Volvo

V40/R-Design/Cross Country

The Volvo V40’s arrival in the highly-competitive hatchback segment will send rival manufacturers scampering back to the drawing board thanks to its amazing looks, build quality, handling and the world’s first ever pedestrian airbag.

 

 

Test Drive

Volvo V40 Cross Country D4 190bhp Manual

Think of Volvo and three things immediately spring to mind – safety, reliability and solid build quality.

But now factors such as great dynamic handling, eye-catching good looks and outstanding economy can be added to that list.

In fact Volvo seems to have improved every aspect of its vehicles in recent years and the best-selling V40 – which accounts for 40 per cent of sales – is no exception.

The Cross Country model boasts rugged styling traits such as a bold front end, twin tailpipes, sweeping headlights, roof rails, tinted glass and the words ‘Cross Country’ stretching across the tailgate to accentuate its ready-for action stance.

And once you step inside, the richly-equipped interior offers all the creature comforts and techno treats you could wish for with the likes of an electrically-powered driver’s seat with memory settings, sat nav, a multi-function steering wheel, heated seats, a great audio system and plenty more besides.

The test car also featured some optional extras which bumped up the asking price from £26,770 to £34,015.

These included a park assist system, keyless entry and start-up, plus 17-inch alloys. A Driver Support Pack (£1,900) added collision warning with full auto brake, adaptive cruise control and distance alert, lane keeping, pedestrian and cyclist detection, driver alert control with active high beam, road sign information display and blind spot warning with cross traffic alert.

In fact it would be fair to say the V40 has a truly premium feel to it and the handling lives up to all the high expectations too.

The 2.0-litre 190bhp diesel-driven engine packs a mighty punch and can sprint to 62mph from a standing start in 7.7 seconds with a maximum speed of 130mph.

But the real sit-up-and-listen figures are all about economy as according to official figures the V40 can deliver combined fuel efficiency of 70.6mpg with carbon emissions of just 104g/km.

However, despite the frugal characteristics of the car, it certainly doesn’t lack fire-power.

The steering proved nice and precise and the road-holding very assured which made light work of twisting country lanes. The all-round visibility was excellent and the raised suspension helped to iron out any road creases along the way.

The six-speed manual gearbox is smooth and responsive and there is a constant supply of power on tap.

The V40 was comfortable in and around busy city centres and out on the open road and fast moving motorways and all those safety devices are an added bonus.

Comfort levels were good and there is ample room in the back for two adults (three at a squeeze).

And when it comes to storage the V40 is very versatile with a boot capacity of 335 litres which can be increased to 1,032 litres with the 60:40 split-folding seats flat.

All in all, the new V40 is an excellent car offering style, economy, performance and lots more besides. And it’s those credentials that are likely to ensure it stays at number one in the Volvo sales ratings.

Test Drive

Volvo V40 Drive-E engines

The highly efficient, versatile and popular V40 accounts for 40 per cent of Volvo sales in the UK and now it has even more all-round appeal.

That’s because the five-door hatchback now comes fitted with Volvo’s Drive-E engine which introduces a wealth of financial gains.

The first Drive-E D4 engines made their debut in early 2014 in the company’s larger cars. The powertrains are lighter and smaller which results in improved fuel efficiency and lower carbon emissions.

So what is Drive-E? Basically it’s the umbrella name for Volvo’s new range of engines which are all engineered, designed and built in-house in Sweden meaning the company no longer relies on third party influences.

Using just one architecture, there are diesel and petrol engines with a comprehensive power range and the new platform will also be compatible with plans for electrification further down the line.

The powertrains – which are up to 2.0-litre and four cylinders – combine high performance with low emissions and those savings are then passed on to the consumer via tax savings and less visits to the fuel pumps.

And now all that technical know-how and expertise has been fitted into the V40 which is still the safest car Euro NCAP has ever tested and it featured the first ever pedestrian airbag.

I tested a selection of V40 models fitted with the new D4 powertrains on a road route that incorporated busy town centres, fast winding country lanes and motorways and they certainly lived up to all the hype.

First up was the V40 R-Design model in Nav trim priced from £26,545.

The test car had a number of optional packs fitted which bumped up the asking price to £33,000. But the real factors worth noting are the performance stats.

Compared to the outgoing model the new V40 has 190bhp (an increase of 13bhp), emissions of 99g/km (a reduction of 15g/km) and boasts combined fuel efficiency of 74.3mpg (an increase of 8.6mpg).

Yet despite all these money-saving enhancements the car still handles beautifully.

There is a constant supply of power on tap and acceleration through the six speed manual transmission is smooth and rapid with plenty of bite.

Next up was the V40 Cross Country in SE Nav trim priced from £26,770. It featured the new 190bhp engine mated to a new eight-speed gearbox. This model has three drive modes – drive, sport and eco – which adjust the vehicle’s handling, driving dynamics and response accordingly.

Once again the financial savings are immediately recognisable despite the power boost. The engine delivers 190bhp (an increase of 20bhp), 112g/km of emissions (reduction of 25g/km) and combined fuel economy of 65.7mpg (increase of 11.4mpg).

And yet again, the performance impressed with the new transmission proving beautifully smooth.

The V40 was happy wandering through quiet villages and then opened up with ease on faster routes.

Finally, it was the turn of the V40 R-Design T5 Lux Nav model priced from £31,900 and powered by the first Drive-E petrol engine in the UK.

Despite a slight reduction in power – 245bhp from 254bhp – there was certainly no lack of zip or blistering acceleration with this car. Being a petrol variant the efficiency stats are not quite as impressive as its diesel counterpart, but the improvements compared to the outgoing models fitted with the old engines are certainly worth noting.

The new T5 can deliver 47.9mpg on a combined run compared to 35.8mpg and has carbon emissions of 137g/km down from 185g/km.

In all honesty this particular model is only likely to account for a fraction of sales in the fleet-led V40 sales market, but that said, it’s still great fun to put through its paces.

So it would seem Volvo’s intentions have been made very clear. The company has taken complete control of its engine manufacturing process and the one-platform architecture has simplified matters considerably.

The new V40 models are about £450 more than the outgoing cars but there are other factors which have caused that price hike apart from the new technology, such as the introduction of a tyre pressure monitoring system which becomes a legal requirement in new cars from November.

However, the overall outcome is better performing vehicles with reduced running costs and with that in mind, it’s clear to see why Volvo intends to fit the Drive-E engines into all its models within the next 18 months.

Test Drive

Volvo V40 R Design and Cross Country

Volvo has strengthened its already impressive V40 line-up with the introduction of two exciting new models – the sporty R-Design car and a rugged Cross Country vehicle.

And for any potential buyers who like to see their hard-earned cash go that little bit further, these cars could provide the perfect solution.

That’s because despite their attention-grabbing good looks and impressive performance credentials, both models can deliver carbon emission figures lower than 100g/km which translates into excellent savings on road tax and any congestion charges.

First up was the D2 R-Design Lux Nav costing £27,820 which includes about £3.5k worth of optional extras. According to Volvo, this model can achieve 78.5mpg on a combined run and has carbon emissions of just 94g/km.

But the real beauty lies in its performance. Although the car is frugal, it goes like a rocket.

Sporty looks are achieved thanks to its sleek streamlining, body-coloured door mirrors and door handles, tinted windows, twin exhaust pipes, LED daytime running lights and neat alloys. And Volvo has introduced a new colour especially for this car – Rebel Blue, which perfectly sums up the R-Design’s character.

The 1.6-diesel-driven engine provides ample power, and acceleration through the six-speed manual gearbox is deceptively rapid as the car hangs onto tight bends for fun even at higher speeds and in the wet.

The interior boasts an impressive line-up of techno treats and comfort levels are very good thanks to the supportive leather sports seats with the emblem R-Design stitched into them as a subtle reminder.

Storage options are also plentiful and the deep boot’s capacity can be increased further thanks to 60:40- split folding rear seats.

Next up was the rugged, ready-for-action Cross Country model which is available with a choice of either two-wheel or all-wheel-drive.

I tested out the 2WD car in SE NAV trim level priced at £30,070 with a little over £6k worth of optional extras.

Once again the carbon emissions figure is low at 99g/km and the vehicle can deliver a combined fuel economy of 74.3mpg.

This model really looks the part with its beefy front end, sweeping headlights, tinted glass, dual exhaust pipes and sleek roof rails.

The words Cross Country are emblazoned across the tailgate so there is no mistaking its identity.

Again, the interior build quality is excellent with a very high standard of both equipment levels and trim, although there is a more conservative feel to this model and it’s certainly less sporty than the R-Design.

The handling is also very accomplished and the 1.6-litre diesel-powered engine delivers plenty of oomph with a seemingly endless supply of power on tap when required.

Admittedly, its handling wasn’t quite as dynamic as the R-Design, but it was more comfortable and refined.

The driver benefits from unobscured all-round visibility and the vehicle’s top quality suspension easily absorbed all the bumps, dips and potholes along the way.

Volvo has an outstanding record in safety innovations and these new models feature the pedestrian airbag which was a world first when it appeared in the V40 at launch in 2012.

Other specifications that can help prevent accidents include city safety, a blind spot warning system, park assist, lane departure warning and plenty more besides.

All in all, both these new arrivals are a welcome addition to the V40 family. For me, the R-Design has the dynamic handling and the Cross Country has the looks.

Test Drive

Volvo V40 D2 SE Nav

Boasting revolutionary safety features, a brilliant all-round performance and a comprehensive range of on-board technical wizardry the Volvo V40 really pushes the boundaries.

The Swedish giant has always been respected for its safety initiatives, so it’s no surprise really that Volvo is the first manufacturer to fit a car with a pedestrian airbag.

It follows on from other initiatives such as a pedestrian detection system with full automatic braking. And it’s these two world firsts that ensure the all-new V40 offers unrivalled protection to pedestrians.

The V40 is a newcomer to the Volvo fold and this five-door sporty hatchback looks amazing from any angle thanks to sweeping sculpted lines, a bold front end, smart light clusters, body-coloured door mirrors and handles, chrome window surrounds, tinted glass, striking alloys and much more besides.

The interior has a real quality feel to it with a whole host of creature comforts built in. The seats offer outstanding comfort levels and there is ample room in the back for two adults to stretch out or three at a bit of a squeeze.

There will never be any need to restrict people on luggage either as the already generously-sized boot can be increased further thanks to 60:40 split-folding rear seats. Elsewhere there are numerous smaller storage compartments and nooks and crannies scattered throughout the cabin.

All dials and controls are perfectly positioned for driver usability and the striking instrumentation certainly deserves a mention with its almost 3D style effect.

Other mod cons include a brilliant sound system compatible with all modern music and media devices, heated seats, air conditioning, sat nav, a speed warning system, Bluetooth connectivity and even a gear change prompt to maximise fuel efficiency.

And when it comes to fuel economy the Volvo V40 is incredibly efficient boasting combined figures of 78.5mpg and emissions at an impressive 94g/km.

It would seem likely that those stats would make the car a little on the sluggish side, but that’s certainly not the case as the 1.6-litre diesel-driven engine delivers ample power as it works its way through the six-speed manual transmission.

Acceleration is smooth and responsive and the overall handling is hard to find fault with as the car’s suspension easily absorbs all the road surface’s bumps and dips along the way.

Other safety features include a lane departure warning system, park assist, numerous airbags and plenty more.

Volvo believes its V40 D2 SE Nav model will prove the most popular with potential buyers and after a spell behind the wheel I would have to agree with the experts.