2.0 B3P Plus Dark

Worst Car I’ve Ever Owned!

Where to start? Firstly, I go back many years and have driven Vauxhall Chevettes, Ford Sierras, Mini Metros, etc . I have driven professionally for 20 years in everything including 38 tonne articulated lorries. With this in mind, I can honestly say that my XC40 was the worst driving experience I’ve ever had.

I’d had an old trusty diesel Volvo V50 for years but it was beginning to struggle, so thought I’d upgrade to a better Volvo which would last me for years. However, within the first 6 months of getting my XC40, I was looking to get rid of it because it annoyed me every time I got in it. What happened Volvo?!

1. In my XC40 model, there was a mode called ‘freewheeling’ or ‘coasting’ and I’ve never experienced anything so stupid whilst driving. Basically, once you get over 45mph and you take your foot off the accelerator, the car will KEEP GOING! Forget trying to anticipate anything to adjust your speed without braking - basically you’ll just continue until you brake or have to secondary touch the accelerator to disengage this mode (which is distracting because you’re always looking to see if you’ve gone over 45mph and this mode has kicked in). On my model there was no way to turn this off and I found it so annoying and dangerous. Anyone driving behind you must think you’re an i**** because you’re always having to brake instead of slowing naturally by taking your foot off the gas.

2. Linked to this problem and I stress I’m not at all mechanically minded. There is a known problem to Volvo with the regenerative braking system which they acknowledge but will do nothing about. Many owners have complained about it in online forums. There is a little box under the bonnet that will make the most awful grinding sound intermittently when braking as it deals with slowing the car - something to do with the regenerative hybrid braking system. Absolutely appalling from Volvo and for buyers of a brand new expensive car. Beware!

3. The brakes. OMG THE BRAKES!!!! Most awful brakes on any vehicle I’ve ever driven. Even took the car back to Volvo because I couldn’t believe they could possibly be that bad without something being wrong. You’ll put your foot down to brake, put it down a little more when nothing happens, then a little more, a little bit more and then suddenly there they are! Spongier than SpongeBob himself! Will grind and feel very non-existent until they finally do kick in. I understand they are all metal brake pads - I don’t know if this is normal nowadays but ceramic used to the norm and they always worked.

4. Parking brake. If it rains and the car has been parked for over 12 hours, when you get back in it and go to drive off, the parking brake will stick until you really have to put your foot down on the accelerator and then suddenly ‘Bang!’, the parking brake has unstuck itself and you’re off! Online forums will say that the rain can rust the metal brake pads together. Have never had this on ANY vehicle before going back to the 80’s! Pathetic!

5. Many steering creaks and groans when turning the wheel in and out of tight spaces.

6. It seems every XC40 I pass on various motorways have the very useful blind spot recognition warning light on the mirrors. For some reason, despite having electric seats, heated seats, heated steering wheel, etc, mine didn’t even have the convex blind spot mirror on the the passenger side wing mirror! Check this if you do buy one. Why put all the bells and whistles on a car but can’t even put a decent mirror on the passenger side.

7. Think this might be a new car phenomenon, but if you like to drive in quite an upright position, the headrest will push your head forward, such is the angle of them. Ended up having to take mine off and turn it around.

It’s such a shame from Volvo because the car looked terrific and was a comfortable ride. But I would never buy another Volvo such was my disappointment and utter disbelief. Please think twice about buying this car.

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