Skip advert
Advertisement

Volvo XC40 SUV - Reliability & safety

Volvo has given customers a deeply impressive array of safety equipment as standard

Carbuyer Rating

4.0 out of 5

Owners Rating
Be the first to review
Reliability & safety Rating

4.0 out of 5

The Volvo XC40 finished in 32nd place in our 2024 Driver Power owner satisfaction survey of the top 50 models on sale. Buyers like its high-quality interior and practicality the most but are less keen on the price, considering it poor value for money.

Volvo XC40 reliability

Volvo as a brand performed well in our most recent brand-specific Driver Power owner satisfaction survey, coming in 12th place out of 32 manufacturers and ahead of its premium German rivals BMW (21st), Mercedes (25th), and Audi (30th), but behind Lexus in eighth and Jaguar in 10th. Reliability isn’t a strong point, with 27th of Volvo owners reporting an issue with their car in the first year, though this isn’t specific to the XC40.

Safety

The Volvo XC40 has been given five stars in independent Euro NCAP crash tests, with impressive scores across the board that make it the safest small SUV. A 97% score for adult occupant protection is certainly reassuring, along with a high 87% score for child occupants.

Advertisement - Article continues below

Perhaps the car's key safety technology is City Safety autonomous emergency braking, which can not only detect vehicles, but pedestrians, cyclists and even large animals, helping prevent collisions or at least lessen their severity. There are also systems to help keep the car on the road, and prevent it heading towards oncoming traffic, all fitted as standard.

Every XC40 also comes with Volvo On Call, a smartphone app and emergency assistance package that allows you to control some functions of the car remotely (like locking and unlocking), and can alert the emergency services if you're involved in a crash.

Skip advert
Advertisement

Which Is Best?

Cheapest

  • Name
    2.0 B3P Core 5dr Auto
  • Gearbox type
    Semi-auto
  • RRP
    £36,310

Most Economical

  • Name
    2.0 B3P Core 5dr Auto
  • Gearbox type
    Semi-auto
  • RRP
    £36,310

Fastest

  • Name
    2.0 B4P Plus Dark 5dr Auto
  • Gearbox type
    Semi-auto
  • RRP
    £40,960

Charlie writes and edits news, review and advice articles for Carbuyer, as well as publishing content to its social media platforms. He has also been a regular contributor to its sister titles Auto Express, DrivingElectric and evo. As well as being consumed by everything automotive, Charlie is a speaker of five languages and once lived in Chile, Siberia and the Czech Republic, returning to the UK to write about his life-long passion: cars.

Skip advert
Advertisement

Recommended

Volvo XC40 review – an impressive small premium SUV
Volvo XC40 facelift
In-depth reviews
25 Jul 2024

Volvo XC40 review – an impressive small premium SUV

Most Popular

Ford EcoBoost engines: reliability, problems and should you buy one?
Ford Puma EcoBoost front
Tips and advice
5 Nov 2024

Ford EcoBoost engines: reliability, problems and should you buy one?

Car tax: VED rates and increases explained 2024/25
Car tax
Tips and advice
4 Nov 2024

Car tax: VED rates and increases explained 2024/25

BMW M5 review – the most capable M5 ever is now a PHEV
BMW M5 Touring rear quarter cruising
In-depth reviews
5 Nov 2024

BMW M5 review – the most capable M5 ever is now a PHEV

Tips & advice

View All
Car dashboard warning lights: what does each symbol mean?
Car dashboard symbols and meanings
Tips and advice
21 Oct 2024

Car dashboard warning lights: what does each symbol mean?

Electric car charging stations: public networks, charger types, apps and maps
Charging station
Tips and advice
23 Jul 2024

Electric car charging stations: public networks, charger types, apps and maps

PCP vs HP – which type of car finance is right for you?
PCP vs HP
Tips and advice
17 May 2022

PCP vs HP – which type of car finance is right for you?

Average speed cameras: how do they work?
Average speed cameras: how do they work?
Tips and advice
21 Mar 2024

Average speed cameras: how do they work?

Best cars

View All
Top 10 best car interiors
Peugeot 208 hatchback
Best cars
25 Jun 2021

Top 10 best car interiors

Top 10 best electric cars 2024
Best electric cars
Best cars
16 May 2024

Top 10 best electric cars 2024

Top 10 best cheap-to-run cars 2024
The best cheap-to-run cars 2023
Best cars
2 Jan 2024

Top 10 best cheap-to-run cars 2024

The UK's top 10 fastest hot hatchbacks 2024
Fastest hot hatchbacks hero
Best cars
2 Jan 2024

The UK's top 10 fastest hot hatchbacks 2024