2022 Volvo XC40 facelift review, first drive

After launching the facelifted XC40 Recharge in India, Volvo has brought the facelift to the XC40 as well. We have driven the car to tell you just how significant of an update the car has received.

The facelifted Volvo XC40 gets a new headlamp deisgn, new bumper and new design for the alloy wheels.

While the all-electric XC40 Recharge grabs all the headlines, Volvo has also relaunched a slightly facelifted version of the ICE XC40 for 2022. The car gets a few exterior tweaks and a few tweaks to the cabin as well, but it is far from a drastic departure from the old car. What is new, though, is the mild-hybrid system under the hood, which now improves the efficiency of the older 2.0-litre petrol motor by a claimed 15 per cent. Here’s a quick look at what has changed and what is new on the 2022 Volvo XC40.

The facelifted XC40 gets reprofiled headlamps with a new shape for the pixel DRLs that are slightly more skewed than in the previous generation.

2022 Volvo XC40 facelift review, design

In terms of design, the Volvo XC40 has not really changed much. In fact, you’d be forgiven for not being able to tell whether anything has changed at all. On the outside, the biggest change is at the front. Where you have reprofiled headlamps with a new shape for the pixel DRLs that are slightly more skewed than in the previous generation. The other change is the front bumper which has been given a redesign with revamped foglamps recesses and slightly larger air dams than the previous version. In profile, the Volvo XC40 gets revamped 18-inch alloys that are slightly more aerodynamic than the ones on the outgoing car. The rear remains identical to the previous version. In fact most of the changes just seem to bring the XC40 in line with the design theme we’ve seen on the Recharge. In all though, even among a strong lineup of premium compact SUVs, the XC40 is still a sharp-looking SUV with more than enough to ensure it stands out.

While the rest of the cabin is unchanged, the MID is now a fully digital 12.3-inch screen that has a customizable layout and integrates crucial navigation data and a map between the two dials.

2022 Volvo XC40 facelift review, cabin

Inside the cabin, the XC40 feels very familiar without too many changes to the cabin. The infotainment is still a portrait-styled 9-inch infotainment screen, that gets apple car play casting but skips Android Auto. It uses an Android-based system that integrates all your essential apps meaning that phone casting then becomes redundant. It’s paired with a really nice set of Harmon Kardon speakers with surround sound that can be tailored to bias to various points in the car. But the big change is to the MID which is now a fully digital 12.3inch screen that has a customisable layout and integrates crucial navigation data and a map between the two dials.

The 2.0-litre petrol motor makes about 197bhp and 300Nm of peak torque and gets a new 48-volt mild-hybrid system. As on the previous generation, the motor is mated to an 8-speed automatic gearbox.

2022 Volvo XC40 facelift review, engine and performance

The biggest change though for the XC40 is the addition of mild hybrid technology to the turbo-charged 2.0-litre T4 petrol motor that makes about 197bhp and 300Nm of peak torque. As on the previous generation, the motor is mated to an 8-speed automatic gearbox. The added 48V mild hybrid system doesn’t really make a massive difference to the way the car drives, but it does make the car slightly more silent at low speeds. The motor itself is best enjoyed at a relaxed pace, putting your foot down does significantly increase the engine noise inside the cabin. That said, once you get past the refinement, it is quick enough for an engaging drive experience and uses the linear torque band and the 300Nm of twist to add speed quickly and deceptively. In all Volvo claims, the mild-hybrid system can boost the efficiency of the motor by up to 15 per cent but that is something that we can put to the test once we have the car back for a slightly more detailed test.

The car gets a fully digital 12.3-inch screen that has a customizable layout and integrates crucial navigation data and a map between the two dials.

2022 Volvo XC40 facelift review, verdict

In all, while the Volvo XC40 hasn’t changed all that much over the previous generation, it is still a very nice premium SUV with a significant undercut to the competition. At Rs 45.90 lakh ex-showroom, and an introductory offer price of Rs 43.20 lakh, the XC40 does still seem like a value offering in the premium segment.