ROAD TEST: Volvo V40 T4 Excel
Volvo's shaking off of its 'square' past has been going on for so long now that's it's actually last century's news.
Yet with some of its more recent models, like the latest S60, I felt that the brand was just trying a bit too hard to go up the sporty road - to the point where it was no longer as comfortable or elegant as I'd expect a Volvo to be. Yet it never compensated for that by being as engaging as, say, a BMW. It felt lost in some not-so-happy medium.
That's why I approached this test of the new V40 with great interest. This is a hotly contested neck of the woods where it has to fend off the Audi A3 Sportback, BMW 1 Series and Mercedes A-Class.
Despite the 'V' badge on its boot lid, the V40 is more of a practical hatchback than a small estate, yet it brings some of the quirkiness of the previous C30 into a more versatile and useable package with decent rear legroom and a useable 335-litre boot.
I don't find the design exciting by any stretch of the imagination, but it is as classy as an Armani suit but without looking generic. In fact, it is quite distinctive and even a little quirky.
IT’S REALLY SMART INSIDE
But it was only upon stepping inside that it all came together for me. First positive tick - those front chairs are cushy enough to put chiropractors out of business. Great, the old Volvo is back.
Well, in all the good ways at least. You see, Volvo's marketing people have been talking about simplistic, elegant 'Scandinavian luxury' for years now but the V40's cabin is the first place I've really ever seen it in full swing.
The slightly-cheap-looking plastic surrounding the central air vents is the only chink in what is an incredibly classy interior armoury. And I'm nitpicking because I'm impressed - the facia is littered with shiny chrome-look surrounds and most of the surfaces are soft to the touch. It's a great place to pass time.
There are a few ergonomic gripes that come to light as you get going, however. The pedals are set high and the footrest has gone AWOL, so driving in traffic can be a cumbersome experience. The gearshift also feels a tad plasticy and notchy. Of course, these two niggles will only apply to manual models and perhaps Volvo expects to sell more autos.
The version I tested was a T4, which means it's endowed with a 1.6-litre direct injection turbopetrol motor, from which you can expect 132kW at 5700 revs and 240Nm of twisting force from 1600rpm.
SMOOTH OPERATOR
It's a sophisticated engine that gets off the mark with no lag, and it jolts you forward smoothly and without any real drama. On that note, my colleagues at Star Motoring achieved an 8.5-second 0-100km/h run.
While sitting just below the hot hatch performance threshold, the T4 is nonetheless a comfortable and satisfyingly brisk cruiser.
Keep things tidy and it's also relatively economical and you can expect it to sip around six litres per 100km on the highway.
At these cruising speeds, the T4 is notably smooth, quiet and refined and the ride quality ticks the 'very good' box over most surfaces.
Being a Volvo, they've also thought of every safety gadget they could possibly source or invent.
Yet while the City Safety function - that can automatically brake when it detects an impending prang below 50km/h - is standard, most of the other gadgets are relegated to the options list.
Haul out that chequebook and you can have the Blind Spot Information System, Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Departure Warning, Active Head Beam and even the much-hyped pedestrian airbag.
That's not to say there's anything unsafe about the standard car - you still get front, side and curtain-level airbags cushioning a structure that earned a top-notch five-star EuroNCAP rating. In fact, the V40 scored 98 percent for adult occupant protection and 75 percent for child protection.
The T4, in its most basic Excel trim, is also rather well kitted, with a power-operated driver's seat, climate control, rear park assist and cruise control all part of the deal.
VERDICT
Given that it (debatably) lacks the premium image of its German rivals, the V40 T4 is priced a little close to the mainstream.
Yet if you're prepared to part with just over 300K, the T4 could be a very satisfying purchase, especially if you're looking for something that's more cushy than sporty; and more quirky than mainstream.
PRICE
Volvo V40 T4 Excel (132kW) - R316 800
ALTERNATIVES
Audi A3 Sportback 1.8T SE (132kW) - R322 000
BMW 118i 5-door (125kW) - R305 436
Mercedes-Benz A200 (115kW) - R298 274
Opel Astra 1.6 Turbo Sport (132kW) - R298 500