V40 Cross Country: powerful, exciting and fun

It’s been a long while since I’ve driven a Volvo, and it’s of course no surprise that the Swedish marque still manufactures impressive machines – as I found after driving the V40 Cross Country for a few days. 

The V40 featured today is attractively priced at Bt1.92 million, thanks to lower excise duties as it is capable of running on E85 gasohol. This puts it in the same price range as the BMW 1 Series and Mercedes-Benz A-Class, although it is a much bigger car. Being longer and wider than the BMW and Benz, the Volvo naturally offers much more interior space. 

While the previous V40 wasn’t awe-inspiring due to its lagging technology, the new model promises fun and excitement right at first sight. 

The Cross Country styling adds spice to an exterior design which includes a honeycomb grille, black bumper and skid plate, as well as roof rails and black glossy frame on the rear hatchback. The interior is modern and oozes strong Volvo design cues with its copper-coloured floating centre console and leather upholstery. The multi-function steering is also great to grasp, and if you look carefully, the spokes have been designed to appear as a large “V”. All the housings are in aluminium, adding to the high-quality feel of the car. 

I loved the graphic display on the fascia, and you can choose between “Elegance”, “Eco” or “Performance”, the last one providing a large red tachometer with digital speedometer plus a power bar that tells the driver how much power is being used and how much is left for overtaking. In “Eco” mode the display informs you about fuel usage and provides guidance in maintaining a fuel-efficient driving style. In “Elegance” mode, digital animations such as Park Assist Pilot and road sign information are displayed along with several other readings including fuel level and engine temperature that you’d find on a normal display. 

There is abundant storage space between the front seats, and the glove box has air vents that help keep drinks cool. The Bluetooth system connects easily once you have set it up, and the sound from the audio system is the best in class, with incredible bass details that you will not hear from systems in other vehicles twice the price. 

The V40 is powered by a turbocharged 5-cylinder engine producing 213 horsepower and 300Nm mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission. Maximum torque is available from 2,700rpm and stays there until 5,000rpm, giving the car instantaneous response. Acceleration from 0-100km/h takes 6.9 seconds, while the top speed is claimed to be 210km/h. Indeed, this is one of the most powerful front-wheel-drive cars on the market, as well as one of the most entertaining to drive with great steering feel and a smooth ride. The added height – it’s 40mm higher than the standard version – allows it to be driven on poor road conditions without fear that either the suspension or lower body parts will get damaged, but for real off-roading you might have to consider an SUV. However, keep the V40 Cross Country running on dirt/gravel roads and you’ll be fine. The power steering can also be adjusted for different driving conditions (low, medium and high), giving more assistance while parking and less when driving fast. 

As in any Volvo, there is plenty of safety features, and this V40 is no exception. Besides a roll-angle sensor that allows the stability-control system to step in faster, there is corner-traction control, giving the car a smoother cornering performance. Plus, the V40 sports a “City Safety” system that automatically brakes the car at speeds under 50km/h if there is a chance that it will crash into a vehicle in front. But in case of an unavoidable accident, there are plenty of airbags, including a knee airbag for the driver, as well as a rollover protection system that prepares the vehicle safety systems for a big one. 

It doesn’t end there: the car also comes with a lane-keeping aid, blind-spot warning, cross-traffic alert and even a parking-assist function that finds a parallel parking spot (1.2 times the vehicle length) and steers the car automatically into it. A driver alert system checks on the fatigue level of the driver or distractions, calculating the chances of the driver losing control of the car. Warnings are both audible signals as well as graphics (coffee cup) and text message. 

Whether in terms of styling, performance, comfort or safety, or topping it off with its retail pricing, the Volvo V40 Cross Country is just too hard to resist. This is one of the cars that will help Volvo win market share and keep old customers coming back. 

 

Volvo V40 Cross Country 

Engine: 5-cylinder DOHC 20 valve with turbocharger 

Displacement: 1,984cc 

Bore and stroke: 81x77mm 

Compression ratio: 10.5:1 

Max power: 213hp/6,000rpm 

Max torque: 300Nm/2,700-5,000rpm 

Transmission: 6-speed automatic 

Ratios: n/a 

0-100km/h: 6.9 secs 

Top speed: 210km/h 

Average fuel consumption: 13.3km/litre 

CO2 emission: 135g/km 

Suspension (f/r): McPherson strut/multi-link 

Steering: Powered rack and pinion 

Turning circle: 11.3 metres 

Brakes (f/r): vented disc/disc 

Length: 4,370mm 

Width: 1,783mm 

Height: 1,458mm 

Wheelbase: 2,646mm 

Track (f/r): 1,552/1,540 

Weight: n/a 

Wheels: 17-in alloys 

Tyres: 225/50R17 

Fuel tank capacity: n/a 

Price: Bt1.920 million 

Distributor: Volvo Car Thailand