XC40 elected Car of the Year 2018

[anton differing]

Originally Posted by techwatcher

Saw and sat in an XC40 at a Volvo event back in December and TBH wasn't too impressed. I agree - not much bigger than the V40 inside; it may SEEM that there's more room as the insides of the doors are different.

We REALLY wanted to like the XC40 and it does look better in the metal than in the renders and we liked the XC90/XC60 technology but the interior, for us, let it down somewhat. Having said that we are probably not Volvo's demographic for this car and I have no doubt they will sell lots of them.

FWIW we bought an XC60 a while later and are really pleased with it.

Funny, I sat in one today and thought it substantially roomier than the V40. I did my usual trick of seeing whether I could sit behind myself and found that I had more knee room than in the V40. I found headroom also to be better, ditto boot space. Not as pretty as the V40, of course, but definitely more practical. I'm tempted...

[Clan]

Originally Posted by RoyMacDonald

Have you actually sat in one front and back?

Roy

I have in the outgoing V40 , quite cramped for a big or tall person .

however the new XC40 must be "What Car" AND European car of the year for some reason !

[RoyMacDonald]

Originally Posted by Clan

I have in the outgoing V40 , quite cramped for a big or tall person .

however the new XC40 must be "What Car" AND European car of the year for some reason !

Certainly had more leg room, head room, and luggage space than our V40. Was told it was a real delight to drive. Will take a test drive myself as soon as I get the time.

Roy

[FunkyMelon]

How can it be a 'what car of the year' when it's literally just come out and nobody has got one yet and no other manufacturer has released it's 2018 cars yet?

I don't understand the logic to this?

[RoyMacDonald]

Originally Posted by FunkyMelon

How can it be a 'what car of the year' when it's literally just come out and nobody has got one yet and no other manufacturer has released it's 2018 cars yet?

I don't understand the logic to this?

There is only two months left of the 2018 model year and with no big shows coming up don't expect any new 2018 models before the 2019 models start around June. And yes people have got XC40's. Not a lot in this country but enough to judge the car.

Roy

[teeceeeee]

ordered a first edition Diesel last week.... really looking forwards to it - coming out of a 2013 S60 D4.

[RoyMacDonald]

Originally Posted by teeceeeee

ordered a first edition Diesel last week.... really looking forwards to it - coming out of a 2013 S60 D4.

The first editions are really good value.

Roy

[teeceeeee]

They are unreal fella... over 12k of extras over and above the r-design pro for an extra 3k...

so, bit of a no brainer, even if it is a touch under 40 grand....

[Acer]

Originally Posted by RoyMacDonald

I have a V40 Cross Country and there is about 5 inches less headroom than the XC40. My family do not have to sit with their heads bent at an angle like they do in the V40 either. (they are all over 6')

Roy

Five inches, no chance. It didn't feel like that at all.

[anton differing]

Originally Posted by RoyMacDonald

Certainly had more leg room, head room, and luggage space than our V40. Was told it was a real delight to drive. Will take a test drive myself as soon as I get the time.

Roy

I repeated my exercise of sitting behind myself this morning, while I had my summer wheels and tyres fitted. No doubt about it, much more knee room than in the V40. Also appreciably more headroom, even with the glass roof fitted (I'm 5'10").

The volume against diesels is rising here - some German cities are talking about banning diesel cars and this has now crossed the border - Geneva is apparently contemplating it. If I'm forced out of my D3, an XC40 will definitely be top of the replacement list.