2020 Audi Q3 vs Volvo XC40

What's the difference?

I’ve said it before: I don’t get coupe SUVs.

What’s the point? The concept is to take an already debatably practical car shape, and then file down its roofline so that it’s… even less practical?

I can’t think of a more vain concept. Have we really fallen so far into SUV obsession that cars like this need to exist?

Audi says yes with the Q3, and I hate to admit it, but this particular coupe SUV has me questioning my thoughts on the topic. I can’t help but admit this is one of the best-looking small SUV’s I’ve ever seen.

But is it skin-deep? Does the Q3 formula still work with a cropped roofline? Is it still nice to drive and packed with tech? Read on to find out.

As much as any brand in the Australian car market Volvo has evolved into an SUV company. Its full-size XC90 broke the ice in the early noughties, joined by the mid-size XC60 in 2008, with this car, the compact XC40 completing the three-piece set in 2018.

Volvo is one of only a few shining lights in a declining new vehicle market, and the XC40 is giving the XC60 a nudge for top spot in the Swedish maker’s range. So, it must be doing something right… right?

We spent a week with the entry-level XC40 T4 Momentum to see what all the Scandinavian fuss is about.