The
2010 Volvo S40 is a compact premium sedan offered in two trim levels: 2.4i Sedan and R-Design Sedan. The front-wheel-drive S40 2.4i is powered by a 2.4-liter inline-5 engine paired to a standard five-speed manual transmission or an optional five-speed automatic transmission. The T5 R-Design is equipped with a turbocharged 2.5-liter inline-5 engine mated to a five-speed automatic transmission. With the optional all-wheel-drive version of the T5 R-Design, a six-speed manual transmission is standard, while the automatic transmission is optional.
Sporting a sophisticated exterior, the S40 is competitive, sporty, and eye catching. Inside, the rear seat is quite compact, making it more like a coupe than a family sedan. The S40 has received notable crash safety testing scores, and its gas mileage ratings are in the 21 mpg city / 29 mpg highway range, which is about average for this class of car.
New for 2010
For 2010, the Volvo S40 2.4i comes with a five-speed manual transmission, a leather-covered gearshift with aluminum inlay, electronic climate control, and adjustable front headrests, while options include a navigation system and satellite radio. The T5 R-Design trim sports adjustable front headrests, and the Preferred Packages add a power glass moon roof, keyless ignition, and a power front passenger's seat.
Essentials
Engines: 2.4L I-5, 2.5L turbocharged I-5
Transmissions: 5-speed manual, 5-speed automatic, 6-speed manual
Body Style: Sedan
Trims: 2.4i Sedan, R-Design Sedan
On the Outside
Even though the Volvo S40 exterior design is years old and has seen a few refreshes, it seems to have an ageless design that is a combination of pleasing proportions and stylish details.
From the Inside
The Volvo S40 features a slim, free-standing center stack between the front seats, which is very elegant and very Swedish. In addition, the controls follow a logical layout that is easy to understand and also very Swedish.
Driving Performance
Even though the Volvo S40 handles nicely, its 168 horsepower engine travels the 0-60 in around 8.4 seconds time, which is rather average; however, the T5 trim's 227-horsepower engine is much faster, at an estimated 6.7 seconds, but this speed is hampered by a slight bit of torque-steer under full power. Fortunately, the AWD T5 not only solves the torque-steer issue but also improves grip in inclement weather.
Safety Equipment
Standard safety systems on the Volvo S40 include antilock disc brakes, traction control, stability control, front-seat side airbags, and full-length head curtain airbags, along with whiplash-reducing front head restraints. Volvo's Automatic Hazard Warning system activates the S40's hazard lights whenever the airbags are deployed. Standard also is a tired pressure monitoring system, while blind spot detection is optional. NHTSA has given the S40 a four-star frontal driver rating, with five stars for the front passenger, side driver, and rear passenger.
Gas Mileage
2.4i: 21 mpg city/29 mpg highway (manual); 20 mpg city/31 mpg highway (automatic)
T5 R-Design FWD: 21 mpg city/29 mpg highway (manual); 21 mpg city/30 mpg highway (automatic)
T5 R-Design AWD: 19 mpg city/28 mpg highway (manual); 20 mpg city/27 mpg highway (automatic)
Plusses
- High-class interior
- Dependable handling
- Helpful safety features
- Comfortable seating
Minuses
- Cramped rear seat
- Could use exterior update
Rating
Stylish, comfortable premium sedan with sport coupe aspirations
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