Volvo XC40 is European Car of the Year
Ahead of the Geneva Motor Show, the new Volvo XC40 small SUV has been named the 2018 European Car of the Year.
It is the first time the Swedish premium carmaker wins this prestigious award. Second was SEAT with its new Ibiza, BMW 5-Series took third place. The other nominated cars this year were: Kia Stinger, Citroën's C3 Aircross, Audi A8 and Alfa Romeo Stelvio.
The European Car of the Year accolade is given to the 'best' car, regardless of segment. The jury is composed of 60 automotive journalists from 23 countries across Europe.
Fleet Europe already test drove the XC40. Read all about it here.
It runs in the family
"Winning this award with out new XC40 is perfect timing," said Håkan Samuelsson, president and CEO of Volvo Cars (pictured). “Volvo now has three globally available SUVs in its range for the first time. The XC40 will be a strong contributor to further growth, taking us into a new and fast-growing small SUV segment.”
Volvo's other SUVs have both been awarded, too. The large XC90 won North American Truck/Utility of the Year this year and the mid-size XC60 won the same prize in 2016.
The XC40 is the first Volvo that is based on the carmaker's new compact modular vehicle architecture which will also underpin all other new 40 series cars. It can also be used for electric vehicles. The platform was developed in conjunction with Geely, which based their Lynk & Co 01 on it.
The XC40 has a distinctive design that is more than just a scaled down XC60 or XC90.
It runs on connectivity
The XC40 is targeted at the smartphone generation, twenty and thirty-somethings that favour a strong design language, customisation, convenience and connectivity.
It is the first Volvo with a car sharing feature. XC40 owners can share their car with friends and family without having to hand over a physical key. This is made possible with Volvo's digital key technology and the connected services platform Volvo On Call.
New connectivity features don't stop there. The XC40 is also the first Volvo that is available through Volvo's new subscription service, Care by Volvo. Using this system, having a car is as transparent and hassle-free as having a phone. All it requires is paying a monthly flat flee.
Befitting a Swedish car, the XC40 holds its ground on the safety field. Its driver assistance and safety features include a Pilot Assist system, City Safety, Run-off Road protection and mitigation, Cross Traffic alert with brake support and a 360° camera.
A hybrid and full electric version of the XC40 are expected to be launched shortly.
Images: Volvo Cars
