Hopefully nothing will interfere with the usage of the middle pedal when the need to stop the S40 arises. As you might expect, a 4-wheel antilock disc-brake setup does the halting, aided by both Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD) and Emergency Brake Assist (EBA). Functionality, these binders do their job then some. I found them easy to modulate and quick to react- which is a good combination in an emergency. On slippery surfaces, the S40's Stability and Traction Control program (STC) will help maintain vehicular control by reducing wheel-spin. An optional Dynamic Stability and Traction Control system (DSTC) will aid in preventing a spinout by applying wheel specific braking in addition to reducing engine torque. Stability systems such as Volvo's DSTC are of great importance in climatic regions that endure both rain and snow, and therefore should be standard equipment in an entry-level premium sedan such as the S40. C'mon Volvo, live up to your reputation for safety! Despite my gripe
around DSTC being optional, Volvo has engineered a wealth of occupant protection into the S40. Standard equipment airbags include front dual-threshold airbags, side impact airbags for driver and front passenger and side curtain airbags front and rear.
In addition to safety and protection, the S40 receives a generous supply of comfort and convenience items as standard fare. The list includes cruise control, Dala T-Tec seating, manual climate control with air conditioning and pollen filter, outside temperature, performance audio with CD, power windows, tilt/telescopic steering wheel and remote entry. On the more practical side, the S40's short trunk lid conceals a fairly large cargo-bay of 404 litres (14.2 cu ft). Considering that this is a compact-class vehicle, I was still able to place my road bike into the trunk after folding down the rear seat backs and removing the bike's front wheel. Articulated hinges allow the trunk lid to flip back toward the rear windshield, placing it well out of the way when loading bulky items. A further benefit of compact-class sedans is their superior fuel efficiency over larger, heavier vehicles. According to Volvo literature, the 1,368 kg (3,016 lb) S40 consumes 13.2 and 6.7 litres of fuel per 100 kilometres of city and
highway driving respectively (18 / 35 mpg) when equipped with an automatic transmission. That's not a great rating for city motoring. Hopefully the manual equipped S40 can coax greater distance out of a litre of golden nectar than can its automatic twin.
Fuel-economy variations aside, the I-5 powering the S40 is a great engine. It revs freely and unobtrusively while producing a polished note; it's the heart of a drivetrain that brings much pleasure to its operator- and in this case, that's me. I enjoyed every minute behind the S40's wheel. Like a well-adjusted youth, this is a well-adjusted compact sedan. It does pretty much everything right, and with a degree of youthfulness that isn't generally associated with its conservative, Swedish roots.
Likes:
Refined drivetrain
Sporty appearance
Attractive design
Youthfulness
Dislikes:
Narrow footwell
Small side-view mirrors
Small cabin storage bins
Stability control is not standard equipment
 |
| (Photo: Rob Rothwell) |
In addition to safety and protection, the S40 receives a generous supply of comfort and convenience items as standard fare. The list includes cruise control, Dala T-Tec seating, manual climate control with air conditioning and pollen filter, outside temperature, performance audio with CD, power windows, tilt/telescopic steering wheel and remote entry. On the more practical side, the S40's short trunk lid conceals a fairly large cargo-bay of 404 litres (14.2 cu ft). Considering that this is a compact-class vehicle, I was still able to place my road bike into the trunk after folding down the rear seat backs and removing the bike's front wheel. Articulated hinges allow the trunk lid to flip back toward the rear windshield, placing it well out of the way when loading bulky items. A further benefit of compact-class sedans is their superior fuel efficiency over larger, heavier vehicles. According to Volvo literature, the 1,368 kg (3,016 lb) S40 consumes 13.2 and 6.7 litres of fuel per 100 kilometres of city and
 |
| (Photo: Rob Rothwell) |
Fuel-economy variations aside, the I-5 powering the S40 is a great engine. It revs freely and unobtrusively while producing a polished note; it's the heart of a drivetrain that brings much pleasure to its operator- and in this case, that's me. I enjoyed every minute behind the S40's wheel. Like a well-adjusted youth, this is a well-adjusted compact sedan. It does pretty much everything right, and with a degree of youthfulness that isn't generally associated with its conservative, Swedish roots.
 |
| (Photo: Rob Rothwell) |
Likes:
Refined drivetrain
Sporty appearance
Attractive design
Youthfulness
Dislikes:
Narrow footwell
Small side-view mirrors
Small cabin storage bins
Stability control is not standard equipment
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