Name: Volvo V40 Review
Item: Volvo V40
Author: Gumtree.com

If you’re in the market for a stylish and practical compact hatchback, but you don’t want to pay premium prices, the Volvo V40 is tough to beat. It’s safe, comfortable, and pleasant to drive. There’s also plenty of style inside to match its external design – although it’s not ideal for large groups on longer trips. There’s a range of petrol and diesel engine options available, all of which are surprisingly quick, powerful and impressively efficient in terms of fuel.

Visit our Volvo V40 model page to see what’s on offer.

What we think about the Volvo V40

A small family hatchback, the Volvo V40 offers great style and decent engine power.

Pros

Affordable

Good engine options

Looks great, both inside and out

Safe

Cons

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Handling is more functional than fun

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Lacking in interior space

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On-board tech and infotainment is quite basic

Volvo V40
Volvo V40

The entry-level Volvo V40 from 2019 has a 1.6-litre petrol engine, which will give you around 42 miles to the gallon. This four-door, five-seater compact hatchback also comes in three trims: the ES, SE, and SE Lux. All are well-equipped, with Bluetooth and climate control as standard.

Driving performance of the Volvo V40

Our Driving Rating7 / 10

Taking the Volvo V40 around city streets or up and down motorways won’t pose too many problems – but it isn’t the most fun ride either. The steering is responsive and agile, and the car offers great grip on the road, but it can sometimes be a little lacking in feedback and excitement. Still, the petrol engine is pleasingly quiet and refined, and the suspension is exceptionally well-balanced, handling even the bumpiest of roads without detracting from the driving experience.

Safety and reliability of the Volvo V40

Our Safety Rating9 / 10

Last tested by Euro NCAP in 2012, the Volvo V40 was awarded the full five-star rating for safety, and its fundamentals haven’t really changed much since then. The safety body also gave the car a near-perfect score of 98% for how well it protected adult passengers, though its protection of child passengers received 75%. You can expect an excellent range of safety tech, including the five airbags that come as standard, as well as an external pedestrian airbag and a blind spot warning.

Under the bonnet of the Volvo V40

Our Engine Rating8 / 10

The cheapest, entry-level engine of the V40 is a 2.0-litre petrol unit, which can provide up to 120 bhp. It’s fast enough to reach 60 mph from standing in under 10 seconds. A more powerful, turbocharged version of the petrol engine will get you there in just 7.8 seconds. As for the diesel versions – well, these are no slouches either. The basic 2.0-litre diesel provides 119 bhp, and will also do 0-60 in 9.9 seconds, while the more powerful 148 bhp version can get there in 8.1 seconds.

What you'll find in the Volvo V40

Our Design Rating8 / 10

The Volvo V40 is a great-looking car, with a sleek, sculpted body. This makes it feel a lot sportier and more agile than many of its rivals, such as the Volkswagen Golf, which is roughly the same size but around 5 inches shorter from front to back. On later versions of the V40, the inclusion of LED running lights is a nice touch, and a wide variety of stylish colour options are available. The overall aesthetic is impressively elegant, particularly for its price point.

Comfort and interiors in the Volvo V40

Our Comfort Rating7 / 10

Inside the cabin, you might be mistaken for thinking you’re in a much more expensive car. The materials are high quality and everything is well-designed and organised. However, the comfort that the interior provides doesn’t quite match its sophistication. Seats are a bit too high up, and the legroom isn’t all that impressive. The boot space also lets the side down a little, offering only 355 litres for luggage or shopping bags when the seats are up.

What features you'll find in the Volvo V40

Our Features Rating6 / 10

The V40’s tech features are a bit of a let-down, considering how stylish the interior is in other ways. It comes with a DAB radio and Bluetooth as standard, as well as a 7-inch screen to control the infotainment system. Unlike the vast majority of cars on the market, this system doesn’t integrate with Apple or Android devices. You can upgrade to a leather steering wheel and heated seats, and satnav is also available on higher trims, alongside a larger screen.

What fuel efficiency to expect from the Volvo V40

Our Fuel Consumption Rating8 / 10

Both versions of the V40’s petrol engine offer decent fuel economy, giving you around 42 miles to the gallon. The levels of CO2 emissions are also not too bad, coming in at under 140 g/km if you choose the model with a manual gearbox. But if fuel consumption is really a concern for you, it’s worth checking out one of the newer diesel engines. You can get as much as 56 mpg with the 2.0-litre diesel if you opt for manual transmission.

Running costs of the Volvo V40

Our Cost Rating8 / 10

Offering eco-friendly fuel efficiency that you can feel good about, the Volvo V40 will also go easy on your wallet – well beyond the affordable initial outlay. Besides fuel costs, insurance will be relatively cheap, even though the engines are on the larger side for this class. The manufacturer’s warranty is three years, which is standard for the majority of vehicles on the market. If you do have to pay out for repairs or servicing, replacement parts shouldn’t be too expensive.

Our verdict of the Volvo V40

4 / 5 Gumtree rating

A subtly stylish compact hatchback with great fuel efficiency, the Volvo V40 is only let down by its basic tech features and slightly too-snug cabin.

Volvo V40 Review