Road Test Volvo S40
Volvo S40 1.6D DRIVe £16,995
Swedish saloon gets an eco makeover as Volvo aims to make its whole range greener
Blanked-off radiator grille,
lower suspension and new
alloys mark the DRIVe model
out from the standard S40
ake a look at the latest Volvo price wheels give the car real presence. solid and has a unique style of its own. The
list, and diesel fans will be dismayed Under the skin, there are taller gear ratios often-copied ‘fl oating’ centre console looks as
to discover that the base 1.6-litre oil- and the engine management system has good today as the day it fi rst appeared, while
burning S40 is no longer available. been tweaked to put economy ahead of the large button radio and simple ventilation
This is because it’s been replaced in the performance. As well as the excellent CO2 controls are beautifully designed.
UK line-up by the S40 DRIVe. The fi rm fi gure, the S40 returns 62.8mpg combined. But perhaps the most attractive feature
believes this will transform the entry-level Yet while the saloon meets Volvo’s sub- of the S40 DRIVe is that it costs only £250
version of its smallest saloon from being 120g/km emissions target, you don’t feel a more than the model it replaces. While the
worth avoiding to unmissable. compromise from behind the wheel. modifi cations do little to improve the S40’s
DRIVe is Volvo’s name for its low CO2 There’s a gearshift indicator on the dash, driver appeal, it has morphed from being a
models. And it has managed to slip the S40 but the engine’s healthy 240Nm of torque car which is easy to overlook to a model that’s
into £35-a-year road tax band B, thanks to at 1,750rpm means that you never feel as if the fi rst of its kind.
emissions of 118g/km. More importantly, you’ve changed up too early when follow-
this has been achieved with only minimal ing its lead. And with the engine revving
changes to the standard car. quietly at 2,200rpm at 70mph, it’s relaxed
ROAD TEST DATA
The most obvious of these are the smooth on the motorway.
Model tested Volvo S40 1.6D DRIVe
alloys, while the bodywork has been low- Volvo fans will be relieved to know that
Price £16,995
ered by 10mm. Up front, the radiator grille the fi rm’s drive for effi ciency hasn’t left
Bodystyle Saloon
has been blanked off to improve air fl ow its mark on the cabin – which remains a
Engine power 109bhp
in and around the engine bay. The changes wonderful place to spend time. As with the
are barely noticable in the metal while the standard models, the DRIVe’s interior feels
Engine torque 240Nm
Transmission 5-spd man, fwd
Boot capacity 404 / 883 litres
THE KEY RIVAL
Kerbweight 1,408kg
EuroNCAP rating fi ve stars
With its effi cient engine and Auto gearbox n/a
mildly modifi ed bodywork,
Insurance Gp 9
the Volkswagen Golf
Bluemotion has emissions of
CO2 emissions 118g/km
119g/km. But while It offers
0-60mph 10.8 secs
greater driver appeal than Top Speed 118 mph
the S40, the Golf can’t quite
Fuel economy 62.8 mpg
match the upmarket character
of the Volvo
IN ASSOCIATION WITH
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