Test Drive: Volvo V40 D4 Geartronic SE Lux Nav

I am a fan of Volvo as a brand. Any car that is built to last and save your bones, whilst offering comfort and practicality, is a winner in my books.

It seems to me, then, that Volvo’s issue of late has been its perception. Unfortunately, it is a brand that a lot of people still associate with the over 60s. It is my guess that this is largely due to all of the points made previously: reliability, safety, and comfort all point to the right practical decision, but perhaps not enough to tempt those wanting to drive something that their friends and peers will aspire to own.

Those memories of the old 200 series as the ‘bullet-proof’ car – the choice of the farmer’s wife, the painter and decorator, and the antique dealer – must be hard to shake. It is testament, though, to the heritage of quality that you still see 20-plus-year-old models on the road today.

Whilst Volvo recognises that these models have been consistently good sellers (for the above reasons), the brand seems to have made some considerable changes in recent years, and the V40 that I found myself driving this week typified that point.

This really is one hell of a car. Mine was the 2.2 diesel engine, producing 190 brake, and every one of them assisted by a faultless eight-speed auto box. The combination of these two is an absolute dream, and having this kind of performance came as a surprise to many other road users throughout the test week.

This could, in part, be due to the aforementioned perception of Volvos and the unexpected vision of V40 bursting from the lights and disappearing in a plume of dust. Volvo drivers do not drive like THAT, do they? Well, they would if they had this model, I can tell you. And if they do not, they have bought the wrong one.

It really is a thing of luxury, with full cream leather interior with a Harmon Kardon sound system built in, and an excellent, easy-to-figure-out NAV and hands free interface. It just feels like a quality, premium car from the minute you jump in. I suppose you would expect that from a car that carries a price tag of just over £37K but, personally, I would rather drive this than most (or even any) comparable BMW, Audi or Mercedes. And here is why:

It is the combination of serious quality, understated refinement, and the newly-added prestige that sets this car apart. I get the feeling, as someone who enjoys cars and likes driving them to test the boundaries, that you are able to slip under the radar in this car.

I mean, most people expect BMW drivers, for example, to hog the road, break the speed limit, and generally upset other road users. In the Volvo, though, you have everything (and perhaps more, in some cases) that you would find in the other cars, but people will look at you as a caring and Highway-Code-abiding road user. For the most part, that is the case in my opinion, but I do like to get on with it sometimes and this car will jump into action within the blink of an eye.

It strikes me that this car, and others in Volvo’s current range, offer an excellent option for the senior company executive, salesman or even MD who wants to drive a seriously good motor without appearing to be ostentatious to fellow colleagues and, in particular, to clients. It is outstanding, one of my cars of the year, no question, and for lots (and lots) of reasons, I would buy one in a heartbeat.

That is not so far fetched either, because although the price tag is fairly hefty, they have rolled out some really attractive lease/lease purchase deals, which would put this within reach. It is well worth exploring if you are in the market. Volvo have pulled one out of the hat with this car. It really is a premium, high-performance car for those in the know – one of the best cars I have driven this year. This truly is the rebirth of ‘cool’ for Volvo.

• Model as tested, including options/accessories: £37,220
• Transmission: Eight-speed Automatic
• Engine: Four-cylinder turbo-charged diesel with start/stop technology
• Fuel Type: Diesel
• Power: 190 BHP
• Rev at max engine torque: 1750 – 2500 rpm