Volvo is a premium brand, so it’s no surprise that the 2021 Volvo XC40 is one of the top luxury SUVs of the year. Cars can be great in many ways, but what gives the XC40 a leg up is its design. Here’s a look at why the design of the 2021 Volvo XC40 made it one of the most luxurious SUVs of 2021.

The 2021 Volvo XC40’s luxurious design

Some may think that the XC40 is too cheap to be a luxury SUV at a starting price tag of just under $34,000. U.S. News wrote, the XC40’s “attractive, stylish cabin” clearly makes it a worthy luxury competitor. The XC40’s design is simple but functional and quite luxurious.

Despite being a subcompact SUV, U.S. News said that the XC40’s seats are spacious and comfortable. They’re not perfect, as taller drivers might have a harder time. With that being said, leather upholstery for the driver’s seat is standard. This will give the XC40 an upscale feeling that customers are shopping for.

Lots of standard interior features

Another great aspect of the XC40 is its interior features. According to U.S. News, the XC40 comes with a 9-inch touch screen display, as well as a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. The XC40’s infotainment system is compatible with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. More importantly, they also connect to Volvo’s impressive safety features. 

Volvo is well-known for making safe cars, so the XC40 not only has some great crash test ratings but also a large suite of standard smart safety features. U.S. News said that things like forward-collision warning, rear cross-traffic alert, and rain-sensing windshield wipers are all standard, to name a few. That said, the XC40’s tech isn’t perfect. U.S. News wrote that the infotainment system could be slow and confusing to use.

Additionally, the XC40 is equipped with quite a few creature comfort features. According to U.S. News, things like automatic climate control, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, and an eight-speaker premium stereo system are all standard. Options will upgrade the XC40’s interior. They include things like a panoramic sunroof, wireless device charging capability, and adaptive cruise control, among other things.

An overview of the 2021 Volvo XC40

One of the design quirks about Volvo is its engines. All Volvos now have 2.0-liter four-cylinder engines, but their upgraded versions will have significantly more power. In the case of the XC40, its standard engine for the T4 is very capable, and its optional T5 engine is even more capable. 

The T4 gets 184 hp, while the T5 gets 248 hp. U.S. News said that both engines are generally pretty good, though they’re not perfect by any means. Their fuel economy of 23 mpg in the city and 32 mpg on highways is average. Another thing that’s about average with the XC40 is its cargo capacity. It gets 47.2 cubic feet of cargo capacity with its seats folded down, which is slightly below average for the segment.

Volvo offers two trims for the XC40, the R-Design, and the Inscription. The R-Design trim starts at about $39,000, and the Inscription starts at about $39,500. However, the most expensive version of the XC40 is the all-electric Recharge. It starts at about $54,000, and it’s Volvo’s first-ever EV.