Volvo XC40
Compact luxury SUV · 2019–present. 26,557 units sold in the US in 2024
How it began
Volvo Cars created it, with Håkan Samuelsson as president and CEO. Design was led by Thomas Ingenlath (Chief Design Officer) and Robin Page (Senior Vice President Design). Maximilian Missoni headed exterior design, and Car Design News names Ian Kettle as the XC40's designer. Ebba Maria Thunberg led colour and materials. Its CMA platform was co-developed by Volvo and Geely.
Volvo Cars, based in Gothenburg, Sweden, unveiled it in Milan, Italy. It has been built since the fourth quarter of 2017 at the Ghent plant in Belgium, which built its one-millionth XC40 in 2024. The XC40 sold in the United States still comes from Ghent.
It was unveiled in Milan on September 21, 2017. It made its North American debut on November 29, 2017, at the Los Angeles Auto Show, and the first cars reached nearly 300 U.S. showrooms in spring 2018 as a 2019 model.
XC comes from Volvo's Cross Country line, which began with the V70 XC. When the XC90 arrived in 2002, the XC name came to mark the brand's SUVs. The 40 places it in the 40 Series, Volvo's family of compact cars built on the CMA platform. In 2024 the electric version became the EX40, so electric models can be spotted at a glance.
Volvo had no SUV in the compact luxury segment, one of the fastest-growing in the market. The XC40 was its first entry there and a way to bring the brand to new buyers: Volvo described its drivers as people interested in fashion, design and popular culture who often live in large cities. The new CMA platform gave Volvo the scale it needed to make a small car work as a business.
Generation by generation
- Gen. 12019–2022 · CMA
The small SUV that declared war on clutter
Photo: Mr.choppers · CC BY-SA 3.0 What changed. It was Volvo's first compact luxury SUV and the first model on the CMA platform. In the U.S. it arrived with a 248 hp 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder and all-wheel drive (T5), from $35,200, followed by a front-wheel-drive T4 from $33,200. It also launched Care by Volvo, a subscription from $600 a month with insurance, maintenance and roadside assistance included.
The innovation. Volvo moved the speakers out of the doors and put a ventilated subwoofer in the dashboard. That freed room in the doors for a laptop or a couple of water bottles. It also brought a removable waste bin in the console, a fold-out bag hook in the glove box and storage under the front seats.
If you buy one usedSelected campaigns include rear seat-back strikers 18V535, brake-pedal riveting 18V554 and emergency-location software 18V800 on specified 2019 cars; AEB software 20V144 on 2019–2020; and child-seat belt retractors 21V682 on specified 2021 cars. For an affected unrepaired 18V554 vehicle, stop driving and arrange on-site inspection or towing with Volvo. Camera campaign 25V908 replaces 25V282 on specified 2021–2025 XC40s and requires the new remedy even after an earlier repair. The 2019 IIHS TOP SAFETY PICK+ award requires the specified adaptive LED headlights in the Advanced package. Confirm the actual equipment, VIN and completed work. - Gen. 22021–2026 · CMA (eléctrico)
XC40 Recharge and EX40: the first electric Volvo
Photo: Vauxford · CC BY-SA 4.0 What changed. Unveiled on October 16, 2019, the XC40 Recharge was the first fully electric Volvo built at scale. In the U.S. it had two motors, all-wheel drive and 402 hp, and charged to 80% in about 40 minutes on DC fast charging of up to 150 kW. For the U.S. 2024 model year, the single-motor version switched to rear-wheel drive with Volvo's own in-house electric motor, the first rear-drive Volvo since the 940 ended production in 1998. In 2024 it was renamed EX40.
The innovation. It was the first Volvo with an Android-based infotainment system with Google services built in, and the first to receive major software and operating-system updates over the air.
If you buy one usedOn specified XC40 Recharge vehicles, check BECM software 21V109 (2021–2022) and electric-motor bracket/bolts 21V881 (2021). Brake campaign 25V392 covers certain 2023–2024 XC40 BEVs and 2025–2026 EX40s: for an affected unrepaired vehicle, NHTSA’s July 2025 urgent notice advises not driving and disabling One Pedal Drive until recall software is installed; arrange the update with Volvo. Camera campaign 25V908 replaces 25V282 on specified 2021–2025 XC40/2025 EX40 vehicles and requires new work after the earlier remedy. KBB reported Volvo’s September 2026 confirmation that the EX40 will continue a long 2026-model U.S. run and is not planned to return for 2028 for now; treat this as a dated product plan. Confirm current VIN eligibility and every completed repair. - Gen. 32023–present · CMA (actualización 2023)
All mild hybrid, with Google on board
Photo: Mr.choppers · CC BY-SA 4.0 What changed. For the 2023 model year, every gas XC40 became a mild hybrid, the Thor's Hammer headlights took a new shape, and Google built-in (Google Maps, Google Assistant and Google Play) spread to the whole lineup. The last plug-in hybrid XC40 was built in 2023. In the U.S. today it comes as a front-drive B4 (194 hp) or an all-wheel-drive B5 (247 hp).
The innovation. A 48-volt mild hybrid system supports the gas engine in every version; Volvo lists up to 27 mpg combined (EPA) for the B4.
If you buy one usedFor specified 2023 XC40s, check brake-diagnostic software 23V012 and false e-call warning 23V188; certain 2024 cars also have left-rear turn-signal software campaign 24V010. Camera campaign 25V908 replaces 25V282 on the specified model years and requires the new remedy even after previous work. Several remedies permit OTA updates, while the actual VIN and campaign determine the required procedure. Confirm that every applicable remedy was installed successfully.
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