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From Swedespeed.com Reviews and Road Tests It can easily be said that the new S40 is an emissary for the Volvo brand. Younger buyers and buyers new to Volvo seem to be drawn to the Swedish carmaker's dealerships in an effort to learn more about this hot new entry-level model. Owners of Subaru WRXs and BMW 3-series alike seem curious, so we enlisted a Vortex Media Group staffer who fits the description of those curious consumers to try out an S40 T5 and share his thoughts.
The inside of this car is even more interesting than the exterior. Unknown to me was the clever storage space behind the flat-panel ventilation and radio controls. The layout of the controls was very nice, although there were quite a few buttons, many of which are close together. This could be a bit confusing for the uninitiated driver. Our car came equipped with the sport cloth seats that were very supportive and comfortable, keeping you in place around turns. At 6'3", headroom is always the first thing I notice when getting in a car, and many small cars don't offer enough room for me. However, there was ample headroom in the S40, even when I didn't have my seat all the way down. Room for back seat passengers was also good for a compact car. On the road, the suspension is firm yet supple. There is enough dampening to reduce road harshness, but cornering was still good and steering response was quick. Brakes are also very strong, as we quickly found out when a pickup truck in front of us had to slam on the brakes to avoid hitting the car in front of him; the S40 stopped with plenty of room to spare.
According to Volvo, the low-pressure turbocharged inline 5-cylinder engine makes 218 HP at 5,000 RPM. This figure is respectable, but it doesn't tell the whole story. The torque comes on long and strong; peak torque is 236 LB.-FT. and Volvo claims it can hold that level of output between 1500-4800 rpm. On the road these are the numbers that tell the truth. Above 5,000 RPMs though, the fun tapers off as the engine is simply out of breath and begs to be shifted to a taller gear, where its ample torque can propel it forward with ease. The shifter was somewhat mushy, as a few times I had downshifted into second and though I was still in neutral, unable to feel it pass through the gates. However, the throws were rather short and the shift knob was a good gripping size. As an automotive enthusiast, I would also have liked a little more sound from the exhaust system as I moved aggressively through the gears.
The speedometer in our Euro-spec tester read in Km/h, which proved another challenge, as I was constantly trying to convert to MPH to make sure I was maintaining a legal speed . On the highway going 120 Km/h (75 MPH) in 6th gear, the RPMs were a mere 2200 and yet there was still enough pull thanks to the broad torque curve. This also resulted in excellent gas mileage; the on-board computer calculated 29.3 MPG on the 120-mile trip back to Maryland (editorial note: At this time, it remains unclear that the gearing in this European market S40 will be the same as that offered on North American market cars equipped with manual transmission). I saved the best for last - the stereo. This car came equipped with an amazing Dolby Pro-Logic II surround sound system, which includes a center channel and a subwoofer. Having had aftermarket stereos in my previous cars, I can say this stereo is a testament to how good a factory audio system can be. Bass was strong and crisp, highs were clear and precise, and thanks to the center channel, the middle range sounds were excellent. Given the clarity and power of this system, it is not difficult for passengers to imagine that they were listening to a live performance. Maybe this is the real reason the exhaust system is not as aggressive as you might expect from a sports sedan of this caliber? It's all coming together now...
It seems that Volvo has put together an amazing, affordable package for the performance enthusiast. Having been satisfied with VWs and Audis in the past, I may have never considered a Volvo. However, this experience has taught me otherwise. Affordable, powerful, good looking, and well built; what more could you ask for? Volvo clearly has a winner on their hands and should easily attract the younger audience they are targeting with this car.
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