2023 Volvo XC40 consumer reviews

1. Unexpected car back lash front/back when you park a car.(!!) 2. Unexpected map freeze when you drive.(!!) 3. Radio in long time search and periodically loose stations. 4. Very rigid a brake pedal.

This car reminds me of first Gen compuTers back in the day, especially since it is the car’s software which gets all of the blame for its quirks and unreliability. I almost earned a permanent parking spot at the equally unreliable VT dealership where I bought this xxx. The absence of heat (in November, in VT!) and an inexplicably but persistently dead battery were only two of the many problems which the dealership could not or would not “fix”. I chose to dump the car at a loss since reliability and dealer integrity were unavailable.

This is my 2nd XC40 and it is one of the most perfect cars but its by no means cheap. The car can be as loaded as its bigger brother, except for heads up display. They all use the same engines, with the exception of turbo types, and bi-turbo options. All Volvos are moving to mild hybrid as standard and all 2023 XC40's are now mild hybrids. The XC40 is nimble, loaded and well designed. It has just about every feature including all wheel drive, Google auto, panoramic sunroof, power tail gate, and leather seats, redesigned for 2023. It is stylish, detailed and not meant to feel like the entry model. In fact, it can cost more than its bigger brother the XC60! Driving it is a pleasure as it is preppy and confident.

After only a month, I am truly "in love" with my XC-40. I wanted to get one a few years ago. However, Covid-19 got in the way. When it was finally time to upgrade this year, I did it and have not regretted it. Great ride, all the safety features I wanted, excellent ride and handling , above EPA rated fuel economy, roomy seating. Plenty of room for my golf equipment.

This is the 3rd XC40 that I drive, the first one was a 2019 R5, the second was a 2020 Momentum and I decided to treat myself with the 2023 Ultimate. This "Ultimate" is anything but that. There are many features missing from the 2020 Momentum and the 2019 R5 that make the 2023 model a less car overall than the previous models. This "Ultimate" is missing the following features: - Self parking. - FM and AM HD radio. Also, the FM tuner is of very low quality. Seems that Volvo wants to force the driver to use streaming services all of the time. - Headlight washers. - Cornering headlights. - Indoor lights color customization. - Driver panel customization, no color or style or customization for the driver panel. - Different driving modes are not there anymore. No Eco, Normal or Sport modes to choose from. - No option to turn off the engine stop/start. I am still getting used to the engine turning itself off at every time that the car stops. - Android Auto connectivity is missing, only CarPlay is available. - The Google software is a light version of Android Auto, does not have Waze as a navigation app option to download and install, only Google Maps is available for navigation. I now know how superior is Waze to warn for road work, accidents or police on the roads. - The right action button on the driving wheel does not play/pause the playing media, it turns on/off current trip info on the driver console. - The media information is missing, the only way to show it is by replacing the navigation with media info on the center console display. This solution is not convenient when using turn by turn directions. - The rearview mirror does not have a compass. Every once in a while, it was a useful feature. - No driving log integration with the Volvo app. This feature was useful to claim a tax deduction or for expensing mileage. The new Google software integration is a half-baked solution at best. A better solution would have been to make Android Auto use all of the center console and to also show turn by turn info on the driver console, like Mercedes does. I think that I should warn prospective buyers that if they want a true top of the line small SUV, they should get a 2022 Inscription, rather than settle for an inferior and more expensive 2023 “Ultimate” model with many less features. If you are looking for a luxury brand, consider the Mercedes GLB or GLC. For more bang for the buck, the Kia Sportage and the Hyundai Tucson are very nice, I test drove both and now I regret not giving them more consideration.

Love the tech in this car. Maps, adaptive cruise, auto high beam, lane warning, hybrid averaging 31 mpg. Still good power with the turbo. Excellent sound including the Bluetooth.