I asked this of Volvo CS and got this reply

[Brodick]

Majority of vehicles with AWD and the correct tyres will be able to drive through a muddy field. A land rover product will leave much of its competition (including the xc60, xc90 and of course the cross country v40) behind once the going gets more interesting.
The V40 was not given the XC tag of its larger and far more capable sister vehicles.
It is designed primarily for the black stuff and heading up the odd farm track. Where the awd will assist and give the owner that little bit of reassurance they will reach their destination
Obviously it is not an off roader. Merely a nice little hatchback with a trick or two up its wheel arch. Of course that is if you have the version with Awd. If not then you are just wastong your money. May aswell by a std V40

[Powerforge]

Seems to me that the OP has experienced the problem most, if not all, car manufacturers have these days. Long ago they gave up on making the car YOU wanted; now they tell YOU what you will have. Simply put, products are made to suit the profitability and production needs of the brand, not to what you want or need in your vehicle.

After all - did you know you needed stop-start tech ? Or a car that can park itself ? Innovations that flatter poor drivers or have no real reason to exist or be fitted. They will, however, fail in spectacular fashions in a few years and either limit the life of vehicle thus forcing you into an endless new car consumption cycle or repair bills that rival third world debt. Either way they have your money.

And if we complain...not one monkey is given that day....

[Loskie]

not to mention pointless electric parking brake hidden in an unnatural position in the V60