Volvo V40 Cross Country T5 quick review: the perfect winter hatchback?

Fancy a Volvo V40 Cross Country with all-wheel drive? The T5 petrol is your only option

Volvo V40 Cross Country T5 Pro

The Cross Country T5: no, not the name of a rail service you might see carving its way through the Home Counties, but the flagship model sitting atop the Volvo V40 range. With 245hp on tap and all-wheel drive, it could – at a push – be the thinking man’s Subaru WRX STI.

  • Volvo S90 review: should you buy one over a BMW 5 Series?
  • 2016 Volvo V90 review: luxury estate takes on the Germans
  • Read another car review on Motoring Research

To keep the V40 current, Volvo has given the range a midlife refresh, with a subtle makeover and a few tweaks to bring it in line with the XC90 and new V90/S90. With temperatures dropping, we thought it was time to take the V40 Cross Country T5 for a winter blast.

Prices and deals

You might want to sit down for this, because the price – as tested – is an eye-watering £39,800. Admittedly, Volvo has lavished this test car with £5,825 worth of options, but even £33,975 is a huge jump from the entry-level T3 Cross Country, which costs £23,555.

What are its rivals?

The V40 Cross Country is more of a jacked-up hatchback than a standard crossover, so direct rivals are thin on the ground. Consider the likes of the Mercedes-Benz GLA and DS 4 Crossback as the most obvious challengers.

It goes without saying that the V40 Cross Country must also see off a host of me-too crossovers to reign supreme in a fiercely competitive sector. Not that it needs to; the V40 Cross Country is unashamedly niche and distinctive, while the T5 is the only model in the range to offer all-wheel drive.

What engine does it use?

T5 badge

First, the bad news: the T5 badge no longer means there’s a 2.5-litre five-cylinder engine making evocative noises beneath the bonnet. Instead, you’ll find a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine developing 245hp.

It means the V40 Cross Country T5 has lost one of its USPs, but it’s not all bad news…

How fast?

The V40 Cross Country T5 will accelerate to 62mph in 6.4 seconds – the same time achieved by the larger 2.5-litre five-cylinder unit. Proof, if proof were needed, that Volvo’s decision to concentrate on four-cylinder Drive-E engines is no bad thing.

Will I enjoy driving it?

In the V40 Cross Country T5, much of the enjoyment stems from the sense of smug satisfaction that you’re driving an ideal winter weapon and you’ve refused to follow the crowd. It’s certainly quick, although Volvo’s ‘cotton wool’ approach to engineering dilutes any real sense of speed.

Instead, the T5 rewards you with security and reassurance, especially on damp roads and along gravel tracks. Thanks to all-wheel drive, the T5 is the only Cross Country model to take advantage of the 40mm increase in ride height.

Fuel economy and running costs

Much as we mourn the passing of the five-cylinder engine, it was never the most fuel efficient unit on the planet. Previously, the claimed 34.0mpg average meant that running a T5 was a real heart over head decision.

In the new Cross Country, your head can rest easy with a claimed 47.9mpg average. That said, over the course of a week we were left with a figure of 25.1mpg. CO2 emissions of 137g/km equates to road tax of £130 a year.

What’s the interior like?

floating centre console

Until the launch of the XC90, we’d have been perfectly happy with the interior in the V40 Cross Country. But Volvo is its own worst enemy, as nothing can match the beautiful simplicity and elegance of the interior found in the XC90.

On the plus side, the V40 Cross Country remains a bastion of the wonderful ‘floating’ centre console, while the fit and finish is perfectly executed. Some will find the array of buttons and switches a little offensive, but at least you get a proper handbrake.

Is it comfortable?

Supremely comfortable. Somehow, Volvo manages to create the most comfortable seats in the business, a fact you’ll only truly appreciate when you climb aboard a car without a Volvo badge.

Over long distances, the Volvo V40 Cross Country has a big car feel, making it an ideal company car. Our only complaint is the ride quality, which isn’t great on local roads and around town. This might have something to do with the 18-inch alloy wheels, standard on the T5.

Is it practical?

As a jacked-up five-door hatchback, the V40 Cross Country isn’t going to be quite as practical as a standard crossover. Boot space of 335 litres compares to 430 litres in the Nissan Qashqai, while space for rear seats passengers doesn’t feel quite as generous.

The flexible load floor with grocery bag holder (£100) is a welcome touch, while the large door bins and space between the front seats are great for storage. There’s also a handy space behind the ‘floating’ centre console.

Tell me about the tech

The top trim Cross Country Pro offers a premium sound system; sensus navigation; active TFT driver’s information display, with three different themes; rear park assist and front and rear theatre lights.

Standard equipment on all V40 Cross Country models includes LED headlights, two-zone climate control, digital radio, Bluetooth and hill-start assist. Note the ‘Thor’s hammer’ headlights at the front, which bring a touch of the XC90 to the V40.

What about safety?

Volvo V40 euro ncap

At its launch in 2012, the Volvo V40 was named as the safest car ever tested by Euro NCAP, so its safety credentials are in no doubt.

Our test car was fitted with the Intellisafe Pro pack, comprising collision warning with auto brake, pedestrian and cyclist detection, adaptive cruise control, distance alert, queue assist, lane keeping aid, driver alert control, active high beam, road sign information and blind spot assist. All this for £1,900.

Which version should I go for?

As we said earlier, the V40 Cross Country range starts from £23,555, so parting with £33,975 for the flagship T5 Pro is a big leap. Add a few options, and you could be knocking on the door of £40,000 for what is essentially a family hatchback with a raised ride height.

If you really need all-wheel drive, the T5 is your only option. Buy one and you’ll join a select group of people in the UK.

What’s the used alternative?

Volvo V40 Cross Country T5

The most obvious used alternative is the original Volvo V40 Cross Country T5, complete with 2.5-litre five-cylinder engine. Good luck finding one, as at the time of writing there are none for sale on Auto Trader or eBay.

Alternatively, you could buy a nearly new current generation Cross Country T5 from a main dealer for a price ranging from £25,000 to £28,000. Depreciation is a problem for somebody else.

Should I buy one?

If head rules the heart, we’d say no. A Volvo V40 Cross Country T3 at £23,555 plus a few desirable options makes much more sense and will provide all the benefits of the V40’s delightful interior and the distinctive styling.

However, our hearts say something different. There’s an old-school, anti-establishment charm associated with the Cross Country T5. A petrol-engined, all-wheel drive oddity that would be a wonderful companion over the winter months.

Pub fact

As of Q2 2016, there were only six Volvo V40 Cross Country Pro T5s registered in the UK, with a further 111 Cross Country T5s in a different trim level. Remember what we were saying about a select group of buyers?

Related Articles

Gavin Braithwaite-Smith
Gavin Braithwaite-Smithhttp://www.petrolblog.com
Writer with a penchant for #FrenchTat. Owns 15 vehicles of varying degrees of terribleness. Also doing a passable impression of Cousin Eddie in an Italian-German beige motorhome. Doesn't get out much.

1 COMMENT

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Find a Car Review

Latest

Salon Privé London to host three days of champagne and supercars

Salon Privé London returns to the Royal Hospital in Chelsea next month, with special celebrations of McLaren and the Porsche 911 Turbo.

How to protect your car with an OBD port locking device

We explain how to prevent your car being stolen by criminals targeting its On-Board Diagnostics (OBD) port.

New Volkswagen ID.Buzz GTX gets 340hp and all-wheel drive

The retro-styled ID. Buzz people carrier is now offered with 340hp, making for an unlikely addition to Volkswagen’s sporty GTX range.

Kia EV9 is World Car of the Year 2024

The Kia EV9 is the latest pure electric car to be named World Car of the Year – and it also scooped the World Electric Vehicle 2024 prize