Used Volvo XC40 review and buying guide (2018 to present): which one to buy and what to check

Which used Volvo XC40 should you buy?

The XC40 to buy is one with dealer job sheets for every warranty repair, because no build year since its 2018 launch stands out as the one to have. The faults owners have reported are single cars: one 2019 car needed a new driver's door after its paint bubbled, and another needed a new seatbelt sensor when its airbag light came on.

The one version to be wary of is the T5, because it's the only engine where more than one owner reported the same thing: two T5s wouldn't start, one with a hard brake pedal after standing and one completely dead at the button. Don't buy a T5 that won't start first time on the viewing, whatever else it has going for it.

Which XC40 engines are the safe choices?

The T5 is the XC40 engine to test hardest, because two T5 owners reported starting trouble. On one, the brake pedal turned hard after the car had stood, and the starter wouldn't engage until the pedal went down far enough to trip a safety switch. The other, an all-wheel-drive car, was completely dead when the driver pressed the start button.

Beyond the T5, the range takes in a small-capacity petrol and a plug-in hybrid. On the PHEV, one owner couldn't free a stuck charging lead and needed roadside assistance. Another owner's 2019 XC40 developed a turbo fault three weeks after delivery that the dealer still hadn't traced four weeks later, despite changing three different parts, so ask what any turbo work fixed.

What should you check when viewing a used XC40?

Ask the seller not to start the car before you arrive, then press the brake and the start button: a hard pedal or a dash that stays dead matches what two T5 owners reported. If it doesn't start first time, that's your answer. Watch for an airbag warning light too, since one car's came on two months after delivery because of a faulty driver's seatbelt sensor.

Look closely along the driver's door for paint bubbling; one owner's 2019 car needed the whole door replaced under warranty. Try the touchscreen properly, especially if the car's been parked in the sun, because one owner's stopped responding on a 32C day and only woke up once the cabin cooled. On a plug-in hybrid, plug the charging cable in and pull it out again.

Ask for the dealer's job sheets for every warranty repair, and pay attention to anything about the brakes. One owner reported the brakes failing on a dual carriageway in a 2019 car, and the dealer couldn't commit to a cause. A car with that on its history isn't one to take on without proof that it's been traced and fixed.

Paste the advert into the free check and it runs these against the listing, the MOT history and the DVLA record before you travel.

What does a used Volvo XC40 cost to run?

What do XC40 owners like about them?

It's the styling that wins people over, and the XC40's sharp, modern look makes it a car people want to own. Inside, the cabin's clean and uncluttered, with a minimalist Scandinavian design that'd put plenty of boutique hotels in the shade and keeps the place feeling calm rather than fussy.

It rides comfortably and feels quiet and refined on the move, and it doesn't lose that composure when it's sitting on big alloy wheels. The engines are efficient too, and the choice runs from a small-capacity petrol to a plug-in hybrid, so it's not a thirsty thing to run day to day.

• The 2018 XC40 achieved a five-star Euro NCAP rating, with high scores for adult and child occupant safety.
• The XC40 features highly desirable styling, including contrast roof options and a minimalist, high-quality interior design.
• This model offers excellent ride comfort and overall refinement, even when equipped with larger alloy wheels.
• The XC40 offers a strong selection of efficient power units, including a compact petrol engine and an upcoming plug-in hybrid.
• The XC40 is well priced, provided that buyers are careful not to add too many optional extras.