The brand-new Volvo XC40 broke cover yesterday and got me all excited. As I mentioned in the past, I'm not a big fan of SUVs. I'd rather have a wagon. I may have to do with my European ancestry, but I also need to point that I've never felt really comfortable behind the steering wheel of a crossover until now. Anyway, the XC40 is small enough for me to enjoy (I think), but I also dig its exterior, which is based on the XC90, but not as boxy as its bigger brother. But there's another reason why the XC40 just skyrocketed at the top of my "cool vehicles" list – the new "Care by Volvo" program.

It includes a range of services and subscriptions that will make the ownership experience as hassle-free as having a mobile phone. In short, your purchase will come with a pre-negotiated monthly fee, the possibility of driving away in your new cars without having to worry about service fees and third-party insurance, as well as an array of digital concierge services. The only downside at this point is that "Care by Volvo" is only available in eight countries, but other markets will be included later on. So how does it work? Find out below.

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How Does it Work?

In simple terms, the "Care by Volvo" subscription service works like a new kind of leasing, but with different, simplified terms. Buying the car is much simpler, as you only have to pay a flat fee and drive away, leaving Volvo to handle everything from insurance and taxes to maintenance and service fees. You can also upgrade to a new car as early as 12 months, as well as borrow other Volvos when you need them. Are you going on a family trip and the XC40 is a tad small for all the stuff? All you do is go to Volvo and request an XC90. It's that simple!

The program also offers a range of digital concierge services, including fueling, cleaning, service pick-up, and e-commerce delivery to the car. Pretty much the kind of service you get from luxury automakers like Bentley and Rolls-Royce. There's also an app that lets you share your Volvo with friends and family. This is done via a new car-sharing system with a "digital key" that can be passed onto the people you trust. Granted, this feature isn't exactly new. Volkswagen has already showcased something similar, but it's not yet available in production cars as of this writing.

Unfortunately, "Care by Volvo" won't be available globally at first, with only customers from Sweden, the United Kingdom, Germany, Spain, Italy, Norway, Poland, and the United States to get it initially. But Volvo promises that markets will follow later on.

References

Volvo XC40

Read our full review on the Volvo XC40.

Read more Volvo news.