2022 Volvo XC40

Given how well-equipped the Volvo XC40 is from the get-go, we would like to recommend the entry-level Momentum trim. It has all the features that one would expect and need from a car like this. To top it off, for a price point of $36,500, we’d opt-in for the T5 to enjoy the more powerful power plant and all-wheel drive.

The 2022 Volvo XC40 comes in over 3 trims, namely Momentum, R-Design, and Inscription. The Momentum is the base trim and will come at an expected price of $36,500 for the front-wheel-drive option and it packs a lot of standard features. The R-Design is expected to be priced around $40,000 and will come with features like a sporty designed steering wheel, a black colored grille with a mesh-like design, chrome-coated exhaust cutout, and a lot more. Lastly, the Inscription trim is top-of-the-line with a price bump of over $3500 from the R-Design.

Further apart from the prescribed trim levels, the 2022 Volvo XC40 also comes with various other optional packages, namely Premium, Vision, Advanced, and Multimedia, although for a premium. For 2022, Volvo also brings about just one feature addition in the form of a wireless device charging pad, that comes standard with R-Design and Inscription trims.

The 2022 Volvo XC40 is expected to have a similar fuel economy, given that the engine will be unchanged from the 2021 model year. The current model returns a slightly lower fuel economy than the competition - 23 MPG in the city and 32 MPG on the highways, for a combined fuel economy of 26 MPG. These economic figures are from the T4 variant. The T5 variant is expected to deliver a bit lower mileage as it engages all four wheels and provides around a 20% power boost over the T4 variant. 22 MPG in the city and 30 MIles to the gallon out on the highway is what the T5 delivers. The fuel tank capacity stands at 14.2 gallons which is slightly lower than that of the Audi Q3 and BMW X1.

Mercedes-Benz GLA leads the table with an impressive 25 MPG in the city, 34 MPG on the highways. However, the only caveat is its fuel tank capacity which is the lowest in the competition. BMW X1 is ahead in this aspect with pretty decent mileage figures and its range is class-leading; thanks to a much bigger fuel tank capacity.

It's cabin is thoughtfully designed with clever storage opportunities, and its cargo area is generously sized - Car and Driver

The interior of the 2022 Volvo XC40 is expected to stay similar to the 2021 model year with improvements expected in the rear seating arrangement. The interior is quite stylish with subtle luxury elements embedded across all three trims. The dashboard has a nice texture on it and is not made of cheap plastics. The top-of-the-line Inscription trim gets wooden inserts around the cabin and dashboard which really pushes the overall luxury quotient of the car. The infotainment system on offer is very intuitive. The vehicle comes with the Sensus Connect with a 12.3-inch touchscreen display.

The cabin is spacious with a seating capacity of up to 5 people. The seats are very comfortable and come with leather seating across the trims. Both the front and rear seats offer a good amount of headroom and legroom which is surprising for its compact nature. The cargo capacity on offer is decent with 20.7-cubic feet which can be further expanded up to 47-cubic feet. Also, inside the cabin, there are plenty of cubby spaces to keep your essentials which can be accessed easily. 

In the competition, all four cars mostly have similar interior space with enough headroom and legroom. Although to be accurate, the BMW X1 has more headroom and legroom at both the front and rear with the class-leading cargo capacity. The other three cars including the Volvo XC40 are not as spacious but still are quite comfortable. The Mercedes-Benz GLA offers the least amount of cargo capacity on offer.

A few of the interior highlights are as follows:

• 9-inch touchscreen display
• 600 watt Harman Kardon speakers (Optional)
• Leather upholstery
• 8-way power-adjustability with memory functions and lumbar adjustments
• Power headrests and power-folding rear backrests (Optional)
• Keyless entry
• Panoramic sunroof
• Dual-zone climate control         
• Android Auto and Apple CarPlay

The 2022 Volvo XC40 looks stunning. We are, however, expecting a slight change in the exterior looks for the 2022 model year. As for the 2021 model year, the looks of the car are futuristic and look stunning from the get-go. However, each trim gets its distinctive exterior styling with some added features and materials. The front of the car has its renowned Thor’s hammer-styled LED DRLs which look stunning and instantly recognizable with the chrome grille. 

With the R-Design, the 2022 XC40 gets a black glossy roof and a few other chrome elements at the door handle and black skid plates, etc. The car comes equipped with 19-inch alloy wheels which are stunning in their appeal. At the rear, the LED taillights with the beautifully designed tail section are always something to consider if you are a true art fan. 

The XC40 is quite compact at 174.2 inches which makes it a perfect crossover SUV. The ground clearance is best in class at 8.3 inches which makes it very practical, but it is not intended to go off-road. But given the higher ground clearance, it can handle bad patches with no difficulty whatsoever. A few of the exterior features which are worth taking note of are as follows:

• LED headlights and taillights.
• 19-inch 5 spoke design alloy wheels
• Electronic liftgate control
• Dual tailpipes
• Tinted windows
• Roof rails

To put things into perspective, Volvo is the only automaker out there, whose whole lineup has at some point got the "Top Safety Pick+" rating from IIHS. The safety quotient of the Volvo XC40 is also very impressive, with much credit to the good build quality. The 2021 model year received “Good” ratings from IIHS and even bagged the “Top Safety Pick+” which is again a tremendous feat. The 2022 model year is expected to carry the baton. Apart from the impressive safety ratings, the XC40 is equipped with the latest Volvo's City Safety technology, which keeps you safe from a number of potential accident scenarios. Several modern safety and driver-assistance features are offered as standard.

A few of these safety features are:

• Lane-keeping assist
• Lane departure warning
• Driver attention warning
• Adaptive headlights
• Forward collision mitigation
• Post-collision braking system
• Adaptive cruise control
• 360-degree camera system
• Run-off road mitigation
• Whiplash injury prevention system
• Blind-spot monitoring system
• Semi-autonomous driving

2022 Volvo XC40 vs 2022 Audi Q3

The 2022 Volvo XC40 and the Audi Q3 have a similarly sized cabin space and overall exterior dimensions but the Q3 wins to take the lead in terms of cargo capacity. The XC40 has the Q3 beat in other areas like the interior due to the use of premium materials and soft-touch surfaces, unlike the Q3’s rather plastic-like materials. The 2022 XC40 also leads the Q3 in terms of performance and fuel economy as well. Talking about the value, the XC40 is definitely a better deal overall.

2022 Volvo XC40 vs 2022 BMW X1

With the BMW X1, the Volvo XC40 goes head-to-head in a number of areas. The BMW X1 seems like a beast in terms of performance with impressive fuel efficiency whereas the XC40 looks aesthetically pleasing with better interior design and quality. Moreover, the XC40 is superior in overall cabin luxuries and the tech it offers along with the number of standard features on offer. Not only that but the XC40 is also priced lower than the X1, making it a better proposition for first-time buyers.

The 2022 Volvo XC40 will be a great buy for a person who wants a luxurious crossover SUV at a price that will not break his/her bank. The 2022 MY will offer the same amount of luxury, features, safety, and overall quality as the current model year, and on top of that, it’ll also make some improvements which are much required if it has to sustain in this segment.