On the road: LOOKING for an alternative to the German set? Then the Volvo V40 could provide the answer. There’s no doubting it’s a stylish little number – even the non sporty ones look a bit, well, sporty thanks to that sweeping bonnet and low slung slance.
There are plenty of variants to choose from to suit all tastes and requirements.
Our R-Design Nav version was powered by 2.0 litre, four-cylinder, Drive-e diesel engine which though a little rattly sounding on start up quietened down impressively as speed rose.
I’ve read some criticism of the V40’s ride and quite frankly I don’t understand where they are coming from. I found it absorbed all but the harshest of bumps and undulations with aplomb and is easily one of the most comfortable cars I have driven recently.
The steering reacts well to demands and while you could not call it an engaging drive – that’s not really its intention I would vouch – it is nevertheless on the positive side of interesting.
On the inside: I NEVER feel let down by the interior of a Volvo. German cars generally seem to have the edge when it comes to quality, but there is little to choose between them and their Swedish rival. In addition, whereas the former prefer to stick to a more traditional, and perhaps safer, interior layout Volvo is willing to stick its neck out a little.
Ergonomically excellent, the V40’s dash flows around the driver and while the company’s claim that it has a ‘true Scandinavian flavour’ might be a slight exaggeration – there’s no sign nor smell of pine for example – it is something of a breath of fresh air.
What do you get: EQUIPMENT levels are good, even at entry position. Alloys, climate control, digital radio and such like are standard, while the further up the food chain you go the plusher it gets with leather seats and, in the case of our R-Design car, sporty adornments. Safety has always been a key part of Volvo design and the V40 is no exception. Everything from a lane departure aid, blind spot system, cross traffic alert to road sign information display, cruise control and distance alert and pedestrian and cyclist detection technology are featured.
How practical is it: WHILE it’s compact on the outside, the V40 does have a big car feel on the inside. There’s plenty of room to stretch out for those in the front, while three can be accommodated in comfort in the rear.
The boot, which does have something of a tight entry, has 391 litres of space with the seats up, increasing to 1,021 when folded flat. In addition, there is an intelligent folding floor that allows you to divide and secrete items away.
Running costs: THE V40 range starts from £19,195, but all the bells and whistles on our test car pushed its price up from £24,295, to a shade over £30,000.
Volvo says it’s possible to get more than 78mpg from the manual car and close to 75mpg from the automatic version, while CO2 emissions are 101g/km (auto) and 94g/km (manual).
Verdict: Stylish and intelligent - a genuine rival to sector stalwarts.
Alternatives: BMW 1-Series, VW Golf, Audi A3
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