Volvo is well-known for making some of the best cars in the world. This is especially true for customers looking for safe cars, as many Volvo models are great cars for families to own and drive. That’s part of the reason why, unlike its competitors, the Volvo XC40 has such a high owner satisfaction rating.

A look at owner satisfaction ratings

When Consumer Reports reviews a car, Consumer Reports will always give a car either a predicted owner satisfaction rating or a regular owner satisfaction rating. The regular owner satisfaction rating is a simple thing to measure. All Consumer Reports does is send out a survey to owners of a car asking them whether or not they’d buy the car again if they had a chance to do it all over. 

A predicted owner satisfaction rating is a similar thing, but Consumer Reports uses it when there aren’t enough owners of a car model year yet for Consumer Reports to survey. Since the 2020 XC40 is so new, it has a predicted owner satisfaction rating rather than a regular one. Still, compared to its competitors, the XC40 has a very impressive owner satisfaction rating. 

For example, the Mercedes-Benz GLA has the lowest owner satisfaction rating in its segment as just 41 percent of owners were satisfied with it. The Buick Envision had a 46 percent rating, the Buick Encore had a 60 percent rating, the Cadillac XT4 got a rating of 64 percent, the Lexus UX had 73 percent, and the Mini Cooper Countryman had 78 percent. The XC40 however, was in first place with 83 percent.

What’s so satisfying about the 2019 Volvo XC40?

Technically speaking, the 2020 XC40 only has a predicted owner satisfaction rating. However, part of the reason why its predicted owner satisfaction rating is so high is that it has a good history. The 2019 XC40, which was the first model year for the car, also had a very high owner satisfaction rating.

The 2020 XC40 only improves on the 2019 XC40, so Consumer Reports thinks that most owners will still love their new Volvo SUV. On top of that, Consumer Reports broke down the parts of the XC40 that owners will be satisfied by. 

Consumer Reports said that the most satisfying aspect of the XC40 is its styling, both in its interior and exterior. For that, Consumer Reports estimated a 92 percent owner satisfaction rating. In second place was its driving experience, which Consumer Reports said has an estimated 89 percent owner satisfaction rating.

In third place was its comfort levels, which includes things like ride comfort, seat comfort, and noise levels. Consumer Reports estimated that 87 percent of owners will be satisfied by the XC40’s comfort levels.

In last place, however, was its value. Starting at almost $34,000, the XC40 is considered a compact luxury SUV. Consumer Reports said that for that price tag, only about 72 percent of owners may be satisfied with their new Volvo.

Other reasons to like the new Volvo XC40 

The XC40 isn’t a perfect SUV by any means as it didn’t get perfect scores in every area. For example, while Consumer Reports gave the XC40 a five out of five for its owner satisfaction, overall, the car only got a score of 73 out of 100. 

That’s because despite being a good luxury SUV, its engine isn’t that sporty and its fuel economy isn’t that spectacular for its class. But, like other Volvo models, the XC40 is still a very safe car. 

The Volvo XC40 did really well in its crash tests. It also comes standard with smart safety features such as forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane keep assist, lane departure warning, and a pedestrian detection system.