Is the 2019 Volvo XC40 a Swedish Snow Machine? We Find Out on Gold Mine Hill [Video]

How does the all-wheel drive 2019 Volvo XC40 handle the snow?

Living in or near the Colorado Rockies, all-wheel drive is pretty much a necessity to get around. Why? Because while there are brilliant driving roads and scenic vistas, you never know when they’re going to be covered in snow and ice. Case in point was this past week, where we were hit with a snow storm after a week of warm, sunny days. Just when you’re about ready to let your guard down and pull your warm weather clothes out, that’s when the snow storm hits. This week, we had a 2019 Volvo XC40 T5 R-Design in the fleet. Volvo’s a Swedish brand, so the car should feel right at home in the snow. But does it? In today’s video, Roman and Andre take the XC40 up a recently snow-covered Gold Mine Hill to find out. The results may surprise you!

The Volvo XC40 T5, which we recently drove in Austin Texas, competes in the red hot entry-level luxury crossover segment. Priced from $35,200 for a T5 all-wheel drive model, it squares off against the BMW X1, Audi Q3, Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class, and the Jaguar E-Pace, among others. The R-Design model we tested comes out at $45,835. That price includes the $2,500 R-Design package, which includes a sportier chassis, larger wheels, and a black-contrast roof.

Packing a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine, the 2019 Volvo XC40 T5 R-Design makes 248 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque. There is a less expensive, less powerful T4 version coming later this year. That version will be front-wheel drive only. In the T5, you get a BorgWarner all-wheel drive coupling that provides on-demand traction when needed. The system uses an electronically-controlled multi-plate clutch to lock in power between the axles when things get slippery. How does that turn out on Gold Mine Hill?

2019 Volvo XC40
2019 Volvo XC40 [Photo: Volvo]

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