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Volvo S40:
Wholesome Fun
Volvo’s S40 T-5 is an oxymoron. It is a high performance, turbocharged, all
wheel drive, sedan from a company that prides itself on station wagons and
safety innovations. It is loaded with standard equipment and yet is the
company’s price leader. It is a five-passenger sedan and yet there isn’t enough
cargo room to carry their luggage. It looks like a Volvo and acts like a BMW.
We have owned Volvos for many years and find them quality machines, but they’re
a bit drab to look at and the cost of maintenance was dear. That was then, this
is now. Volvo pays the factory-scheduled maintenance for the length of the
four-years/50,000 miles warranty. And, the new S40 is downright cute. Better
still, there is more power under the hood with your choice of a turbocharged 218
horsepower five cylinder or a 168-horse naturally aspirated power plant. Add to
this the longer wheelbase, available all wheel drive, and excellent safety
features and you have a truly modern Volvo.
This is an impressive nip and tuck sedan fully capable of giving aid and comfort
to its inhabitants while coddling them with curtain and side-impact airbags,
ABS, brake monitoring, and chassis and body crumble zones. The six speed manual
transmission does its work well, although we like the automatic more in
congested driving. Parking is easy, but the small rear view mirrors hinder
visibility.
There is no reason
that the S40 cannot keep up with cars costing twice as much. The downside is
that the options can add to the bottom line quickly so make sure and research
what you want before testing this able vehicle. The five- speed automatic
transmission and the base engine are more than adequate for most drivers, but on the other hand the competition is stout. The Audi, Subaru Legacy, and
even the Ford Five Hundred are offering sedans with all wheel drive that are
priced in the Volvo’s range.
Mom’s view: So cuddly. The interior is modern and chic at the same time. The
seats are exceptionally comfortable. Although this is not a sports car, it feels
that way with a suspension and braking on a par with anything we’ve tested in a
while. I would opt for the five-speed automatic unless I ordered the
turbocharged T5 version where the standard six speed manual transmission enables
you to better keep the engine under your control. The main competition for the
all wheel drive version would be the Subaru Legacy GT. Both cars cost about the
same, but the Subaru is much faster and roomier while the Volvo is more elegant,
stops better, and has a keener look. Personally, I think the Subaru is easier to
get in and out of and the small trunk opening on the Volvo means that you are
frequently forced to use the rear seat fold down feature to store long items.
Rear seat room is also quite limited. Personally, I would order the Volvo V50
wagon and just accept the fact it wasn’t as slinky looking as the S40. Both our
very solid feeling cars with plenty of energy and have acceptable fuel mileage.
There were some cavets that need attention. The main dials on the gauges have
numbers that are quite slim and in bright sunlight difficult to read. The center
console is difficult to use as it sits fairly far back. I also found that the
dead pedal was placed too close to me making it a problem finding an ideal
position despite the highly adjustable steering wheel and the multiple
adjustable seats. I think that people with long legs need to spend a while
testing this model to see if they feel comfortable.
Dad’s view: Enjoyable, and perhaps the most commuter friendly Volvo ever, the
S40 T-5 does everything well, but the premium fuel it requires hurts at the gas
pump where you get about 22 mpg. I would give a long look to the amply powered
non-turbocharged version that gives much better fuel mileage on regular.
I would recommend you drive the Sports Package over rough roads to make sure
that is what you had in mind. In terms of daily driving, there is an urgency you
can almost sense from the turbocharged engine. It seems to challenge you,
sweetly, mind you, but nevertheless the prodding is there. Fortunately, the
handling is quite good, the government test scores very high, and the brakes
steadfast.
Outside of the small rear view mirrors and limited visibility, my problem was
with the small amount of space given to your feet. If you have large feet or are
wearing shoes with a lip on the soul you had best see if they don’t get caught
on the bottom of the clutch pedal. This is one car that those who have over a 12
shoe need to test in traffic. Other than that this was a satisfying ride, and if
it weren’t for the absolutely knockout in the guise of the V70 R, it would be
the best Volvo has produced in a long while.
Young working woman’s view: Here is a quandary I have yet to solve. Is this
Volvo a sporty car, a family friendly car, or a commuter car? You see, with the
options Volvo offers, you can have it your way as the S40 teases you with a bit
of each of these ingredients, but does not offer any in significant quantity. As
a family hauler the standard fold-down rear seats are nice but the cargo hold
isn’t all that big and interior storage is at a premium. As a sporty car it is
quick, but unless you go with the turbocharged engine, hardly fast. And, as a
commuter car the gas mileage is adequate, but not exceptional.
There are a lot of good and bad things in this Volvo. The key is strange looking
and the part that fits into the ignition is made of plastic. The fact that the
end is easy to get caught in pockets and purses gives me second thoughts as to
why this was considered a good idea. Furthermore, the ignition switch itself is
difficult to locate as it is on the dash, but behind the windshield wiper
control. Perhaps over time it would be easier to find on a dark night.
Another
problem was that when I pressed the remote opener for the trunk lid nothing
happened. I did not hear a click, whistle, or even see the lid open by itself.
All the remote does is unlock the lid. You have to reach under the license plate
light holder and push the handle up in order to release the trunk lid. This is
difficult to do when carrying a couple bags of groceries and even messier when
the weather is inclement. The worst feature, however, was the fact that you have
to pull the interior door handle twice for it to open. Perhaps this is a safety
feature, but it is plain annoying to me. Again, over time perhaps I would get
used to this ditto action to get out of the Volvo, but I question the thinking.
Naturally, there is also a lot to like with this Volvo. First and foremost are
the safety features you get even on the base model. This includes front and side
air bags, full-length side head curtains, electronically controlled anti-lock
brakes, whiplash reducing seats, a body cage constructed of four types of steel,
and a capable suspension. The optional Xenon headlights are powerful and the
turbocharged engine has little turbo lag and spools up quite quickly, which is
good because the main power starts to flow at only 1500 rpm and stays online to
over 6000 rpm. I found that the engine runs out of oomph at 6000 despite the
fact there are more revs left.
As a business major I find the pricing of the Volvo S40 of interest. If you opt
for the base model it is even less expensive than the previous generation Volvo
S40 and you get a 2.4-liter five-cylinder engine, lots of safety features, and
enough power to get out of the way if you choose the manual transmission. When
the optional automatic is chosen the non-turbocharged S40 has its limitations
when you are carrying a family and luggage as the 168 horsepower is just
adequate. You have to add on several thousand more dollars to your credit limit
to get the more energetic T-5 model. Of course, besides the much more powerful
engine you get foglights, a power driver's seat, front and rear spoilers,
upgraded interior trim, automatic climate control, a trip computer, five-speed
automatic, and the 218 horsepower engine as well as available all wheel drive.
If you decide you need the all wheel drive model you also have standard sport
suspension.
Is it worth the extra funds to buy the stronger version? That depends on your
driving style. I would prefer the base version and live with the reality that I
don’t have the rapid ride. Since the competition is as fast, or faster than the
turbocharged version is not going to satisfy your primal urge to be the quickest
anyway. For me, the looks, safety features, and solid chassis are what count so
the base model would be best.
I don’t dislike this Volvo, but it is so much different than the other members
of the family it is difficult for me to accept its lineage. Yes, it looks like a
Volvo but the tight interior and lack of trunk cargo space are very un-Volvo
like. Does this make it a poor choice? Hardly, but it does take an open mind and
since I drove Volvos for most of my life I find it a difficult paradigm shift to
accept.
College male’s view: First off, my singing career has resulted in a new name.
Check me out at www.simple-thoughts.net. Download a few of my MP-3s. The reason
I’m telling you this is simple. Yep, its cute and it scoots, but this S40 would
toast my credit rating even for the base version.
As for my insights about this Volvo, well they are mixed. The driver’s seat is
good, but not as great as the other Volvos had, and the rear seating is hampered
by a lack of legroom and a short cushion. I would say this seat is best left to
the youngsters. The leather covering the seats was rather bland and the
instruments were difficult to read in bright sunlight. One nice improvement was
the fact that this car did not have that terrible station favorite turning knob
that other Volvo models feature.It has simple to use buttons that is much safer
and simpler to use without having to take your eyes off the road.
The T-5 five cylinder supplies ample acceleration bordering on exhilarating.
Although I much prefer the Subaru Legacy GT that has a similar price, this Volvo
seems smoother, quieter, and quicker off the line. I love the solid feel this
car provides. It reminds me of the 3 Series BMW right down to the brakes.
Thankfully, the steering assembly has a long telescoping adjustment because the
seats don’t seem to adjust properly for my build. That would be a long torso and
short legs in case you wanted to know. Furthermore, there is a lack of storage
areas in the cockpit area and I found the foot wells a little cramped for my
feet. The short wheelbase and the firm shocks make for a stable, but sometimes
bumpy ride over poorly kept roads. The steering is quick, but not as precise as
I would like.
So what we have here is a good-looking babe magnet sedan with enough power to
keep depression under control and enough handling to make your drive home as
peppery as you feel the need. Add in superior brakes, enough safety features to
please your grandmothers, and adequate fuel mileage and you have a cool car.
However, you should note that the Volvo S60 might be a better choice if you need
space. This Volvo may not have all wheel drive like the S40, but is priced
similarly and offers a lot more passenger room.
Family conference: The S40 is one spicy meatball. It looks sharp, performs well,
and provides a sense of spottiness in a sedan format. Expect reasonable, but not
exceptional gas mileage, but at least you are going to have some entertainment
for the extra the premium fuel is going to cost you as the 218 horsepower five
cylinder engine does its best to keep you upbeat. A nice car for a young couple
or a practical single person who has a need for speed, the Volvo’s major
strength is its safety ratings and looks. The best small car Volvo has ever
built, but at a price.
Written by The
Car Family |
