Review Car

2015 Volvo  V40 Review Specs And Price-Having spent the first half of the season making the S60 in addition to V60 better vehicles, Volvo’s latest Drive-E powertrain family is now being offered in the smaller V40; the immediate effect that is to turn the D4 model at a middling contender into a serious challenger.

While using the new 187bhp only two. 0-litre, four-cylinder diesel engine aboard, the vehicle delivers 99g/km CO2, 0-62mph in 7. four seconds and 74mpg blended. That makes it every bit as parsimonious as being a BMW 116d EfficientDynamics – plus a shade quicker over a Volkswagen Golf GTD.

That’s with all the standard six-speed manual gearbox (tested here); there’s also the alternative of Volvo’s brand-new eight-speed Geartronic auto, which still copes with 109g/km CO2 in addition to 67. 3mpg. Your oil burner’s petrol-powered similar migrates too, making the latest T5 a doubtless spirited 243bhp alternative.

Just like a V40 in most respects. It huddles round its new engine like an affluent Swedish uncle; plain-spoken, practical in addition to accommodating in similarly reassuring measure.

The ride is intermittently a little harsh, and we wouldn’t mind if it steered having a mite less stodginess, nevertheless overall it’s dependably enjoyable.

That was sufficient to view it safely for you to 3. 5 celebrities when road tested in 2012; two years on, and the car’s newfound capability to sweep you handsomely along produces a bit more compelling prospect. Outright speed has its very own charm of study course, but it’s this diesel engine’s width of performance which usually impresses.

This is usually a V40 now greater than capable of this quiet, effortless type of brisk that its cabin deserves. Overtaking is completely painless. The gear alter and clutch are heavier to operate than a VW Collection product, but not necessarily disappointingly so.

Actually, the extra heft seems appropriate when removing ratio-long wheezes involving front-wheel lunge in ‘I’m late pertaining to work’ mode.

It’s so spirited out of second gear in truth that you’ll occasionally inevitably be merging at roundabouts before you expected. Blame 295lb feet of torque from 1750rpm to the – although it’s likewise worth mentioning that rapidly fluttering traction command light, the V40’s safety-first framework rarely feels overawed with the abundant twist.

Or the cabin confused by its existence; the traditional vibrations currently being absent at reduced speed, and serp noise thoroughly hushed way up come 70mph. At that same moment, only the excursion computer will betray this oil burner; we rarely saw less than 50mpg returned, regardless how hard this Volvo was influenced.

Should I purchase one?

At £25, 770 for your SE trim plus sat nav, Volvo isn’t giving the V40 out – but not should it need to; this is any poker-faced rival for the usual suspects.

To explain, there is nothing else to compete with the D4’s combined duty-free status in addition to real-world shove. You will discover better hatchbacks they are driving, certainly, but you’d need to make that most of your concern to not necessarily think Volvo’s latest worth consideration.