New Kia Sportage vs used Volvo XC40 interiors

Interiors

Driving position, visibility, build quality

Both the Kia Sportage and Volvo XC40 offer lots of adjustment to help you get comfortable behind the wheel and have lofty driving positions that give you a grand view of the road. 

As a bonus, the Sportage has front and rear parking sensors, as well as a rear-view camera. By contrast, you'll have to settle for rear sensors with the XC40, unless you can find a car that the first owner equipped with the Park Assist Pack – a pity given the considerable over-the-shoulder blind spots.

You'd probably expect a more upmarket interior from a Volvo than a Kia, and that's the case here. The Sportage is fairly smart inside, with lots of soft-touch plastic, plus metallic highlights across the dashboard. However, the materials in the XC40 feel even swisher.

The Sportage gets more standard kit than the XC40, though. For example, heated seats and keyless entry are standard in the former, whereas they're missing from the latter unless the original owner of the car you're interested in was prepared to pay extra. 

Infotainment systems

Kia Sportage

The Sportage’s 12.3in touchscreen trumps the XC40 for size. However, some of the smaller icons (such as the one to cancel the sat-nav route) are either too easy to overlook or simply difficult to aim for when driving. Still, the screen responds quickly to inputs and the menus are simple to navigate.

Volvo XC40

The XC40's 9.0in, portrait-orientated touchscreen will feel familiar to most smartphone users, in that you navigate the menus by swiping left and right. As in the Sportage, though, some of the smaller icons are hard to hit while driving. And the Volvo's system is made worse by the fact it can be slow to respond and buries most of the climate controls in a sub menu. You're not guaranteed smartphone integration – it was a £300 option from new.

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