Entering the realm of the luxury automobile may seem like a tall task for car buyers, but with brands like Volvo, it’s easier than you may imagine.

Take their subcompact SUV offering, the XC40, for example. Starting around the low $40K price range, it provides a foot in the door for people looking to step up on the class scale — as long as they’re good with limited space in the rear seats and in the cargo hold.

Volvo’s larger XC60 and XC90 SUVs are more spacious, but if you’re less concerned with the amount of space but still want the Volvo quality design, drive quality and safety features, the XC40 is a strong option to consider — and it competes well against other smaller SUV options in the class — including the Audi Q3, BMW X1 and Mercedes-Benz GLB, Acura ADX and Lincoln Corsair.

Read on for a full review on the 2026 Volvo XC40, which I recently had the opportunity to experience, to learn more about how it holds up vs. its rivals.