VOLVO S40 2.0
Squeezing in
Volvo's junior saloon is finally here, but it's small in a big crowd
- Published: 27/11/2009 at 12:00 AM
- Newspaper section: Motoring
What's new?
This is the saloon version of the V50 estate tested in Motoring two weeks ago. A belated entry into the Thai market, it is priced exactly the same, B1.799m, and comes from Malaysia via the Afta trade scheme.
By being a four-door, the S40 2.0 seemingly hopes to attract buyers seeking some kind of European-ness when seen against the Toyota Camry, Honda Accord and Nissan Teana. However, all three are priced about half-a-million baht less than the Volvo in 2.0-litre forms.
At the same time, Volvo could be yearning to sway potential buyers of the Mercedes-Benz C200K, BMW 318i and Audi A4 1.8T who find the German brands, priced between B2.5-3m, rather expensive.
The S40 and V40 are mechanically the same cars, just that they have different body styles. As well, the front ends are slightly different in looks for the sake of differentiation.
2.0-litre petrol engine is refined but needs to be pushed.
What's cool?
European cars have a tendency to excel over their Japanese counterparts when it comes to driving dynamics, which is also the case with the S40.
Even though the Volvo is a front-driver, it has significantly better levels of high-speed grip than the Far Eastern trio all of which also drive the wheels that steer.
Just because the S40 and V50 are related doesn't mean that they're identical. The suspension in the S40, for instance, apparently isn't as firm as in the V50, probably because it doesn't have to cope with as much load.
The difference was quite noticeable after switching from the V50 to the S40, especially at the rear which seemed to be a tad softer yet firm. As a result, the S40 has good grip and a ride that's not uncomfortable.
Advocates of safety should love the S40 as it is packed with all kinds of features, the notable one being the blind-spot detection system.
The S40's interior fascia is basically the same as the V50s, meaning tidy ergonomics.
There are lots of gadgets inside but no sat-nav.
What's not?
Although Volvo's new six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission is a novelty when the intended competition is put into perspective, it can't totally masked a weak engine.
The motor in question is the same 145hp 2.0-litre petrol/E10-capable unit as used in the V50 which lacks low-rev torque and needs to be pushed in order to get a kick out of things.
And because the S40 is Volvo's smallest saloon labelled as a compact (C-segment), it is not as spacious as any of its portrayed competitors, be it left or right. The more credible model is the S60 that competes in the B2-2.5m bracket.
Lastly, while the ride is livable, the seats in the S40 aren't that cushy, as one has come to expect from a Volvo.
Buy or bye?
That the S40 has finally reached Thai shores should be a delight for Volvo fans wanting a not-too-expensive saloon. It's also a better car than the older model, if not by a large margin.
For those who don't need the extra-cavernous packages of the Camry and its likes and cherish good levels of driving dynamics, the S40 is a decent alternative. But whether that's going to work in metal-hungry Thailand remains to be seen.
Which, in the end, doesn't make the S40 a really convincing saloon because for that kind of money, you can get a top-spec Japanese with 150hp-plus performance and all the goodies, not to mention the tech-savvy Camry Hybrid from Toyota.
Having said that, it's bye rather than buy for the S40.
Relate Search: VOLVO S40 2.0
About the author
- Writer: Richard Leu
- Position: Motoring Editor
