Volvo XC40 review - MPG, CO2 and Running Costs

The XC40’s engine line-up comprises state-of-the-art motors, with a wide range of electric, hybrid, petrol and diesel engines. The efficiency figures on the XC40 are respectable for the class, but no better than that.

The cleanest XC40 is the Recharge P8 pure electric which emits 0g/km. Next up is the Recharge T5 hybrid model which emits 47g/km (upped to 49g/km in R-Design Pro spec). Outside of electrification, the most frugal is the diesel D3 in front-wheel-drive and manual-gearbox form. It emits 143g/km of CO2 and is capable of up to 51.4mpg on the combined cycle.

• Volvo XC40 vs Audi Q3 vs BMW X1

Switching to the higher-powered 187bhp diesel with four-wheel drive and an automatic transmission, sees the CO2 figure rise to 167g/km and a claimed economy figure of 44.1mpg.

As you might expect, the petrol XC40 takes a hit on fuel efficiency and CO2 emissions; at 158g/km in entry Momentum trim, the T3 probably has a big enough tax hit for lots of company car choosers to overlook it. In reality, it’s a very thirsty unit, too - we struggled to get mid-thirties mpg out of the T3 in our time behind the wheel. If you must have a petrol, the front-wheel drive B4 with mild-hybrid tech offers greater performance than the T3, and the same returns in real world economy.

Insurance groups

Insurance groups for the XC40 range from Group 18 to Group 32. On a like-for-like basis, the Volvo is ranked slightly lower than its German rivals - not least helped because of the Swedish brand’s reputation for passive and active safety systems. 

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Depreciation

Volvo is currently on the crest of wave in terms of customer demand, and when you also factor in the strong desirability within the premium SUV market, and it's no surprise that the XC40 has some of the best residual values of any new car on sale, ranging from 55-59%. In comparison, the BMW X1 has residuals around 10 per cent lower than this.