Used Volvo XC40 cars for sale or finance at 10.9% APR

The XC40 only comes in one version – a five-door SUV large enough for small families. There is also the option of a coupe version called the C40, which is only available as an EV – this has a lower, sportier roofline than standard XC40 models.

The XC40 is around 4.4 metres long. This means it’s almost exactly the same size as the Mercedes GLA and Audi Q3 – its main rivals. There’s enough room for four adults inside to get comfortable, with five able to fit for shorter journeys. The boot is large enough for two big suitcases, or more if you get creative with your packing.

Most XC40 models are offered with either a petrol or hybrid engine, and all offer a good blend of power and efficiency. There are also diesel engine choices if you regularly take on long journeys, or a fully electric version if you mainly drive in city and suburban areas.

If you like the look of the XC40, you'll almost certainly like it from behind the wheel, too. It's a great little premium SUV that's just about large enough for family duties. The car's styling and design are really strong, with a clean, angular look that stands out from the conservative German alternatives.

Plus, it's good to drive too, with light, accurate controls, well-managed body movements, and potent engines – especially among the plug-in-hybrid options.

It's not perfect, of course. It's quite expensive like most of the premium SUVs it competes with, and we're not completely sold on adjusting the climate control through the touchscreen, plus sportier rivals are a little more fun to drive. However, the Volvo's comfort, tech and styling will be more than enough to silence most buyers' criticisms.

Most of the XC40's colour choices are fairly muted. There's the lighter Cloud Blue and darker Fjord Blue, along with Sage Green, which is a fairly understated shade, and Fusion Red – probably the loudest colour in the lineup.

Besides those, there's the conventional selection of black, grey, silver, and white, along with a silvery-gold champagne colour called Bright Dusk.

Four-wheel drive – badged AWD – is available as an option on the XC40, although most models on the market stick with front-wheel drive.

If you don't want to hunt around or pay extra for an AWD version, you can fit winter tyres to your front-wheel-drive XC40, which will dramatically improve grip and traction in cold, slippery conditions.

Volvo is a premium brand competing with the likes of BMW and Audi. As a result both parts and servicing costs are going to be a little higher than average, so make sure you budget a little more for keeping your XC40 in tip-top condition.

Reliability surveys rank both Volvo as a brand and the XC40 as a model about average for reliability. They're not fault free, but there are no widespread reports of common issues affecting this model.

That's about par for the course among premium models, which all tend to return middling reliability scores. This is often because they include more on-board features than cheaper cars, which means more potential things that can go wrong.

You can protect yourself from unexpected repair costs by adding an extended warranty to your XC40. This kicks in once the manufacturer's coverage ends and covers you for any mechanical or electrical repairs needed.