The V40 is the most prevalent Volvo here in SA – for good reason: It is a joy to observe, even after three years of production. The Chris Benjamin / Peter Horbury design has the kind of flair and flow that is more Alfa Romeo or Maserati than usually restrained Volvo. (This is also in stark contrast to the 2015 Volvo XC90, which is far too reminiscent of the 2007-2012 Hyundai Santa Fe or Audi Q5.)
The V40's design outdoes the predictable styling of the Audi A3 and VW Golf VII, its main competitors. It is advanced too, producing the world's first pedestrian airbag, in addition to brilliant standard features like City Safety – a system that avoids or diminishes low-speed crashes.
So the V40 offers a good spec level and a tempting substitute to the dull styling of the Golf and A3, and has the face of Venus compared to the 1-Series BMW's bulldog visage. But buyers who want more individuality can go one better and buy the V40 Cross Country (CC), the subject of this long-term test. More precisely, this is the T4 auto Excel – with the Advanced Pack as a possible extra. The pack adds the kind of safety features that you would expect in an S-Class Benz, on top the V40's inspiring list of standard issue safety gadgets.
So how about this Cross Country version then? After all, it is higher off the ground than the "normal" V40. Firstly, can it keep up with a Fortuner or Jimny in the rough stuff? And secondly, does the raised suspension ruin the V40's noble handling?
Like the VW Cross Polo the V40 CC is more pretend off-roader than Rough Rider. The six-speed autobox drives the front wheels (only the T5 has all-wheel drive) and the 12mm extra ground clearance certainly does not turn it into a Subaru XV. The other differentiators like faux scuff plates and rock sliders, add character, but are fundamentally cosmetic. The exclusion is a pair of sleek roof rails – perfect for one of those Swedish-made Thule bicycle racks.
The V40 is not just safe and handsome, but satisfying to drive too. It is no Golf GTI or Ford Fiesta ST, yet the Swede is on its toes like a boxer, poised for and responsive to steering inputs and changes in direction. The steering feels slightly vague, but its weighting feels right and it is neither lazy nor overenthusiastic. The car flows beautifully through fast bends and the tyres have more than enough grip for tighter corners. Sometimes the 1.6-litre turbo-charged petrol engine's 132 kW and 240 Nm (270 Nm on over boost) prove too much for the front wheels and interfere with the steering direction, something referred to as torque steer. This mainly happens on pull-away, but also under hard in-gear acceleration, when surpassing.
But maybe the most significant question is: can the CC go off road and return in one piece? We will find out when we take it to the Wild Coast. You can read about our Transkei tour in part II, when we will also tell you of the prizes you can win from Volvo here on MotorTalk.
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Source : articlesbase.com
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