India-bound Volvo XC40 details revealed

Volvo’s smallest SUV offering is all set to make its debut in India next year. We bring you all the details of the new Volvo XC40 that will make its way to India in mid-2018

It has just been a few months since the global unveiling of the new Volvo XC40 and we already have the details of its India launch. Our man, Jared Solomon, is driving the car as we speak but we have been restricted from bringing you a detailed review until mid-January. But we can share the expected timeline of its launch, specification, features and a few other details. So here goes.

Volvo will bring the XC40 in India with two engine options to start with – a 2.0-litre four-cylinder diesel that makes 187 horses and a 244bhp 2.0-litre petrol. Both these engines come mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission. Unlike the other cars in this class, Volvo will offer all-wheel drive as standard with both engine options. That being said, the Swedish carmaker may also consider bringing in a front-wheel drive variant at a later stage. This variant will have the same diesel motor but in the 147bhp tune and of course, it will sit at the bottom of the variant-line up

While Volvo tends to launch most of its models in just one trim, it won’t be the case with the XC40. The diesel engine option of the entry-level SUV will be launched in the Momentum and Inscription trims while the petrol will be offered in the R-Design variant. Over the last few years, Volvo has gained a reputation for offering a long list of features as standard. Continuing with the tradition, all variants of the XC40 will come fitted with 18-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, rear parking assist and more. Like we have seen in all the new age Volvos, this one too will get the vertically stacked 9.0-inch touchscreen infotainment with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Inscription and R-Design will get different treatment to the interior.

No car wears a Volvo emblem if it isn’t loaded with safety features. Apart from the standard airbags, ABS, and electronic aids, the XC40 will come with radar-based safety systems, Volvo’s City Safety system, blind spot recognition and more.

Although Volvo has now set up an assembly facility in Karnataka, Volvo XC40 will not be produced there during launch. Currently, the plant is only equipped to produce cars based on their Scalable Platform Architecture (SPA), and the XC40 is based on the Compact Modular Architecture. That being said, keeping in mind their recent pricing strategies, we can expect the XC40 to be priced around the Rs 36-42 lakh mark. When the XC40 will be launched around mid-2018, it will compete against the likes of the Audi Q3, BMW X1, and the Mercedes-Benz GLA.