Volvo xc40 B3 v Golf match/style 8.5
Discussion
Hi All
I am trying to make up my mind over which is the better new car to buy. I used to have a VW Golf and now I am older I am looking at SUVs.
I like the Volvo XC40 B3 as the seated position is more comfortable as it is higher up but I don't think the fuel economy would be as good as the Golf 8.5 .
I really don't like the new Golf 8.5 infotainment tablet as it is too big and so you don't get as good a view through the windscreen, it is also a little less comfortable in the lower seated position.However I think the Golf is better to drive as it steers well gripping the road in comparison to the Volvo
Because of the Golf's v large infotainment tablet I think the Volvo may hold its value better and be easier to sell in a few years time. I haven't seen a single Golf 8.5 out on the road ... so am unclear as to how well it is selling
I tend to do quite a bit of motorway driving and a bit around town
I would appreciate anyone's thoughts on what may be the best option , particularly if you own either vehicle
Thanks alot
24/7
I am trying to make up my mind over which is the better new car to buy. I used to have a VW Golf and now I am older I am looking at SUVs.
I like the Volvo XC40 B3 as the seated position is more comfortable as it is higher up but I don't think the fuel economy would be as good as the Golf 8.5 .
I really don't like the new Golf 8.5 infotainment tablet as it is too big and so you don't get as good a view through the windscreen, it is also a little less comfortable in the lower seated position.However I think the Golf is better to drive as it steers well gripping the road in comparison to the Volvo
Because of the Golf's v large infotainment tablet I think the Volvo may hold its value better and be easier to sell in a few years time. I haven't seen a single Golf 8.5 out on the road ... so am unclear as to how well it is selling
I tend to do quite a bit of motorway driving and a bit around town
I would appreciate anyone's thoughts on what may be the best option , particularly if you own either vehicle
Thanks alot
24/7
I’ve driven several XC40s as service loan cars when my Volvo was being serviced.
On a B3 xc40 I was getting high thirties mpg on mostly motorway driving, compared to high forties in a 1.5/150hp golf for the same trips.
I thought the engine in the golf was better, but the gearbox in the XC40 better than the golf.
I also had a T4 XC40 on 20 inch wheels that was only around 30mpg so the B3 is the one to go for as it wasn’t really that much slower than the T4. The 20 inch wheels with p-zero tyres were pretty useless in sub zero temperatures as it was wheel spinning a lot of the time. More sensible tyres on the B3 actually put the power down without problem.
I owned my golf for a year, if buying again I’d choose the XC40. The only reason I didn’t get one originally was that the second hand prices were almost the same as a new one after 2/3 years whereas golfs were much lower. Things have equalized somewhat now though.
On a B3 xc40 I was getting high thirties mpg on mostly motorway driving, compared to high forties in a 1.5/150hp golf for the same trips.
I thought the engine in the golf was better, but the gearbox in the XC40 better than the golf.
I also had a T4 XC40 on 20 inch wheels that was only around 30mpg so the B3 is the one to go for as it wasn’t really that much slower than the T4. The 20 inch wheels with p-zero tyres were pretty useless in sub zero temperatures as it was wheel spinning a lot of the time. More sensible tyres on the B3 actually put the power down without problem.
I owned my golf for a year, if buying again I’d choose the XC40. The only reason I didn’t get one originally was that the second hand prices were almost the same as a new one after 2/3 years whereas golfs were much lower. Things have equalized somewhat now though.
Edited by Whataguy on Sunday 5th January 22:02
I'm currently driving a 2021 XC40 T5 Recharge - the 1.5 triple engine from the old T3/B3 models, with a 10kWH plug-in hybrid battery.
I've owned a lot of cars over nearly 50 years, and this one is the best all-rounder. Fast enough, comfy, not too big, economical for the size. It'll easily do 40mpg on a run after the battery is "flat".
I'm only selling it because I want a full BEV, and the Volvo BEVs are a bit disappointing.
The one thing that would put me off a new XC40 is the Android Automotive infotainment - not as reliable as the Volvo Sensus infotainment in the older models. Some functionality is missing, and it can need frequent rebooting.
Not sure if it's still an issue, but T3 models with a manual gearbox suffer from crankshaft problems - excessive end float. This might just be the older 1.5 litre models though.
I've owned a lot of cars over nearly 50 years, and this one is the best all-rounder. Fast enough, comfy, not too big, economical for the size. It'll easily do 40mpg on a run after the battery is "flat".
I'm only selling it because I want a full BEV, and the Volvo BEVs are a bit disappointing.
The one thing that would put me off a new XC40 is the Android Automotive infotainment - not as reliable as the Volvo Sensus infotainment in the older models. Some functionality is missing, and it can need frequent rebooting.
Not sure if it's still an issue, but T3 models with a manual gearbox suffer from crankshaft problems - excessive end float. This might just be the older 1.5 litre models though.
Safety is another factor in the Volvo’s favour.
They always do well in all the major crash tests, even with newly introduced scenario’s that VW’s fail. As a company Volvo really do care about safety.
Can you take them on extended weekend test drives? Might give you a better idea? Sometimes stuff like seat comfort might swing it, you can’t really tell driving a dealership car around the block for 20 mins.
I had a Volvo XC40 B4 Plus for a couple of days. I was surprised at how comfortable the seats were after a 1.5h motorway slog, compared to any other car I’ve tried.
They always do well in all the major crash tests, even with newly introduced scenario’s that VW’s fail. As a company Volvo really do care about safety.
Can you take them on extended weekend test drives? Might give you a better idea? Sometimes stuff like seat comfort might swing it, you can’t really tell driving a dealership car around the block for 20 mins.
I had a Volvo XC40 B4 Plus for a couple of days. I was surprised at how comfortable the seats were after a 1.5h motorway slog, compared to any other car I’ve tried.
Edited by wyson on Monday 6th January 08:51
Sheepshanks said:
If you want an XC40 sized SUV and like the Golf, why not look at one of the many VW Group SUVs?
XC40 is superior to the VW Tiguan or Audi Q3. Tiguan is a lot cheaper used thought, but it's far from the premium ride and interior you get in the XC40 and Q3. Q3 has a choppy ride, worse than the Tiguan and a lot worse than the XC40.
Thanks everyone for your thoughts , unfortunately still undecided ...a repeat text drive of both might help , but still unsure cause of mpg on xc40
Clockworks you may be interested in this :
https://www.volvocars.com/uk/news/technology/new-g...
any 8.5 Golf owners like the new infotainment system ?
Clockworks you may be interested in this :
https://www.volvocars.com/uk/news/technology/new-g...
any 8.5 Golf owners like the new infotainment system ?
Jiebo said:
XC40 is superior to the VW Tiguan or Audi Q3. Tiguan is a lot cheaper used thought, but it's far from the premium ride and interior you get in the XC40 and Q3. Q3 has a choppy ride, worse than the Tiguan and a lot worse than the XC40.
Same comparisons can be made to Golf, but OP is considering that.At a quick glance, 2021 (for example) Tiguans and XC40s look about the same price - there's hundreds more 2021 XC40's than Tiguans on Autotrader though.
We looked at nearly new EV XC40 recently - did feel nice. Wife is still mithering about it.
The XC40 B4 trip computer was saying it was achieving 44mpg on the motorway. Speeds were 50 to 70mph.
Around town it was low 30’s. I thought the fuel economy like that par for the course for a car like this? Seemed decent enough to me.
I suppose you could get a diesel Audi A3 if you did a lot of motorway miles and were worried about achieving the best fuel economy and didn’t want the infotainment screen to stick up over the top of the dash.
Whatcar recommends the A3 over the Golf anyhow. Says it slightly more expensive but offers better value for money overall because its got a plusher interior, bit slicker etc.
Around town it was low 30’s. I thought the fuel economy like that par for the course for a car like this? Seemed decent enough to me.
I suppose you could get a diesel Audi A3 if you did a lot of motorway miles and were worried about achieving the best fuel economy and didn’t want the infotainment screen to stick up over the top of the dash.
Whatcar recommends the A3 over the Golf anyhow. Says it slightly more expensive but offers better value for money overall because its got a plusher interior, bit slicker etc.
Edited by wyson on Monday 6th January 23:05
wyson said:
The XC40 B4 trip computer was saying it was achieving 44mpg on the motorway. Speeds were 50 to 70mph.
Around town it was low 30’s. I thought the fuel economy like that par for the course for a car like this? Seemed decent enough to me.
I suppose you could get a diesel Audi A3 if you did a lot of motorway miles and were worried about achieving the best fuel economy and didn’t want the infotainment screen to stick up over the top of the dash.
Whatcar recommends the A3 over the Golf anyhow. Says it slightly more expensive but offers better value for money overall because its got a plusher interior, bit slicker etc.
That’s odd, when I was looking at the XC40 all of the feedback was it barely cracks 20 in town and below 40s on a run. The manufacturers average is 38ish, which is usually 5-10mpg off.Around town it was low 30’s. I thought the fuel economy like that par for the course for a car like this? Seemed decent enough to me.
I suppose you could get a diesel Audi A3 if you did a lot of motorway miles and were worried about achieving the best fuel economy and didn’t want the infotainment screen to stick up over the top of the dash.
Whatcar recommends the A3 over the Golf anyhow. Says it slightly more expensive but offers better value for money overall because its got a plusher interior, bit slicker etc.
Edited by wyson on Monday 6th January 23:05
The EV recharge twin 400bhp beast is now almost the same price as the petrol engines, so if it works for your usage it makes much more sense and better value for money used given how much they cost new.
Jiebo said:
The EV recharge twin 400bhp beast is now almost the same price as the petrol engines, so if it works for your usage it makes much more sense and better value for money used given how much they cost new.
That's what we looked at but I felt they were still too dear to make sense from a running cost POV vs petrol. My wife settled on one at a dealer in Wales - it's been for sale since April and I just looked and it's still there.Sheepshanks said:
That's what we looked at but I felt they were still too dear to make sense from a running cost POV vs petrol. My wife settled on one at a dealer in Wales - it's been for sale since April and I just looked and it's still there.
Think BEV has fallen a bit since April. £24k for a decent spec twin recharge, 2021 40k miles:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202409073...
equivalent spec wise in petrol is inscription pro, £22k 2021, 40k miles:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202412177...
The twin recharge was £57k new, vs £36k petrol, electric cars are incredibly good value now. I can see them depreciating at similar rates now
Jiebo said:
Think BEV has fallen a bit since April.
£24k for a decent spec twin recharge, 2021 40k miles:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202409073...
equivalent spec wise in petrol is inscription pro, £22k 2021, 40k miles:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202412177...
The twin recharge was £57k new, vs £36k petrol, electric cars are incredibly good value now. I can see them depreciating at similar rates now
Think OP is looking at new. Didn't go into it in great detail but warranty seemed a bit lacking as Volvo's age and they're not without issues.£24k for a decent spec twin recharge, 2021 40k miles:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202409073...
equivalent spec wise in petrol is inscription pro, £22k 2021, 40k miles:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202412177...
The twin recharge was £57k new, vs £36k petrol, electric cars are incredibly good value now. I can see them depreciating at similar rates now
We ended up getting £10K off a new Kona EV. Still spent more (£36K) than I wanted to, but it seemed better value than nearly new at similar prices.
The XC40 we looked at is this one: https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202404259...
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