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Volvo Updates the XC40 With New Safety Hardware and Google Gemini

By Khris Bharath –  September 10, 2026

Volvo Updates the XC40 With New Safety Hardware and Google Gemini

Nearly a decade since the XC40 first hit the market, Volvo has revealed a comprehensive update for its smallest SUV, covering exterior design, interior materials, infotainment, and a new software and sensor platform. The subcompact premium crossover segment is among the most contested in the industry, with models like the BMW X1, Mercedes-Benz GLA, and Audi Q3 all pursuing the same buyer. Volvo sold 23,980 XC40s in the U.S. last year, down 9.7 percent from 2024, while first-quarter 2026 sales fell 47 percent year over year. These updates are aimed squarely at keeping the XC40 competitive in that category. Two things have always worked in its favor. The first, ofcourse, is Scandinavian design: sleek and minimalist in a class where rivals often reach for aggression. The second is safety, which is a trait that the Swedish brand has built over decades and one that this update extends considerably. A new software and sensor platform brings front and corner radars, a new front camera, rear corner radars, 12 ultrasonic sensors, and new parking cameras. That hardware supports automatic emergency steering alongside automatic emergency braking, while a Door Opening Alert warns occupants before opening a door into passing traffic. The optional Pilot Assist system also gains lane change assist and has been refined to follow the road more smoothly. The available 360-degree camera now renders the car's surroundings in 3D. Visually, the XC40 receives a cleaner interpretation of Volvo's Scandinavian design language. Every body panel ahead of the A-pillars is new, including the hood and front wings, while a slimmer grille features a mesh pattern that echoes the diagonal treatment of Volvo's Iron Mark badge. The redesigned Thor's Hammer Matrix LED headlights are slimmer and more technical in appearance. At the rear are thinner-looking LED lights, an upgraded tailgate and a redesigned bumper, while new diamond-cut wheels are available in 18, 19 and 20-inch sizes. Inside, a larger and sharper 11.2-inch central display angled towards the driver introduces Volvo's latest user experience, designed to reduce the number of taps needed to reach commonly used functions. A slim bank of physical media controls remains beneath the screen. But crucially, the system integrates Google Gemini, allowing occupants to plan journeys, find stops, and manage messages using natural conversational commands. <- Gallery -> Volvo and Google have worked together since 2017, and the XC40 was among the first Volvos to run Android Automotive OS back in 2020. Gemini is now rolling out across eligible Volvo models with Google built-in, beginning with customers in the U.S. The rest of the cabin receives more subtle tweaks. An updated wireless phone charger is joined by refined interior illumination, while XC40 customers can specify Arianne Cardamom leather with Brown Ash wood for the first time. Black Ash and aluminum decor are also available. The updated cabin further highlights Volvo's restrained approach, with vertically oriented air vents, metallic trim, and a panoramic glass roof. "By enhancing the XC40's design, technology and safety features, we've created the best version of the XC40 yet," said Akhil Krishnan, Interim Lead for the 30 and 40 Series at Volvo Cars. For the U.S., the 2028 XC40 retains Volvo's 247-horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder mild-hybrid powertrain, but the 194-horsepower front-wheel-drive version has been dropped, making all-wheel drive standard. The refresh also takes on greater significance as Volvo prepares to discontinue the electric EX40 in the U.S. and Canada after the 2027 model year. Like other new Volvos, the XC40 will also support regular over-the-air updates, allowing new software and features to be added after delivery. Production begins later this fall, with customer deliveries expected to commence in early 2027. The update arrives as Volvo continues to expand its US manufacturing footprint, including additional production in South Carolina. View All Volvo Cars for Sale Images: Volvo

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