* Click HERE to see a video on the Volvo S40 *
Sympathetic small Swede
Introduced last year, this new S40's mission is to provide entertaining entry-level luxury. The previous-generation model was competent but as much fun as filling out your income tax forms, so a major improvement was in order. Does this new compact Volvo deliver the goods? Yes.
Family resemblance
Well, it's unmistakably a Volvo. Look at the S40, the [link artid="57350"]S60[/link] and the S80. They all look the same. Volvo is probably the car brand that carries the strongest family resemblance throughout its model range.
The S40 is a beautiful car. It's stubby yet elegant, sporty yet classy. There is so much character in the lines of its steel skin, notably the crease that starts at the bottom of the grille, runs just under the greenhouse and ends through the tail lamps. The roofline sweeps fluidly from the base of the windshield to the rear end, holding the rear window in an almost horizontal angle.
Although I like the overall shape, it resembles the soon-to-be-redesigned S80, a car that dates back to 2000. That's a long time for a car. So, no surprise here, the S40's looks are familiar. We'll see in a couple of years if Volvo's corporate styling stands the test of time.
An entertaining drive
At the heart of the S40 2.4i is a 20-valve, 2.4-litre inline-5 that develops 168 horsepower and 170 pound-feet of torque. Married to a smooth-shifting 5-speed manual, this powertrain is good for 0-100 km/h times of 10.5 seconds. While not exactly fast, it feels quicker that it is. We
picked up our test car with only 40 km on it, so it's still in its break-in period. When it loosens up a bit, I have no problem imagining that the 0 to 100 dash would be a second quicker.
This S40 is equipped with the Sport Package, a $4,000 addition that includes 17-inch alloys, a tighter suspension setup, fog lights, stability and traction control, a power driver's seat, and other trim changes. The handling of the car is surprisingly good, although I didn't yet have a chance to try the base model for comparison purposes.
In addition to the sporty driving characteristics, the car is pretty fun. Push it hard in a highway entrance ramp and it will grab hold of the pavement. No tires are squealing, and you're grinning. When the going gets rough, the suspension still knows how to be polite and nicely absorbs road imperfections. When it's time to stop the S40, the brakes do a commendable job. In short, the car always feels composed, and that gives the driver a sense of control and [link url="http://www.auto123.com/en/used-cars/safety-guide">security.
Sympathetic small Swede
 |
Family resemblance
Well, it's unmistakably a Volvo. Look at the S40, the [link artid="57350"]S60[/link] and the S80. They all look the same. Volvo is probably the car brand that carries the strongest family resemblance throughout its model range.
 |
Although I like the overall shape, it resembles the soon-to-be-redesigned S80, a car that dates back to 2000. That's a long time for a car. So, no surprise here, the S40's looks are familiar. We'll see in a couple of years if Volvo's corporate styling stands the test of time.
An entertaining drive
At the heart of the S40 2.4i is a 20-valve, 2.4-litre inline-5 that develops 168 horsepower and 170 pound-feet of torque. Married to a smooth-shifting 5-speed manual, this powertrain is good for 0-100 km/h times of 10.5 seconds. While not exactly fast, it feels quicker that it is. We
 |
This S40 is equipped with the Sport Package, a $4,000 addition that includes 17-inch alloys, a tighter suspension setup, fog lights, stability and traction control, a power driver's seat, and other trim changes. The handling of the car is surprisingly good, although I didn't yet have a chance to try the base model for comparison purposes.
In addition to the sporty driving characteristics, the car is pretty fun. Push it hard in a highway entrance ramp and it will grab hold of the pavement. No tires are squealing, and you're grinning. When the going gets rough, the suspension still knows how to be polite and nicely absorbs road imperfections. When it's time to stop the S40, the brakes do a commendable job. In short, the car always feels composed, and that gives the driver a sense of control and [link url="http://www.auto123.com/en/used-cars/safety-guide">security.