2009 Volvo S40 Luxury Car Review & Performance

When they were introduced for 2004, the S40 sedan and V50 wagon launched a trend at Volvo, and it's a trend we wholeheartedly endorse. These compact models moved Volvo from its familiar angular, square-ish look toward something much less frumpy. They're distinctive among so-called near luxury cars, and easy to identify as Volvos.

2008's subtle restyling was intended to bring the smaller Volvos more into line with the latest look of the flagship S80 sedan. These updates enhanced the S40 and V50, but didn't substantially change their character, and that's good. Both rank with the best looking Volvos ever offered.

The S40 remains subtle and original, but mostly very clean: sophisticated in its simplicity, but certainly not simple. Form follows function in this sedan, as a short overall length (for crisp handling and easy parking) was a primary engineering objective.

Rounded front corners (as well as a compact engine package) enable this shortness, and the rear corners are pushed in as well, giving the S40 a tight but still stylish shape. Sparse application of chrome creates a classy look, and last year's revisions took some of the black bits off the body as well. Lower door, sill and side moldings are color coordinated to match the paint. The doors are slightly convex, with high shoulders that add a sense of security for those sitting inside.

The S40 and V50 are Volvos from any angle, but it's most obvious head on, looking into the dark egg-crate grille with the diagonal Volvo slash through the center. Both the sedan and the wagon keeping the slightly larger grille from 2008, with its much larger Volvo badge in the center. Ditto the slightly reshaped headlights, with their more pronounced tear-drop downturn at the inside edges. The air intake under the bumper runs full width on the sedan, but is divided into three segments on the wagon.

Viewed in profile, a sharp rear end and softer front end give the S40 direction. The rocker panels are slightly wider in the rear, creating the illusion of forward rake and more motion. More dramatically, the sloping roofline quickly meets an abrupt rear deck. The distance between the bottom of the glass and the back edge of the deck is not much more than a foot. Yet all the lines, including the rear hips, cascade smoothly together. The now-standard 17-inch Spartacus rims, with their seven pair of elegantly thin spokes, fill the wheel wells nicely and enhance the S40's presence.

Viewed from the rear, the huge red taillights are trademark Volvo. They light with long-lasting LED elements rather than bulbs.

For 2009, T5 models are distinguished by a unique grille with the R-Design logo offset to the lower left. Aero extensions surround the bottom edge of the car, but they are small, body color, and tastefully subtle. More noticeable than any of these features are the T5's bold, five-spoke Serapis alloy wheels. Optional 18-inch Midir wheels are similarly five-spoked, but with rounder spokes that seem to stand out closer to the wheel's surface. (And they are available only on the front-drive sedan.)

In side view, the V50 wagon is created by extending the roof line and belt line back to the tail, with a slight diagonal angle from the roof down to the beltline. It's all very graceful, though from the rear the wagon's huge taillights add some gawkiness. They extend up the sides all the way to the roof, and we aren't necessarily consoled by the fact that they are nearly impossible for other drivers to miss.

With its smallest sedan and wagon, Volvo tried to provide the same sort of impact protection buyers seek in its larger vehicles. To that end, both the S40 and V50 apply what the company calls the Volvo Intelligent Vehicle Architecture, or VIVA. That means extra-sturdy anti-intrusion beams in the doors, and multiple crumple or deformations zones front and rear, built with different strengths of steel depending on that zone's location and function: conventional, high strength, extra high strength and ultra high strength. The idea is to dissipate or absorb the energy of a collision before it finally reaches the car's cabin, or the people inside it.

decent acceleration performance. They also offer a good balance between ride comfort and handling response, with a suspension that's firm but not jarring. The brakes are excellent. All come with a five-speed automatic transmission.

The turbocharged engine in the T5 models is wonderfully smooth and responsive, delivering acceleration that is both even and exhilarating. The five-speed automatic transmission works as well as any in this class, and the T5 can be equipped with all-wheel drive for an extra element of performance or all-weather security.

After subtle re-styling for 2008, the 2009 models are unchanged. There's more standard equipment for 2009. Automatic transmission is now standard on all models. The 2.4i upgrades from 16-inch to standard 17-inch wheels and now comes with the previously optional stereo, including a 6-disc in-dash CD player with MP3 capability and Sirius satellite radio. A power glass sunroof, front fog lights, power driver's seat, aluminum interior inlays, and Bluetooth wireless telephone interface are now all standard as well.

T5 models ge

The Volvo S40 and V50 are essentially the same car underneath, so when it comes to the driving, what goes for the S40 sedan also goes for V50 wagon. The V50 performs identically to the S40, despite the extra bit of utility that goes with its wagon body style.

These cars happen to be two of our favorite Volvos, measured strictly by how much we'd enjoy driving them as daily transportation. Both are quite comfortable, despite their compact size, yet both are nimble and lively when gathering up the miles. In short, these small Volvos can be fun to drive.

We've driven all the S40 and V50 models, and found no glaring shortcomings in any of them. The base 2.4i is an excellent choice for drivers who want a safe small car with good driving dynamics and fuel economy. Those who need lively acceleration may find it a bit soft on power. The T5 models offer better acceleration with their turbocharged engines, and livelier handling response.

The base S40 and V50 offer a nice balance of ride and handling. They're smooth, with enough power for most drivers. Even with its now-standard five-speed automatic, the 2.4i delivers decent acceleration and fuel economy (20/30 city/highway mpg, sedan or wagon). You'll just have to mash the gas pedal to the floor and hold it, to make sure the transmission knows it's time to go.

The steering is boosted just right in these cars, with light, distinct and controlled feedback. It feels firm and tight, offering the right amount of resistance. The torque steer often found in front-wheel-drive cars is not apparent in these Volvos, even with the higher-power, turbocharged T5 models.

The T5 version's turbocharged engine is wonderfully smooth, with 227 peak horsepower. Acceleration is quick and linear and the power band is broad, so the engine enthusiastically finds more speed no matter how fast you're already going. At 80 miles per hour it's only loafing along at 2500 rpm, so there's a lot of power to spare and pleasant, quiet cruising to boot. The T5 is comfortable at high speed, very stable and relaxed, which we learned on some wide-open California desert roads. It's stable at 100 mph and doesn't even feel like a front-wheel-drive car.

With plenty of power on tap, the electronically controlled five-speed automatic decides quickly which gear it needs and shifts down smoothly when you step on the gas. The upshift from fourth to fifth gear was so smooth that we only knew it occurred because we watched the tachometer needle drop. The automatic features a manual shift mode called Geartronic, and in the manual mode, it actually lets the driver control what gear it's in, without stepping in and overriding his or her wishes.

The T5 turns into corners a little more crisply than the 2.4i. It also leans less to one side or the other as g force builds, but it's hardly stiff. We drove it for a stretch at 30-40 mph over a terrible surface with a lot of big rough patches, and the suspension felt firm but never jarring. We could feel the wheels moving, but the impact didn't travel up through the car's body to our hands or the seat of our pants. The suspension isn't as firm as that of, say, a BMW, so it doesn't respond as crisply when driven very hard. The benefit is the Volvo's smoother ride quality.

The T5 AWD models have the advantage of all-wheel drive for improved all-weather safety and handling. The all-wheel drive helps maximize traction in slick, slushy circumstances by sending power to the wheels with the most friction underneath, doing its utmost to maintain the T5's forward momentum. When driven hard on dry pavement, the all-wheel drive helps balance the T5's handling by shifting power to the rear wheels. That avoids overpowering the front tires.

The all-wheel drive has its drawbacks, to be sure, besides the additional cost at purchase. It adds weight and friction within the T5's drivetrain, so it reduces fuel mileage, even in circumstances when no one needs the all-wheel drive, which for most drivers is most of the time. The front-wheel-drive sedan can handle foul weather. But the all-wheel-drive versions make the car more stable and easier to drive in wintry conditions, whether it's ice or snow or inconsistent.

We found the brakes strong, smooth and true. The S40 and V50 have conquered a longtime Volvo annoyance: a soft, numb-feeling brake pedal. The disc brakes are plenty big for the size of the car (at 11.8 inches front and 11.0 inches rear). We performed a panic stop at 75 mph, and the anti-lock brake system dragged the car to a stop in a direct, confidence-inspiring manner, without a hint of skidding when we moved the steering wheel to the left or right.

The Volvo S40 2.4i ($28,550) and V50 2.4i ($29,800) are powered by a 2.4-liter five-cylinder engine generating 168 horsepower and 170 pound-feet of torque. Volvo's Geartronic five-speed automatic transmission with a manual shift feature is now standard in both models. Other standard equipment includes air conditioning with cabin filtration, power windows and door locks with remote locking, cruise control, and a tilt-telescoping leather steering wheel with audio controls. Added for 2009 are a 160-watt, 8-speaker sound system with 6-disc in-dash CD player, MP3 capability, and auxiliary input; Sirius satellite radio; aluminum-inlay interior trim: power glass sunroof; fog lights; power driver's seat; Bluetooth; and 17-inch, seven-twin-spoke Spartacus wheels. The Climate Package ($675) adds heated front seats, headlight washers and rain-sensing wipers. Stand-alone options include metallic paint ($525), leather seating ($1,200), and Nordic Light Oak interior inlays ($150) instead of aluminum.

The S40 T5 ($32,350) sedan has a slightly larger 2.5-liter turbocharged version of the five-cylinder engine. Output increases to 227 horsepower and 236 pound-feet of torque. The T5 models also come with the five-speed automatic transmission, automatic climate control and, for 2009, the new esthetic treatment Volvo calls R-Design, featuring body-color spoilers and side skirts; and a two-tone (black/crème) leather-and-fabric interior treatment that also includes blue-faced instruments and other unique trim. Functional standard equipment includes all the features added to the 2.4i for 2009, plus memory for the driver's seat, heated front seats, and auto-dimming rearview mirror with compass.

The S40 T5 AWD sedan ($33,800) and V50 T5 AWD wagon ($35,500) add Volvo's full-time variable all-wheel-drive system. The wagon now comes with standard aluminum roof rails as well. T5 options include Keyless Drive ($450), HDD navigation ($2,205), and a Dynaudio stereo ($895) with two amplifiers, 12 speakers, and Dolby Pro Logic II Surround Sound. An all-leather, solid-color interior is also available ($200). Midir 18-inch wheels ($750) are offered for the front-drive T5 sedan.

Safety features include front-impact airbags, torso-protecting side-impact airbags for front passengers, and head-protecting curtains for all outboard passengers. All models come with antilock brakes and Volvo's Dynamic Stability Traction Control (DSTC), which senses and then tries to correct a potential skid. Volvo's Whiplash Seat Protection System, or WHIPS, uses specially designed seats to minimize potential for neck injuries in a rear-end impact. Volvo's Automatic Hazard Warning starts the emergency flashers in the event of a collision. A tire pressure monitor is also standard.

Optional safety features include Volvo's Blind Spot Information System, or BLIS ($695), which warns the driver of nearby vehicles that might not be visible in the mirrors. Active Bi-Xenon headlights ($800) point into curves and remain level over bumpy surfaces. Built-in, height-adjustable child booster seats ($300) are available in the wagons.