Snapshot
- MY23 facelift due to arrive in August
- New powertrain naming system adopted
- Pricing starts from $52,990 plus on-road costs
The 2023 Volvo XC40 will launch in Australia next month, with prices starting from $52,990 plus on-road costs for a choice of mild-hybrid or fully-electric powertrains.
The facelifted model, which no longer offers a pure petrol version as part of the company's move to go all-electric by 2030, adopts the C40’s more triangular-shaped LED headlights along with the continuity of its T-shaped daytime-running lights, which are echoed in the redesigned front bumper.
Fully-electric models can be distinguished by their blocked-off front grille, and new designs for the 19-inch alloy wheels accompany the changes.
Volvo's naming convention for its powertrains has also changed for MY23, with the previous T4 Momentum becoming the Plus B4, T4 Inscription changing to Ultimate B4 Bright, and T5 R-Design to Ultimate B5 Dark. The plug-in hybrid model was axed earlier this year.
2023 Volvo XC40 Australian pricing
All pricing is before on-road costs.
Variant | Pricing |
Plus B4 | $52,990 |
Ultimate B4 Bright | $59,990 |
Ultimate B4 Dark | $63,990 |
Recharge Pure Electric | $72,990 |
Recharge Twin Pure Electric | $79,490 |
Features
B4 Plus
The entry-level B4 Plus now features as standard:
Power adjustable passenger seat |
Power foldable rear headrests |
Power operated tailgate |
Soft load net (stored in bag) |
Next-generation infotainment system, including Google Automotive services and Volvo Cars App |
Wireless charging |
USB type C |
Mechanical cushion extensions |
Touring chassis |
New look 18-inch five-spoke silver alloy wheels |
Ultimate B4 Bright
The mid-spec Ultimate B4 Bright adds:
Air purifier |
360 degree camera |
Touring chassis |
New look 19-inch five 'Y' spoke matte graphite alloy wheels |
Leather-free upholstery |
Crystal gear selector |
Ultimate B4 Dark
The top-spes (of the hybrid variants) Ultimate B4 Dark adds:
New look 20-inch double-spoke black alloy wheels |
Black exterior |
Suede-accented upholstery |
Recharge Pure Electric
As standard, the single-motor EV gets:
19-inch five-spoke wheels |
Heated seats, front and rear |
Heated steering wheel |
Rear privacy glass |
Panoramic sunroof |
Front and rear carpet mats |
Recharge Twin Pure Electric
The fully-loaded EV meanwhile adds:
Pixel LED headlight system |
Two-zone climate control system |
20-inch five-spoke matt graphite diamond-cut alloy wheels |
Harman Kardon Premium Sound System |
Sustainable seat upholstery |
The facelifted XC40 range now comes with a choice of four paint colours: sage green, fjord blue, silver dawn and bright dusk.
Engine, transmission and fuel economy
Powering the new mild-hybrid petrol models is a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine producing 145kW/300Nm in the B4 Plus and Ultimate B4 Bright, or 183kW/350Nm in the Ultimate B5 Dark.
That makes the B4 and B5 up 5kW and down 2kW compared to the previous T4 and T5 engines respectively.
An eight-speed automatic transmission drives the front wheels in the B4 Plus or all four wheels in the Ultimate B4 Bright and B5 Dark, with 0-100km/h sprint times rated at 8.4 seconds for the entry-level variant, and 8.5 and 6.4 seconds for the mid- and top-spec equivalents.
Volvo claims fuel economy to be rated at 6.9L/100km for the B4 Plus, 7.1L/100km for the Ultimate B4 Bright and 7.2L/100km for the Ultimate B5 Bright.
The base Pure Electric uses a 69kWh battery powering a single front electric motor with outputs of 170kW and 330Nm.
Volvo quotes 7.4 seconds for the 0-100km/h acceleration run and the company is anticipating a WLTP-rated ddriving driving range of about 424km.
The existing Twin Pure Electric incorporates a larger 78kWh battery, with an electric motor on both the front and rear axles producing a combined 300kW/660Nm.
Volvo says the AWD electric XC40 accelerates from 0-100km/h in 4.9 seconds and it has a maximum WLTP-rated range of 418km.
Safety
The Volvo XC40 was given a five-star ANCAP rating in 2018, applying to all variants including electric.
As standard, the model gets safety features such as:
City safety |
Collision warning and mitigation, front and rear |
Park assist, front and rear with camera |
Blind-spot information system with cross traffic alert |
Adaptive cruise control, pilot assist and lane keeping aid |
360-degree camera |
Parking assistance, front and rear |
Hill start assist and hill descent control |
Availability
The 2023 Volvo XC40 range arrives in Australia in the second half of August.
The 2022 model was ranked number one in the luxury compact SUV segment in June thanks to 613 sales, with the Pure Electric variant making up 28 per cent of units shifted.
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