Volvo V40 D2 1.6D 115HP ES Start/Stop business car test review

Car review: David Wilkins

What is it?

The V40 replaces the long-running S40 saloon and V50 estate, and the switch to a five-door hatchback body alone makes it a much more convincing contender.

With the new car, Volvo has taken familiar elements such as the Focus platform from its former parent company Ford, and carried over engines, but has honed them to produce a genuine competitor for compact premium cars from the German manufacturers – think Audi A3, BMW 1 Series.

• The new 94g/km Volvo V40 helps flatline company car tax at 13%. See our spec table on page 2

Styling touches such as the strong shoulder-line mean that the V40 is unmistakably a Volvo but it also avoids the boxy look of older models.

On-the-road prices range from £19,745 from the 1.6-litre diesel D2 with ES trim to £26,795 for the top-of the range D4 diesel with SE Lux trim.

What’s hot?

• Practical five-door body gives the V40 wider appeal than the out-going S40 saloon and V50 estate

• Sleek styling achieves a drag co-efficient of 0.29 and banishes memories of older tank-like Volvo models

• Ford Focus derived chassis provides fluent handling

• Excellent ride comfort on standard “dynamic” suspension settings

• Outstanding use of safety technology, including City Safety automatic braking and the world’s first pedestrian airbag as standard

• Effective use of LCD technology to provide different instrument configurations for sporty normal and eco driving (optional)

• Three generous trim levels, ES, SE and SE Lux, and business-friendly specs – including Bluetooth as standard on all cars

• Top of the range SE Lux gets leather, Xenons and 17-inch alloys

• Options grouped into packs to help residual values. Nav pack features sat-nav, a 7-inch display and other options, and is likely to be joined by a Business pack aimed at company car drivers

• Wide range of engine choices, two petrol, three diesel, delivering between 115 and 180 horsepower

• Base D2 model achieves class-leading 94g/km and 78.5mpg – which means the company car tax banding is straightlined for three years…

• …and for business owners there is also 100% first year allowances

• Despite the smooth new looks, the V40 maintains traditional Volvo strengths such as excellent ergonomics and seating

• Residuals forecasters expect strong resale performance broadly on a par with that of competitors from the German premium manufacturers

What’s not?

• Ride suffers a little if the lower and stiffer sports suspension is fitted

• D2’s refined 1.6-litre diesel slightly lacking in low-end shove thanks to eco-friendly long gearing.

• More powerful versions not quite as sweet and well-balanced as the basic D2

• Ford-derived petrols give good performance but aren’t as appealing as the diesels

• The V40’s pricing and equipment levels stack up well against premium rivals from Alfa, Audi, BMW and Mercedes but many mainstream offerings in the five-door hatchback sector offer more for the money than all of these cars if you can look beyond the badge.