By Khulekani Dumisa

The Volvo XC40 has been around for a while now yet it still manages to impress every time we have an encounter with it. Recently we spent time with the Volvo XC40 T5 AWD R-Design and it made the case for the XC40 range yet again.

Looks

The Volvo XC40 T5 AWD R-Design stands out with its boxy shape, gloss black finishes and two tone colour. The interior is well executed and roomy. The boot space is also decent and good for two medium suitcases and a few soft bags.

Drive and power

The Volvo XC40 T5 AWD R-Design is powered by a 2.0-litre turbopetrol engine with 185 kW and 350 Nm. This makes the T5 quite quick and truly speaking makes it punch way above its weight. It’s thirsty though consuming slightly over 10l/100km in the city nonetheless the car rides well and is comfortable.

The optional safety features like adaptive cruise control, semi-autonomous auto pilot, lane keep assist and blind spot monitor make driving the Swede a relaxing and calming affair.

Final word

We enjoyed spending time with Volvo XC40 T5 AWD. The car impresses nearly on all fronts. It’s great to look at and has more interior space than you would think. Although the 2.0 litre engine is a bit thirsty (our best on the highway was 9,6L/100km), the car is quick, comfortable and rides well but the stand out part comes from the safety features which completely take the hustle out of driving. Blind spot monitor, lane keep, front collision warning, adaptive cruise control and semi-autonomous autopilot actually take the luxury aspect of the car to the next level.

Adaptive cruise control spares you from starting and stopping in traffic all the time whilst autopilot allows you to cruise effortlessly on the highway without worrying about braking and steering. Having encountered a few luxurious cars without these features, we started asking ourselves whether a luxury car be considered “luxurious” in 2020 without ticking these key safety boxes.

Pricing

The Volco XC40 is priced from R609,700.