This review is for the Volvo V40, namely the D3 diesel version.

It sits on a pair of 17 inches rims and some 225/45 tires. Let’s get it out of the way from the beginning: this is a very goodlooking car. The arched body resembles the katana of a samurai, its every muscle tensed and ready to leap at a moment’s notice. It follows Volvo’s new design language that was introduced with the C30 and S60 models. It does look quite apart from its predecessor but the Volvo image is undeniably still here. The easily recognizable badge hangs from a glossy black plastic radiator grill. Below the beautifully sculpted headlights is a pair of LED daytime running lights and a glossy painted spoiler that looks cool but is doomed to take quite a beating from day to day usage in a city. The windshield is angled in order to maintain the overall look of the car but it is a rare case in which the form does not come over function as it provides a very good visibility for the driver. The glass contains the City Safety System in its upper part, a pair of sensors that constantly monitor the road ahead while maintaining a safe distance behind another car and even coming to a full stop without the driver’s intervention. There are many impact zones in front of the engine and around the passengers so the impact energy is evenly distributed around the safety zone made up by the pillars and other reinforcing elements. Volvo even has a proprietary system called SIPS (side impact protection system) that ensures the doors can be opened and the passengers can be taken out of the car in the event of a crash.

This particular model also comes with the R-design badge , a trim level that brings a few design elements on top the basic ones such as front and rear spoilers painted in the same color as the car, a front grill, side mirrors and ornaments painted with a fake brushed aluminium finish, bespoke 17 inches rims and double sport exhaust pipes. The rims look very good but they will let you know when you are driving on less then stellar roads with some potholes on them. The back end of the car houses some decent size rear doors that provide good access to the back seats. As you move towards the rear end the very wide C pillar has quite a dramatic effect on the looks of the car as it makes it look like a cross between a station wagon and a hatchback. The pillars end with some very big, interestingly shaped and unmistakable Volvo taillights. These design cues give the car a very unique character while following the Volvo’s new design guidelines. The trunk ends quite abruptly like in a station wagon and it has a decent size but well within the classes average, certainly not the cargo space  you might think is available at first sight. The designers made some clever use of space with the floor mat that can be folded up and locks in different positions to reveal a little more storage space and a temporary spare tire. With the rear seats folded down you do get a far bigger storage space but it is more appropriate to carry some chairs from IKEA than a whole couch like you could do with the previous model.

The interior of the car is Volvo business as usual. It is by no means spectacular but it does not even try to be. It is a well studied design that has evolved over the years and you can still see many design elements from the old V40 and other Volvo models. It is a clean and interior and very pleasing to the eye. The 16:9 central display has good contrast and sunlight readability and is quite elevated on the central console so it can be seen by any passenger in the car. It also comes with an lcd display on the dashboard that can present the driver with a wealth of information. Every element of the interior is studied so that its form and materials react in the best possible manner to help the driver in the unfortunate event of a serious accident. Small details stand out such as the start button with the key slot that have been moved away from the steering wheel column so that they do not hit the driver in the event of a crash. The seats offer a good lateral support and have a good headrest that is supposed to minimise the whiplash effect and protect the driver’s neck. The driving position is really good and is helped a lot by the grippy steering wheel and good visibility. Although the brushed aluminium accents are made out of plastic, all  the materials used in the cabin are of good quality and offer a nice tactile sensation. The ergonomics are good and you can find a lot of storage spaces around the cabin. The audio system is also above average with a good space in the doors to house some decent sized magnets for the speakers. For the Sweedish company safety comes first so all the passengers are well protected with lots of airbags and the Isofix system is standard so you can install a baby seat with no problems.

The engine is a Duratec 2.0 diesel borrowed from Ford and produces 150 bhp and around 258 ft/lb of torque. The platform also comes from a Ford Focus and that is not a bad thing at all. It is coupled with a 6 speed automatic gear box. It is not the latest generation of gearboxes and it does not utilize the 2 clutch setup but it holds its ground pretty well. In the city it always tries to change the gears at optimum rpms in order to give the driver maximum torque but also keep the mpg high. This car manages some very good fuel economy. If you drive it over long distances like commuting in and out of city, even with a sporty driving style and AC always on you would be hard pressed to have lower than 38 mpgs showing on the dashboard computer. If you have a more tempered driving style this car will do about 60 mpgs without any struggle. This will be a hard thing however as the car tempts you constantly to put you right foot down and feel the good accelerations and the great pull from that diesel power plant. At around 4000 rpms the sound of the engine resembles a classic v6 and that wonderful noise coupled with the good responsiveness of a torquey diesel can really make you day and put a smile on your face. It is a fun car to drive and offers good stability thanks to the independent rear suspension and some clever tricks with anti roll bars beneath the bonnet.

Overall Volvo has achieved its goal of creating a replacement of the legendary V40. Sure it does not have that big of a trunk nor does it have any true sport aspirations but for a young driver or even families with a child it can be a sensible choice that offers a world renowned safety rating, a decent interior space and good driving dynamics.