[POV] 2020 Volvo V40 Cross Country 1.5 T3 Test Drive

The V40 Cross Country first arrived in 2013, a year after the standard V40 hatch, while both cars were facelifted in 2016. It's offered purely as a trim level rather than a whole separate variant. It gets a slightly raised ride height and tough-looking plastic bumpers that intend to give it an SUV stance, plus off-road allusions such as roof rails and side scuff plates.

Inside, the center console may feel slightly outdated and cluttered, with a selection of small and fiddly buttons that sometimes are hard to tell apart at a glance. Brushed metal finishes and a variety of soft-textured plastics and materials mean that it looks classy and modern, and feels high-end in all the key places. There’s DAB radio, Bluetooth connectivity and a USB input that will allow full control of Android and Apple phones through the standard 7.0in color display.

The 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine isn’t available in the Cross Country with a manual gearbox, but the automatic gearbox isn’t too disappointing. The engine offers plenty of poke for everyday driving, and you won’t have much trouble taking on motorway trips. The automatic transmission is smooth and happily allows the engine to rev hard, but the T3 does lack the low-down pulling power you’ll experience in the D3 diesel, although it's much more quieter most of the time.

The V40 Cross Country is adequate but unexceptional in terms of its ride and handling. It doesn’t feel too jarring over bumps and ruts but the body moves about a lot, leaning heavily through corners and bobbing up and down over most scruffy surfaces. Still, at least it settles down well at higher speeds, and while the steering feels vague, it’s weighted well enough to offer confidence whether you’re in town or on the motorway.

Engine type: Inline 4 turbo
Fuel Type: Petrol (Gasoline)
Displacement: 1.5 l (1498 cm3)
Power: 152 hp @ 5000 rpm
Torque: 250 Nm (184 lb-ft) @ 1680-4020 rpm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Layout: front engine, front wheel drive
Top speed: 210 km/h (130 mph)
Curb weight: 1587 kg (3498 lbs)
Average fuel consumption: 6.0 l/100 km (39 mpg US / 47 mpg UK)

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