Volvo XC40’s Trash Bin and Bag Hook Go From ‘Gimmick’ to ‘Gimme!’
After a weekend on the road in a 2020 Volvo XC40, I can confidently cross the subcompact SUV’s built-in trash bin and takeout hook off the “gimmick” bucket and add them both to the “want” bucket. I didn’t know I needed or wanted a trash can in my car until I had a kid; until then, there was no reason to consider what to do with a slobbery yogurt melt or used boogie wipe. As I found, the trash can, along with the XC40’s takeout-food/bag/purse hook, are sweet features for anyone on-the-go.
Related: 2019 Volvo XC40: 6 Things We Like and 3 Things We Don’t
After hopping in, you might not immediately know where the XC40’s waste bin is — nor its intended use even if you did. The little trash can neatly tucks into the center console storage space (the area between the front seats) and fluidly integrates with the interior’s aesthetic. The bin’s lid pushes down and pops back into place after being fed, which is smooth and effortless, but the lid limits the amount you can put inside because it pivots down into usable space. This is likely the simplest way for ease of use and minimal distraction, however. Still, with the lid on, it fits enough muffin and granola bar wrappers for a weekend trip with a 1.5-year-old. And once full, the lid pops off and the contents easily empty into a gas station trash can — a quick baby wipe to the inside, and the bin was back in service.
Sealing the deal, the XC40’s trash can exists without sacrificing much other space because there’s plenty of center console storage with the bin in place, and the cupholders are unaffected, unlike if I were to use some aftermarket solutions; plus, the bin is removable, so you can take it out if you want more console storage.
I used the storage hook less often, though enough to gain appreciation that it would get regular use in daily life. A hook folds out of the glove box as an anchor for a small bag or purse, or like pictured, a big ol’ bag of greasy barbecue takeout that, if spilled, would have made a mess of the XC40’s posh interior trimmings. The hook kept the bag secured for my 15-minute drive back from the restaurant — though it does call into question the strength of the establishment’s bag. (Can you imagine if everything fell out of the bottom through one big grease hole? No amount of baby wipes would help).
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And the cost of these features? All it takes is the purchase price of an XC40, because the trash can and hook are included standard at the XC40’s starting price of $34,695 for a T4 Momentum with front-wheel drive (price includes a $995 destination charge).
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