Volvo know-how at its best.Everyone loves to look good behind the wheel of their car, but not everyone can afford the $50,000 price tag for a luxury car. For some time now, luxury car manufacturers have been offering entry level cars that are more affordable and attainable to an average working person. They were not always successful though (think of the Infiniti G20 and the BMW 318Ti). The misunderstood and unappreciated
S40 and V40 duo, available at dealerships since 2000, are another example of a missed opportunity. However, the all-new 2005 Volvo S40 and
V50 have arrived to attempt to turn the trend around.
The 2005s are part of that joint venture I wrote about in the Mazda 3 review, which brings together the brain power of Volvo, Mazda and Ford. In cooperation, they came up with a wonderful chassis. Volvo then brought it back to Sweden and incorporated all of their know-how as far as
safety, performance and luxury is concerned. The new 2005s are no comparison to the previous S40 which had not much more than a nice cabin to gloat about. Volvo, wizened by the past, has kept their projected sale numbers only marginally higher than those of the outgoing model. The tester is a nearly fully equipped S40 T5 AWD. The price range for the S40, including the V50, is between $29 995 all the way to around $50 000. My T5 sedan retails for $44 795.
Exterior stylingThe 2005s are a far cry from the bland preceding generation S/V 40. From
almost every angle, family resemblances can be pointed out. From the cat ears rear taillights borrowed from the S80 to the flat vertical grille that all Volvos now sport, the S40 and V50 are some of the loudest cars in the entry-level luxury segment. The snub-nose front end may look odd, but with a low drag coefficient of just 0.31 Cd, it is more functional than show.
Interior stylingThe interior has a floating center stack that some are calling the waterfall: it incorporates the radio and climate controls and it has been dubbed this because it looks like it is flowing out of the dash. It is automotive art at its most inspired. The controls, however, are slightly bunched up in the middle of the ultra-slim center console. One does get used to the layout quickly enough though. The plastics, aluminium-like panel trim and the wood inlays are beautifully crafted and assembled. All buttons and controls have a refined and textured feel that exude quality. The radio sound and quality are likewise exceptional. The Premium sound system, which retails for an extra $1,200, with 12 speakers, a good size amplifier, and Dolby Pro Logic II 5.1, is a must for any audiophile that wants and loves to crank up the juice.
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The seats are great. They are big, comfortable and supportive. I would still say though, that the ones found in the S60, V70 and S80 are even better. Volvo really has some of the best in the business. They are covered in what Volvo calls Dynamic T-Tec upholstery. It seems like a durable material closer to some form of nylon than the regular cloth found in most cars. Front legroom is more than adequate, however the same cannot be said about the rear quarters. The cabin is quite tight, but I consider it more of a snug feeling than a cramped environment. There are very few compartments and pouches to empty pockets into. The trunk is incredibly tight in both the opening and size. The reason is because of the extra differential for the all-wheel-drive and the need to put a spare tire somewhere in the car. The FWD models have a lower floor and therefore benefit from added cargo volume.
