XC40 B3 plus - 12 month review

[VloMo]

Overview - it’s great - recommend buying one

Likes

Looks - it looks fantastic (in my opinion) I spend time just looking at it

Comfort - very nice car to spend time in.

Mild Hybrid - the motor spin up makes it agile, don’t need to drop a gear to start moving quickly nice balance of speed and grace.


Google - Don’t need my phone for iTunes and updated maps.

The fact the stereo doesn’t turn off till to open the door

40cm wading depth

Rear heated seats

Auto on when cold heated seats and steering wheel

Boot organiser

Hands free boot open

Lock via the app

It’s single push for drive and reverse.

Clear number speed display - don’t look at the dial part anymore

The number speed display doesn’t jump numbers.

Cambridge Volvo where I bought it and did first service

Dislikes

The height of the car makes it more difficult to place to place on the road

360 cameras are cheat mode for parking spaces but neither them nor the drop mirrors provide a good view to parking against a curb.


If you are reading this Volvo that side camera view needs to be zoomed in the wheel to curb area.

Drive and manual mode are the same place. Couple of times thought I was going back to drive but actually put it to manual. Got used to it now but I’d prefer a push to the side to manual.

Overview Great car - glad I bought it.

[gedger]

I'm guess from your review that you haven't been troubled with the AAOS bugs and features? I would totally agree with your review but for me the AAOS bugs have spoilt my overall experience and trust of the car such that I wouldn't buy another nor recommend it, shame really as I love the core car.

I'm certainly glad that I haven't got the lower profile wheels as I too find judging the curb distance hard, I'm much better than I used to be but still occasionally touch the curb or end up too far away. I think the 360 camera side view just needs to include the wheels/tyres, it would be easy then.

[ChrisLF]

I agree. I really love the car and it is lovely to drive most of the time apart from when the stop start annoys me and the odd whooping sound and other noises which crop up now and again. As you say it is the trust side of things with doubts about the auxiliary belts and electrical/software issues. I would have recommended my previous car but not this one (even though it has more zip and better fuel consumption) due to the doubts over reliability. As I've often said I'm not keeping it outside of the warranty, too much of a risk.

Pity as it's a very good car in so many respects but it could have been great, not helped by the penny pinching and restricted specification choices. I'd have gone for the Ultimate/Ultra but didn't want the pano roof and bigger wheels. Why do many manufacturers have to include the pano roof in their top trims? That was one of the the reasons I moved from VWG cars.

[JFDIT]

It makes it cheaper to build having limited options and when you compare the kit included against the competition it is keenly priced.
Yes there are a few issues posted on here, but is it really any worse than the competition?

[Snow man]

Have you tried pressing side camera when in 360 view ? On my Sensus car when I do I can see the front wheel move in and out of the arch,I just use 360 .

[ChrisLF]

John, yes, there is a cost to everything, but I don't think it is that great with modern, robot production methods. One of the reasons given is the cost of testing though which probably is a factor. Doesn't stop VWG offering plenty of options but they do start getting expensive though. Type of options I'm thinking of wouldn't impact cost much though, I'm thinking smaller wheel sizes, not everyone wants 20" or 21", and having the pano as an option and not being forced on you. Dropping rear headrests is something I miss from my R -Design as I have to move my seat forward a bit to drop the rear seats - which yours has. Ideal spec for me would be an Ultimate/Ultra with 18" or 19" wheels, no pano and flappy paddles as standard or at least an option.

The Plus comes close to what I want but if a couple of Ultimate options had been available it would have been near perfect - the Ultimate meant paying thousands more for things I don't want. We're only customers anyway paying a lot of money so why should we be able to get what we what! The R-Design was a much better buying experience from that point of view and still a good price, so what's happened in 4 years?

I'll see what Volvo has in a couple of years time but won't be holding my breath.

[Lodesman]

My B3 Plus is also a year old and I’m delighted with it.
However why is it so complicated to change from Speed Limiter to Cruise Control ? You have to do it on the central display unit. Surely it should be a steering wheel operation ??
To change, press menu, driving and then either cruise control or speed limiter then press buttons to return to map display.
Way too unnecessarily complicated.

[Stovo]

Yes there are a few issues posted on here, but is it really any worse than the competition?

Agree with JFDIT. Some say ‘the grass is greener on the other side’….but is it? VWG have had many issues with their MMI platform and app across their brands, as experienced by some friends of mine. JLR many well publicised issues, particularly on the Evoque. BMW ridiculous cost just for base models, before you start adding options such as heated seats ( should not even be an option) . So, whilst the XC40 has had faults experienced by some, as outlined on this forum, I still think it is a bloody good vehicle, and great value compared to it’s direct competition.

[VloMo]

I had some bugs. One was fairly major but Volvo came out next day and sorted it so that was fine. Overall the issues were minor that resets fixed and seem to have been addressed in later software. I’ve not found the level to be that much of an issue for me.

[ChrisLF]

Stovo - Yes, that's why when I did change I stuck with the XC40 as nothing else appealed or was too expensive and it still looks really good. I know I've commented on a few things but have been fair in my criticisms.

Had a Kodiaq in NZ and when I got back into the Volvo it felt better. Thought about a Karoq but when specced up similarly to a Plus it was well over £40k. which is crazy. Drove one a few years ago and it felt quite nice but that was when I had the Yeti.

Probably just me but since the service and software update it feels smoother and is a joy to drive.