Tested: Volvo XC40 B3

When the Volvo XC40 was first released, many car makers and enthusiasts praised its uniquely beautiful shape, which defined equilibrium at every corner; inside out. It is still very much the case, today.

While soft on the eye, this luxury compact SUV is hugely practical for its size, so much so that it’s certainly one of its stand-out features. The rear leg-room is really noticeable, even before getting into the back, and boot space stop at an impressive 452 L, which is only 31 L less than the bigger XC60.

Volvo is heading towards pure electric cars, and these B-range (mild hybrid) models are paving the way towards that goal. The mild hybrids recover energy produced when braking and store it in a 48V battery. When this energy is used, fuel consumption and tailpipe emissions are both reduced.

There’s another interesting sensation that I can report on, too. When you start any of these new hybrid Volvos, the engine gently swings into motion, rather than the old-school starter motor cranking noises that we’ve all gotten used to with internal combustion engines.

The B3 model that we tested is the current entry-level model in the XC40 range, but still, this model is far from being a budget offering, on every level!

The interior communicates simplicity, practicality, through top notch materials, from wooden-like trim insets to a soft touch dash, all the way from Scandinavia, as expected. The Swedes can only spell excellence when it comes to their automobiles.

The 2.0L unit in the mild hybrid B3 generates 110 kW with 265 nm of torque, and claimed fuel economy is supposed to be just over 7 L/100 km. We saw figures in the low 8 L/100 km, but that was with town driving, so we do believe it will come down on the open road.

While the P6 and the P8 Recharge are available as pure electric variants within the XC40 range, the B range models still cater for those people who sometimes take a bit longer to adapt to change.

Or for areas like our beautiful southern Africa, which need a bit more time and patience before new energy solutions have properly come on stream?

For us at Galimoto Media and NamWheels, the XC40 B3 is definitely one of those cars that we really want to keep in our garage, and not give back to the press fleet! 

The 2023 Volvo XC40 B3 costs from R677 700.

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