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Volvo XC40 2019 review

SUV Petrol

Volvo XC40 2019 — front three-quarter view

Overview

The Volvo XC40 arrived in the UK in early 2018 and was an instant hit: a compact premium SUV that shrank Volvo's big-car safety and design down to family size, and went on to become one of Britain's best-selling premium SUVs. The range opened at £27,905 on the road for the T3 Momentum with front-wheel drive and a six-speed manual gearbox, and this page covers the 2019 model-year cars. The featured car is that entry T3, the version most used buyers will actually find.

The T3 is a 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbocharged petrol, and its output depends on build date, so check the car in front of you: launch cars produce 156hp, while cars built from April 2019 produce 163hp, both with 265Nm. The April 2019 manual covers 0-62mph in 9.3 seconds and tops out at 124mph, with an eight-speed automatic joining the range at the same time. Above it sat the T4 (190hp) and T5 (247hp) petrols and the D3 (150hp) and D4 (190hp) diesels, with all-wheel drive on the bigger engines and trims running Momentum, R-Design and Inscription, each also available in higher-spec Pro form.

Practicality is a strong suit, with one measuring trap to know about: the boot is 443 litres seats up and 1,319 litres seats down by the usual VDA measure, while Parkers quotes 586 litres, which appears to use a different to-roof measure, so do not compare the two figures directly. Safety is the XC40's calling card: five Euro NCAP stars from the 2018 test, with 97% for adult occupants, and the 54-litre fuel tank gives decent touring range. Insurance sits in group 22 for the T3 R-Design, and the new-car warranty was three years or 60,000 miles, so a 2019 car is now out of factory cover.

Used buyers should have a dealer run a VIN check for three software-related recalls: an AEB system that may not activate as intended on some cars built after 21 January 2019, a Vehicle Connectivity Module fault on cars built between January and October 2018 that could stop location data reaching the emergency services, and a left rear indicator software fault affecting around 18,755 cars. Also test the Sensus infotainment for freezing or reboots, check the powered tailgate struts for corrosion on early cars, and remember diesel D3 and D4 cars suffer DPF blockage on short-trip use.

UK price from: £27,905

Specifications

Engine	1.5L 3-cylinder turbocharged petrol
Power	156 PS (launch); 163 PS (from April 2019)
Torque	265 Nm
0-62 mph	9.3 seconds (April 2019 manual)
Top speed	124 mph
Transmission	6-speed manual (8-speed automatic from April 2019)
Drive	Front-wheel drive
Fuel economy	36.6-39.5 mpg combined (WLTP, Pro T3 automatic)
CO2 emissions	166-179 g/km (WLTP, Pro T3 automatic)
Boot space	443 litres (1,319 litres seats folded)
Kerb weight	1,497 kg (T3 FWD manual)
Insurance group	22 (T3 R-Design)
Euro NCAP	5 stars (2018 test)
Warranty	3 years / 60,000 miles when new

Features

1.5-litre three-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine (156hp launch; 163hp from April 2019, 265Nm)
Six-speed manual gearbox, front-wheel drive (eight-speed automatic from April 2019)
443-litre boot, expanding to 1,319 litres seats folded
Five-star Euro NCAP rating (2018 test, 97% adult occupant)
Trims: Momentum, R-Design and Inscription, each also in Pro form
T4, T5, D3 and D4 engines above the T3, with all-wheel drive on bigger engines
Sensus touchscreen infotainment
54-litre fuel tank

Common parts & prices

Part	Price (GBP)	Notes
Front brake pads (set)	£64.99	Pattern part; OEM specification
Oil filter	£12.99
Engine air filter	£19.99
Cabin pollen filter	£22.99
Front wiper blades (pair)	£27.99
12V battery	£114.99

Prices are typical UK aftermarket/OEM guide prices and may vary by supplier.

Pros

Five-star safety with a 97% adult-occupant score
Smart, genuinely premium cabin in a compact footprint
Strong range of petrol and diesel engines with AWD options
Practical 443-litre boot and easy town driving manners

Cons

2019 cars are out of the three-year/60,000-mile factory warranty
T3 output varies by build date, so listings can mislead
Software recalls to verify: AEB, connectivity module, indicator
Boot figure confusion: Parkers' 586 litres uses a different measure

Frequently asked questions

How powerful is the 2019 Volvo XC40 T3?

It depends on build date. Launch T3 cars produce 156hp, while cars built from April 2019 produce 163hp, both with 265Nm. The April 2019 manual covers 0-62mph in 9.3 seconds. Always confirm the output from the car's build date, not just the badge.

How big is the XC40 boot really?

443 litres seats up and 1,319 litres seats down by the usual measure. Parkers quotes 586 litres, which appears to use a different to-roof measure, so do not compare the two figures directly.

What should I check before buying a used 2019 XC40?

Have a Volvo dealer run a VIN check for the AEB software recall (cars built after 21 January 2019), the Vehicle Connectivity Module fault (January to October 2018 builds) and the left rear indicator software fault, and test the Sensus screen for freezing or reboots.

Is there a plug-in hybrid XC40 from 2019?

No. The T5 Twin Engine plug-in hybrid was announced in 2019 but UK deliveries only started in early 2020, so it is not a 2019 UK model. 2019 cars are petrol or diesel only.

Is a 2019 XC40 still under warranty?

No, not on the original cover. The new-car warranty was three years or 60,000 miles, so a 2019 car is out of factory warranty unless an extended warranty was bought. A full service history matters more than ever.