC40 is a lovely quiet BabyDrive, it is smooth and you are cocooned from a lot of the usual exterior noise and stimulation when driving which is great.
The media system in the Volvo XC40 is different to most I have used, it is a large portrait touch screen which controls most things in the car that would usually be controlled by buttons and dials on the dashboard and central console. It also has Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which was great.
I didn't find the touch screen intuitive to use at first, but by the end of the week I knew where all the functions I regularly used were located and it became much easier.
The reversing camera image is excellent. It is a very clear and crisp image.
You can also change the angle of the view and turn the sensors on and off on the screen.
I found I could adjust the volume of the parking sensors really easily by turning the main volume knob on the dashboard, which is so easy.
The lane keep assist is very good in the XC40 and I found it didn't beep, just kept me within the lines on the road nicely.
The indicators are nice and quiet in the XC40 and wouldn’t disturb my sleeping baby.
Fatigue warning in the XC40 is a gentle bell chime, just enough to alert you without disturbing any other passengers.
I found the Sat-Nav particularly difficult to use, I struggled to work out how to input an address and found it easier to use the Google Maps in Apple CarPlay.
Becoming a parent I soon realised there are some noises and sounds I feel are unnecessary and I could happily live without if it meant my baby stayed asleep!!
That often the distraction of my screaming, distressed baby is more dangerous when driving than not having a lane departure warning for example.
If it is the lane departure warning beeping that creates distress with my baby then which is safest?
It’s where I think we need to be able to strike a balance and choose when we can mute the warnings or swap them to a vibration in the steering wheel or flashing light perhaps?
A lot of these noises come with the increase in technology and especially linked to safety features and alerts. For me these all have their place.
Another thing I have realised is I spend my time in a lot more places where small children roam, parks, beaches, play gyms, swimming lessons, daycare centre etc. I have become more aware that when I’m reversing or manouvering in the car parks I have to tripple check for small children running around behind me or being in my blind spot when reversing. For this I LOVE reversing cameras, I just don’t like their beeping sounds!!
I have become so much more aware of safety and potential accidents or hazards since having a child and so I love the peace of mind that I get from the cameras and sensors combined with my own vision from windows and mirrors as I don’t trust cameras alone.
The doors and windows can both be locked from the driver's door control panel and I found both the doors and windows are really nice and quiet and would not disturb small sleeping passengers when opening and closing them. You can come to a stop with the engine still running and get out of the car without sounding any alarms.
Since becoming a mum I spend A LOT of time parked up somewhere with a nice view while my daughter is asleep in the back! If it's hot I need to leave the engine running and the aircon on but I do like to get out and drink my cuppa tea in the fresh air while enjoying the fact my limbs are free from said dangling child!!
So this is a very important test as I have found that sometimes I have been held hostage by a cars BEEEEPING alarms when I have taken off my seatbelt or opened the door while the engine is still running!! (I only stand outside the car, I am not a bad mother!!)
The XC40 is really nice and quiet to drive, it feels robust on the road but the ride is lovely and smooth.
There is a seatbelt removal alarm and a really good visual comes up on the screen in front of the steering wheel to let you know exactly which passenger has removed their seatbelt for both rows of passengers. If the driver seatbelt is undone while driving, the cruise control automatically turns off too.
BabyDrive Indepth - Car Seats
How many child seats fit in the Volvo XC40?
There are three top tether anchorages in the back of the XC40's rear seat backrests. The outer two are clearly marked and although not within plastic guides they are nice and easy to connect to.
The central top tether anchorage is below the hatch door and not marked but nice and easy to connect to.
There are ISOFix points in the two outer rear seats. They are within plastic guides and nice and easy to connect to.
I was sure I would fit three child seats in because the back seats are lovely and big and flat.
However, I could only get two child seats in the back of the Volvo XC40, there simply wasn't room for a third and I couldn't sit between the two child seats either. With a rear-facing child seat installed we found a 182cm driver could sit in front of it.
Posting bub into their child seat from outside the car is really nice and easy in the XC40. From inside the ceiling is high enough that posting Bub into their seats from inside is good too. There are no handles above the second-row doors though so nowhere to hang a child's toy. There is a coat hook but it is too far forward.
Australia being a country of weather extremes; blazing sun and torrential rain, mean you may find it easier to put Bub into their seat from inside the car sometimes. If it’s hot you can get the air-con going, cool the car down and not stand out in the sun while you fasten them in or shelter from the rain and not get soaked yourself whilst you’re doing it. So it is important to test whether Bub can be easily installed from either direction!
There is plenty of room to feed bub in the back if you only have one child seat installed.
BabyDrive Indepth - Drive & Comfort
How comfortable is the Volvo XC40? And How good is the Volvo XC40 to drive?
In the front of the Volvo XC40, the seats are very comfortable, they are black leather with minimal fuss in stitching and panelling, so they are easy to wipe clean. The front seats are heated.
The headrests are not adjustable but I found I couldn't have a ponytail in the driver's seat.
I had spent hours styling my hair this morning to get this ponytail just right too… said no new mum ever!!!
For a mum travelling in the back with bub, the seats are comfortable at the sides. I could feel the hardness of the drop-down armrest in the central seat back.
There is a low hump in the central footwell, although it is not too bad to rest your feet on or straddle. I found the back of the XC40 very comfortable to travel in and it felt spacious for an SUV of this size.
For the first year of Tulsi’s life when we would go out as a family, if I wasn’t driving, I would travel in the back with Tulsi so it’s important to check the back seat comfort as you may be spending a lot of time in them! They were never something I gave any thought to before but I definitely notice a good or bad back seat now!
The steering wheel was fully adjustable in/out and up/down.
Cruise control is sooooo accurate in the Volvo XC40, it is amazing! It held the exact speed at low speeds on undulating roads, around town and on the motorway at higher speeds. The controls are on the left on the steering wheel and are nice and simple to use.
There are four air-conditioning vents across the front dashboard; two central ones and a round one at either end.
There are also two air vents in the back of the central console box for rear passengers as well, I found I could reach those while driving.
The controls for the aircon are within the media screen, they are nice and easy to reach and use while driving.
The rear interior lights are located centrally in the ceiling but too far back to reach them from the driver's seat while driving!
I have found Tulsi does not like travelling in the dark in the car so if it gets dark whilst travelling then I reach back and turn the interior light on for her. So it’s really important for me that I can reach the rear ceiling light.
Also if I am traveling home and it is getting near to bed time and I DEFINITELY DON’T want her to fall asleep in the car as even a five-minute nap in the car means bed time is all over!!!! I lean back and pop the light on so it’s not dark and try to keep her awake!! Along with screaming/singing at the top of my voice!!!
It is also useful when there are lights situated above the doors where the handles are usually positioned. These are good for when putting baby into their child seats when visibility is poor, so you do not have to reach across them to a light situated in the ceiling centrally etc.
There are no handles above the rear doors so there is nowhere to hang a child's toy as the coat hooks are too far forward to be seen from a rear-facing child seat.
Visibility in the Volvo XC40 is good, I didn't encounter any problems with visibility in my week of driving.
One thing I have noticed since being a mum is I hate it when I reach a destination or get home from being out and Tulsi has either done really well in the car or she is screaming her head off and I have done really well to keep it together for the entire journey (usually the latter!!) and it takes 10 minutes to park the car! It can be really stressful. Usually I dread parking new cars as they take longer in our tight apartment block carpark, but the XC40 was easy to park.
Aesthetically the Volvo XC40 looks and feels like a great SUV it is a long way from my Grandad's Volvo 850 I remember as a kid.
BabyDrive Indepth - Safety
How safe is the Volvo XC40?
The Volvo XC40 scored a five-star ANCAP safety rating in 2018.
Scoring a total of 97% or 37.2 out of 38 for adult occupancy. Broken down into 7.42 out of 8Â for the full-width frontal crash test, 7.98 out of 8Â for the frontal offset test. Full marks for the side impact test and the pole test.
For Child Occupancy protection the Volvo XC40 scored 41.6 out of 49 which is 84%. Broken down into 16/16 for the dynamic front, 8/8 for dynamic slide. Child restraint instillation scored 11.62 out of 12 and onboard features score 6 out of 13.
ANCAP said of the testing: In the frontal offset and side impact tests, protection of the 10 year and 6 year dummies was GOOD and the Volvo XC40 scored maximum points in these tests.
The Volvo XC40 is fitted with lower ISOFix anchorages on therear outboard seats and top tether anchorages on all rear seats. Installation of typical child restraints available in Australia and New Zealand showed that most child restraints could be accommodated in most rear seating positions, with the centre rear seat failing two of ANCAP’s installation assessments.
Seven airbags come as standard; there is a driver’s knee airbag as well as dual frontal airbags and front side airbags and side head curtain airbags for the front and the rear side passengers.
As standard, all models of the Volvo XC40 come with seat belt pre-tensioners in both the front seats and rear outboard positions, anti-lock braking system (ABS), autonomous emergency braking (AEB) for the city, Interurban and VRU, automatic headlights, automatic high beam, blind spot monitoring (BSM), daytime running lights (DRL), hill launch assist, electronic brake-force distribution (EBD), electronic data recorder (EDR), electronic stability control (ESC), emergency brake assist (EBA), emergency stop signal (ESS), fatigue reminder and fatigue detection, forward collision warning (FCW), lane departure warning (LDW), lane keep assist (LKA), pre-crash systems, rear cross-traffic alert (RCTA), reversing collision avoidance camera, roll stability system, secondary/multi-collision brake, speed assistance auto/intelligent/manual speed limiter, speed sign recognition and warning and trailer stability control and tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS) all come as standard.
Optional extras are adaptive cruise control (ACC), and adaptive headlights.
Some of these safety features are also features that drive me crazy as a mum! Like the lane departure and forward collision alert or the parking sensor beeping sound. I want all the safety technology AND to be able to mute the sound when Tulsi’s asleep!
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