Back in October last month, I had the opportunity to test drive the latest facelifted model of the Volvo V40 Cross Country T4. The Volvo in itself has come a long way in their world-changing innovations since the first fleet rolled out in 1927, improving our lives at every step of the way in power, connectivity and safety.
Matched with the current stable of Volvo automobiles like the sedans, wagons, SUVs and cross country cars, the Volvo V40 is definitely one of the latest prime players on its fleet.
Comparatively with the previous models of what the Volvo range used to be like, take a chance to ride in the latest V40 Cross Country model and you’ll be quite blown away. This hatchback compact crossover has a boisterous personality with ruggedly sporty good looks to match.
1. Sporty, cross-country exterior
From the onset, you can instantly recognize subtle yet iconic changes in the Volvo design language. A familiar sight to the latest generation of Volvo cars, the LED headlights are T-shaped, creating a wider more athletic stance. Adding to the sporty disposition is the dynamic honeycomb grille at the front bumper, part of the styling element to redefine its distinctive personality.
Other unique introductions are the cross country style features of the glossy black alloy rims, side scuff plates, skid plates at the rear and interior styling to reinforce the sporty elegance of the car. There’s certainly a refreshing air of youthful characteristics that will play in well with the younger audiences.
2. Specifications
The drive to me was effortlessly smooth, fitted with a 2-litre turbo charged engine, and accelerating from 0 to 100km/h in just 7.1 seconds. More specifications below.
Engine Type: 4-cylinder in-line, 16-valve Turbocharged
Engine Capacity: 1,969 cc
Horsepower: 140kW (190 bhp)
Max torque: 300 Nm @ 1,300-4,000 rpm
Transmission: 6-speed (A) Powershift
Acceleration (0-100 km/h): 7.1 secs
Top Speed: 210km/h
Fuel consumption: 5.9 L/ 100km
3. Comfort
The hatchback compact V40 while compact in nature, do still feel quite spacious on the inside. Definitely one of the reasons could be attributed to the panoramic glass roof feature which floods the interior with light. Plus, it’s nice to glance up once in a while for a clear overview of the sky!
The inside was spacious, fitted with added bolstering that was comfy yet simplistic. All comforts aside, the driver’s seat feels quite ‘tucked in’, similar to a typical sports style. But it was quite a hassle to adjust as it could only be engaged via a pre-set automated system.
4. Dashboard customization
As with the V40’s dashboard, I enjoyed the clean-cut look, yet extremely versatile interface in terms of customizing your own functions to be displayed.
Standout features include the 3-option digitalized interface, complementing the futuristic design quite well as compared to the traditional analogue dials. That aside, I found there were one too many buttons / numeric keypads on the dashboard which made controlling the functions a tad bit too distracting.
5. Safety
Safety in Volvo cars are definitely one of the paramount features established since its inception. Amidst a slew of driver aids such as ‘warning notifications’, ‘forward collision/lane departure warning’, ‘city safety mode’ etcetera, the V40 also integrates the Volvo’s safety features of the keyless entry and start.
TL;DR
While there is no absolute symmetry in nature, the design language and features of the car is distinctively appealing to the young, sporty and adventurous audience. Perfect for a concrete jungle like Singapore, the Volvo V40 Cross Country T4 is a solid contender for hatchback cars.
What was most memorable about the drive is how nice and firm the steering is. My boyfriend and I were amazed with how smooth the ride is, we definitely enjoyed test driving the car 🙂
Article by Keith
Photos by Keith and Xue Wei
* This was a media test drive and is written in collaboration with Volvo Singapore.
With lots of love,
Xue Wei
Instagram: @anaffairwithfood
Facebook: An Affair With Food
About the Author
A foodie at heart, Xue Wei’s passion for food and travel translates to her daily snippets of her affairs on her blog and Instagram. A quality that’s reflected in features like her ‘Best Matcha-places to go’ and ‘16 Must Eat Taiwan Food’ in collection, where she hunts out the best hits in all of the places she’s been to. When she isn’t chasing her love for food and adventure, she enjoys photography, travelling, volunteering and spending quality time with her family.
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