Volvo V40 (2014 – 2016)

BY JONATHAN CROUCH

Models Covered

(5dr hatch, 1.6, 2.0, 2.5 petrol, 1.6, 2.0 diesel [ES, SE, SE Lux, R-DESIGN, Cross Country])

Introduction

As with most things in life, the best products take what seems a complicated bunch of requirements and reduce them to something very simple and elegant. The Volvo V40 is just such a car. We’re looking at the model that was first launched in 2012, though the focus here is on the versions produced in the 2014 to 2016 period, a time when the Swedish brand was gradually introducing its own ‘Drive-E’ engine technology. If you can stretch to one of these slightly later models and get yourself a variant fitted with one of the Drive-E engines, you’ll get yourself a very complete premium compact hatch indeed, a car that looks great, drives well, has an amazing amount of safety equipment built in and makes sense on the balance sheet too. Let’s check this car out thoroughly as a used market proposition.

The History

Traditionally, Volvos have been better when they’ve been bigger. It’s not that the Swedish brand hasn’t tried its hardest with compact, more affordable models. On the contrary, it has a heritage in such designs stretching all the way back to the PV51 of 1936. None though, has been what you’d call desirable, unless for you, desire is a virtue that’s safe, solid and sensible. Here though, is a car that is. The V40 premium family hatch, launched here in the summer of 2012, then rejuvenated in mid-2014 with the addition of some super-frugal Drive-E engines that created the model range that lasted until the car got its first main facelift in th Spring of 2016. It’s these 2014 to 2016-era models that we’re going to look at here.

This car was originally launched in 2012 without the key weapon it really needed in meeting that objective – the class-leading range of powerplants developed as part of the Volvo Drive-E engine line-up. These 2.0-litre units only began to appear in V40 models from 2014 onwards, the D4 diesel and T5 petrol powerplants arriving first, with lesser engines appearing towards the end of 2015. It was soon clear that this technology represented a big step forward from that employed in the old Ford-derived units. The 190bhp diesel D4 mode, could sprint to 62mph in less than 7.5s, yet could return a combined cycle average of nearly 75mpg, with CO2 returns below 100g/km. Here, in other words, was a product headlining a model range now promising to offer a very compelling proposition indeed. Which was very necessary in view of the tough completion this Swedish contender had to face. Buyers were slow to realise the extent of the improvements though, so to help re-position the V40, Volvo gave it a minor facelift in the Spring of 2016.

What To Look For

The V40's reliability is as good as you'd expect from Volvo. The underlying mechanicals are tried and tested parts and shouldn’t give cause for concern. The interiors are also more hard wearing than most, but do try to avoid the paler coloured upholsteries, many of which suffer from staining from denim jean dye transfer. Check for parking bumps and scrapes, especially on the R-DESIGN models. The big alloy wheels are very susceptible to kerbing. The more powerful versions have quite an appetite for front tyres, so check there's some life left in the rubber. One final word on the Cross Country models: if you're looking at one expecting to be able to go anywhere, you might need to manage your expectations a tad. Only the range-topping T5 petrol model is all-wheel drive.

On The Road

The 2014 to 2016 period was a transitional one for the V40, a time in which Volvo was gradually introducing its new-era ‘Drive-E’ 2.0-litre petrol and diesel engine technology. This wasn’t fully implemented until the very end of the time we’re covering here in this review; which means that many V40s you’ll find from this era – specifically the D2 and D3 diesel units and the T2, T3 and T4 petrol engines – will still feature the old Ford-derived units.

Where you can be guaranteed to find the much better ‘Drive-E’ 2.0-litre technology though, is with the 190bhp D4 diesel variant, which was the first to get it and is a derivative we’d certainly recommend. This model can sprint to 62mph in just 7.4s en route to 143mph, yet at launch was able to match the efficiency returns of the feeblest D2 diesel V40 variant – or at least it could when that D2 model had its old 1.6-litre Ford-derived engine. The other Drive-E engine introduced right at the beginning of this period will be a much rarer find, the 245bhp turbo petrol 2.0-litre unit used in the flagship V40 T5 model.

Here’s a hatch clearly developed by people who care about driving. The result is a very good compromise indeed of absorbent ride and assured handling composure.

Overall

With this V40, Volvo brought its brand up to date. Fashionable styling clothes some serious safety in a very assured piece of design. In the premium compact hatch segment, only BMW’s 1 Series can out-handle this car – and that’s only because of its rear wheel drive. In any case, careful development of this car’s dynamic Focus-inspired underpinnings has left us with a car an enthusiast might still enjoy.

As a result, this efficient yet characterful, stylish yet sensible car ought to appeal far beyond Volvo’s core customer base. It ought to, but it may not. BMW, Audi, Mercedes – even Alfa Romeo customers: they’re all pretty parochial. They shouldn’t be. A drive in one of these would blow away quite a few prejudices. Whoever would have thought it.