Volvo S40 – Ikuno’s Driving Impressions

Volvo S40 – Ikuno’s Driving Impressions

by -

We had the Volvo S40 in our stable for a a short period, and so we got our favourite tester, Ikuno-san, to check it out. This is his report below; the pictures are courtesy of Andy Kow, of GRA fame, who has taken up photography as a pastime.

“I admit I like the Volvo S40. Putting my flame suit on, and despite the fear of attracting jeers and ridicule from my car mates, yes, I admit it whole heartedly. Perhaps it is a sign of getting old, as I have been told by the younger folks around me, the very same who would not consider a car good unless it had some sort of motor sport pedigree or some degree of chick magnetism. But living in the real world where economics, practicality, safety, security and other sensibilities matter more, the S40 puts out a good proposition to the prospective buyer who wants out of the Japanese marques.

To be honest, I reviewed the s40 when it was first launched in Malaysia, and I mentioned then that the car handled great, except for the overly stiff rear suspension which made sitting in the rear seat very uncomfortable. I am glad to see that they have solved this problem in this face-lifted model. Ride is now supple without the S40 wallowing, and comfortable for the occupants on any road surfaces. As is well known by car buffs, the chassis of the S40 is based on the Ford Focus and Mazda3. From a common base, each brand then adds in elements that are important to each. In a word, I would say that the S40 is ‘well-balanced’.

For Volvo, safety has always been a key consideration; and specifically for the S40, a measure of sportiness in the handling has been dialled in to appeal to the more youthful and exuberant drivers. It is heartening to know that special crumple zones around the front, rear and between the front passenger and driver exist to keep the occupants safe in event of a front or a side collision. Scoring 5 stars in ENCAP is a testament of its ability in crash worthiness. However, you don’t need to get into an accident to appreciate the Passive Safety qualities of the car.

Handling is one that can’t be faulted in the S40. It is one good handling car being sharp in its turn-in ability, nicely weighted steering feel, minimal or zero torque steer, and extreme sure-footedness all round, making it an enjoyable drive all the time. If you get too enthusiastic, the Stability and Traction Control kicks in to keep you safe and the scenery dent free. NVH levels are also kept to a minimum even when the speeds are approaching the dual century level, although the standard Continental tires do tend to be a tad noisy.

The interior of the car remains relatively unchanged, with its unique Floating Centre Console, and typical Swedish minimalist trim. Cubby holes and door pockets to keep your odds and ends are tight and shallow due to the extra strength sheet metal at the doors and special crumple zones scattered throughout the car interior, but function takes precedence over form.

The engine is a 2.4litre, 5-cylinder powerplant mounted transversely in the front, driving the front wheels. It produces 170bhp and 230Nm of torque. A five-speed auto transmission with Geartronic (manual shift option) helps to propel it forward. Being geared about 46km per 1,000 rpm, driving on highways yields the best fuel economy with the rpm ticking over at approx 2400 when travelling at the posted speed of 110kph. However, the engine has enough torque to allow one to build up speed without that feeling of being restrained or lacking in power. We got a fuel consumption figure of 11.5 to 12.5lit/100km for mixed conditions driving and below that for highway driving, which is acceptable, considering the many times we floored the throttle pedal.

If you crave for more power, there is always the option to take the V50 T5, which is a more powerful version to cater for the performance junkie, but that is another story altogether.

So, as you may have gleaned from the article above, I really like the car. I like it for its overall package, and its core values that are summarized in Volvo’s tagline, Volvo. For Life. To me, it gives me added reassurance that it also covers Me and My Loved Ones.”

Ikuno.


1 COMMENT

Leave a Reply