Add a luxury Volvo to your list of monthly subscriptions
When Volvo introduced the smallest member of its SUV line, the XC40, it wasn't the car that got all the attention. It was how the Swedish automaker planned on leasing it. With Care by Volvo , would-be XC40 drivers wouldn't invest $35,200 to own the all-wheel-drive vehicle but rather pay a monthly subscription of $600 that includes insurance, routine maintenance, wear and tear, roadside assistance, and zero money down. So yeah, it's a bit like a lease. But better. "Better" has changed markets. The iPhone was like a Palm Treo or Blackberry smartphone but better. Netflix rented DVDs like Blockbuster but better. Laptops are just better desktop computers. What Volvo is doing is a better lease -- and it has the potential to change how we look at car ownership. Although we're inching closer to a future in which autonomous cars are commonplace, the way we actually own cars hasn't changed much. You either purchase a car or lease it. Care by Volvo adds a third ...