The moment many were waiting for has finally arrived. Volvo Auto India has launched a petrol-powered variant of the XC40 SUV. Dubbed as the T4 R-Design, it carries a price tag of Rs 39.9 lakh (ex-showroom India). That figure is the same as one would have paid for a D4 Momentum variant which, along with the D4 Inscription, is no longer produced. Do you think that makes new derivative too expensive? Well, it does have something to boast about – a BS6 (Bharat Stage 6) badge. If you take that into account, the asking price is quite impressive.

Powering the T4 variant is a 2.0-litre engine which is boosted by a turbocharger. The result is a maximum output of 188bhp/300Nm. An 8-speed automatic unit harnesses all that oomph and feeds to the front wheels. As per Volvo, the XC40 T4 can hit 100kmph from nothing in 8.4 seconds and top out at 230kmph. Those performance figures should be plenty for most.

What’s also worth noting is that the T4 arrives in the R-Design form. In Volvo’s language, that’s the sporty one. That’s why it’ll have a dual-tone paint job, gloss-black skid plates at the front and rear and a bunch of bespoke R-Design elements inside and out. On the features front, the XC40 T4 gets two-zone climate control, electric panoramic sunroof, auto-dimming IRVM, electrically-adjustable seats with memory function for the driver and LED-powered headlamps. Gizmos such as wireless mobile charging, a 14-speaker, 600-watt Harman Kardon sound system and a 9.0-inch infotainment system are part of the package too.

Being a Volvo, the list of safety and assistance features is worth mentioning. Apart from boasting seven airbags, On-coming lane mitigation, Run-off road protection and adaptive cruise control, there are some active safety systems as well. For instance, the City Safety with Steering Assist works at speeds up to 50kmph. It helps avoid collisions from other vehicles, pedestrians, cyclists and large animals.

In India, the Volvo XC40 is a fierce rival to the BMW X1, Mercedes-Benz GLA, Audi Q3 and the Mini Countryman. If you had to choose one out of those, which would it be?