Volvo improves on proven formula

These days, people are driving their vehicles much farther, for much longer, of which many are usually much bigger.

The boom in 4WD sales in Australia, while good for many car dealerships, is much to the chagrin of many 'lesser' car owners. More often than not, 4WDs do much more damage to smaller hatches and sedans in even minor accidents.

How often do you hear of a Corolla wiping out the front-end of a Land Cruiser?

Case in point: Not long ago I was waiting at a busy intersection in Melbourne, on my way to work (this writer rides his push bike to work - fuel consumption is phenomenal!).

Waiting for the little red man to turn into a little green man, a Mercedes A-class was turning left, but slowed right down for what I assumed was a cursory check for people crossing the road.

A Range Rover from behind slammed into the Merc - perhaps only five metres from where I stood. The Merc's rear end was totalled. The rear wind-screen shattered across the road, rear panels were mangled and the sound is, well, utterly terrifying.

As was expected, the hulking Range Rover fared better. A whacked-out healight and distorted bumper area were all - very minor in comparison.

With all this in mind, if you are one of the many car buyers out there who put as much emphasis on safety aspects as a flashy paint job or quad-overhead cams, or a high-seating position, you'll be pleased to know the latest Volvo is safer than ever.

One of three key areas that Volvo addressed with its new S40 and V40 range is safety. From the get-go, the new range of Volvo 40s, as we like to call them, come with the Volvo IC - or Inflatable Curtain.

Furthermore, the IC has been tweaked to improve protection in a collision with a narrow hard object such as a lamppost or a tree.

The side impact curtain's inflatable cells are now bigger and deeper to offer more protection for the car occupants' heads. The IC deploys more quickly, and is fully inflated after just 3 hundredths of a second.

Another new feature is that the curtain is deployed further down the inside of the car, thus offering better protection for shorter passengers, as well.

The Volvo S40 and V40 get SIPS, not something you do with fine ale. Rather it's Volvo's unique Side-Impact Protection System.

In essence, it dissipates a large part of the force of a collision that would otherwise penetrate through the side via members, pillars, floor, roof and other parts of the car's body.

Apart from safety, the revised 40s models have also had a significant re-tooling in the areas of styling and fuel consumption, completing the trilogy of changes.

As far the new design goes, the new models aren't all-new, far from it, but they have received a fair nip and tuck. The exterior design of the S40 and the V40 have undergone selected changes. For instance, buyers now get a new grille, with black chequered or "egg-crate pattern" as Volvo likes to call it.

The colour coordinated side skirts and bumper mouldings (standard on the SE) add to the visual appeal with a bit more sportiness and, depending on the variant, the new chrome treatment on the tailgate and door handles adds a bit of upmarket flair to the exterior.

Behind the wheel, the new instruments, modeled along the lines of the S60, S80 and V70 are immediately noticeable; two large, centrally positioned instruments flanked by two smaller dials. This layout improves readability and the driver's ability to quickly decipher the information needed. Also, the new sporty three-spoke steering wheel is of the same type that is found in the S60.

The new models have an integrated key and remote, forming a key fob, with the key folding cleverly into the fob. Also new are the seats, said to be even more comfortable, due to an improvement in the operation of the integrated lumbar support. For improved rear view vision, the rear head restraints are 4 cms slimmer too.

Lastly, in regards to improved fuel economy, most of the 4-cylinder petrol engines now offer lower fuel consumption, thanks largely to optimised software in the engine control units. One example is the 2.0-litre turbo engine that has cut fuel consumption by five per cent, to just 7.9 litres/100 km.

There are three engines on offer with the 40s range. The entry-level 100kW 2.0-litre mill generates peak power @ 5800rpm, with peak torque of 190Nm spinning up @ 4000rpm. Next up is the 2.0T, no surprises for what that 'Tee' stands for. A peak power output of 121kW is achieved @ 5250rpm, while 240Nm of torque is on offer from 1800-4500rpm, allowing the 2.0T to reach 100km/h in just 8.5 with the five-speed manual transmission.

Lastly, you can opt for the T4, which again uses the same four-cylinder 2.0-litre engine, only this time the turbo operates with a much higher pressure rating. As such, peak power is an impressive 147kW @ 5500rpm, while 300Nm of torque is not to be scoffed at either, coming on strong from between 2500-4000rpm. 0-100km/h sprint times of 7.3 seconds are very quick, with a top speed of 235km/h not too shabby, either.

All of the models offered can be equipped with either a five-speed manual or a five speed adaptive automatic transmission - neither of which incur additional costs.

If it's safety you're after, Volvo has you covered. Whether you need protection from a wayward 4WD or just from that suspicious-looking tree or dubious sign-post, the new Volvo S40 sedan and V40 wagon will warrant a much closer inspection.

Pricing:

Variant: Manual | Auto
S40 2.0 $39,950 $41,950
V40 2.0 $41,950 $43,950
S40 2.0 SE $47,950 $47,950
V40 2.0 SE $49,950 $49.950
S40 2.0T $51,950 $51,950
V40 2.0T $53,950 $53,950
S40 T4 $56,950 $56,950
V40 T4 $58,950 $58,950