Wilvo S40 test drive since 2007 sedan

Volvo S40

The warrior must deeply understand what is correct and wrong. If he knows how to do one and avoid another, he gained Busido (Evzan Daidodi. Budosesin).
 
As it turned out, this commandment from the Code of Samurai is followed not only by the warriors of the country of the rising sun, but also by the Scandinavian Vikings.
 
On a strange field
Each car brand has its own trump cards: someone seeks to win the hearts of buyers in supernight, someone with a catchy design, someone is an abundance of the latest electronics achievements. Volvo also has its own fad: Swedish cars are traditionally one of the safest. However, the times when it was possible to stay on the market due to the presence of only one, even very important, advantages, have already passed. Therefore, willy-nilly has to fight competitors in areas that were previously not priority for this brand. In these conditions, it is very important to go the right way.
 
The appearance of Volvo S80 marked a change in the corporate style of the Swedish company. If the predecessors of the eighties sometimes received the title of the most boring cars, then the S80 was recognized as one of the most beautiful. Naturally, all subsequent Volvo models were created in the same style. It was possible to withstand it in the new S40, although, according to the recognition of the chief designer of the Gi Bourzhon, it was not easy to do this. After all, the S40 is much smaller than the S80 and the place for a characteristic beautiful line of the shoulders leaves very little. In addition, the new S40 became wider, higher and ... in short, which also complicated the task for designers, because a short, wide and high car had to make visually as smooth and swift as a longer S80. But the designers coped with their task perfectly. It is worth noting a rather original line of the front wings, covering the part of the motor compartment on top and reaching almost to the radiator grill. In a word, at first glance it becomes clear that this is Volvo, and the new Volvo.
 
The interior is made in the same restrained, minimalist style and is built around the central console of the original shape. The designers are especially proud of her. Note that it does not suffer from the abundance of buttons: the keyboard of the built -in phone, combined in one circle of four menu control buttons and four rounds, knowing the audio system and climate in the cabin, plus a small display. All. This turned out to be enough for the driver to manage the necessary service functions. True, some colleagues recognized the climate control algorithm not the most convenient. There are no comments on the ergonomics of the workplace: a steering column adjustable in two directions, a sufficient amount of seats with memory of three provisions, conveniently located pedals and a site for the left leg of the driver allow you to feel comfortable. The only thing that ergonomics was a little sacrificed for the sake of design is the shape of the handle of the gearbox lever. There are no big complaints about it for her, but there are many cars where its shape is more convenient. The spaces for passengers are enough both in front and behind, the materials and quality of the interior decoration are at a high level traditional for Volvo, and this does not surprise, but is perceived for granted. True, the most expensive modifications with 5-cylinder engines were provided for the test, so it’s impossible to say anything about the interior of the basic version now.
 
All vehicles provided for the test were equipped with in-line 5-cylinder engines with a volume of 2.4 liters located transversely. The power of the atmospheric engine is 170 hp, the turbocharged in version T5 produces 220 hp, and the maximum torque of 320 nm is supported in the range of 1,500-5000 rpm. It is noteworthy that in-line 5-cylinder engines fit across pairs with 5-band automatic transmission. And the T5 version is also proposed with a 6-speed mechanics, which also had enough space between the spaces of the motor compartment. This became possible thanks to a very compact design of engines, which are also made of aluminum and weigh very little. The new S40 is built on the general Fordal platform, familiar from the S-MAZDA3. The behavior of these cars on the road caused a lot of positive responses, but both of them are characterized by a fairly noisy suspension operation. In this regard, during the tests, the question was very interesting about whether the Volvo engineers managed to cope with the noise, because the S40, unlike C-Max and Mazda3, is aimed at the very top of its segment and is going to compete with the BMW of the 3rd series and Mercedes C-class. In addition, it was curious how well this chassis could digest 220 hp, who are on the front axle, because it is not a secret that 200 hp is considered the limit, and if the power is higher, it becomes difficult to overcome control problems.
 
Need a cold head
The route in the vicinity of Malaga was laid with knowledge: the organizers of the tests were clearly not afraid that in any road conditions the new S40 would behave unworthy. The high -speed highways, which pass between the mountains and consisting of almost one running turns, were replaced by dizzying serpentines, on which the asphalt in places was rather tuberous. The road either climbed into the mountains, then descended into the valleys, so on the 400-kilometer route there was where to show themselves to the engines, and the gearboxes, the steering, and the brakes, and to the pendants. In principle, a 170-horsepower engine for this small body is quite enough, its possibilities are enough even when overtaking on rather steep lifts. The operation of the automatic box does not cause complaints, it switches the transmission quickly and smoothly. However, it is more convenient to use the manual switching mode on serpentines, especially if you like to drive in an active style. The fact is that with this mode of movement, the situation on the road changes very quickly and it needs to be calculated at a few moves ahead. A computer that controls the checkpoint, although it has an adaptive program, cannot, if only because it does not see the road and cannot predict the situation, therefore it does not always switch the programs on time. So, if you want to ride quickly, it is better to count on your experience and skill. Moreover, in manual mode, the machine operates quite well.
 
In general, the car left a very good impression. Volvo is clearly progressing in areas where the company was not strong enough before. Of course, the Ford chassis owes an excellent manage of S40, but buyers will only benefit from this. Probably, you can complain that an electro -hydraulic amplifier does not perfectly simulate a returning force on the steering wheel, but these are already nuances that are more likely to riders than most very good drivers who will not notice this difference. As for the T5 version, fears about the excessive power attributable to the front axle were in vain. The 17-inch wheels provided a sufficient supply of adhesion so that the front axle at least on dry asphalt holds on to the road even with a very aggressive passage of turns. The 220-horsepower turbo engine deserves only positive reviews for its powerful, but at the same time quite even. Is it that in the city crowd must be more closely. The fact is that after 1,500 rpm, the engine, even with a constant position, the gas pedal begins to accelerate the car much faster. Therefore, in a dense stream, especially at the beginning of movement, this must be remembered and not relaxed, otherwise you can easily catch up with the running car in front.
 
As for the 6-speed mechanical box, then paired with this engine, it is not so much a need as a means of enjoying. In a calm mode of movement, you can easily switch the gears through one, the motor easily copes with this (a wide shelf of torque helps). And you can use all transmissions when you imagine yourself a pilot on the Rally Rally highway. Frankly, I did not want to indulge in a frenzied pilot for two reasons. Firstly, with all its power and excellent S40 controllability, it still remains a real Volvo, customizing the driver to reasonable behavior and not provoking it to extreme entertainment-this is more characteristic of Impreza, M3 or Carrera. And secondly, going to the limit for serpentines for T5 is simply stupid. There is no public road at all for such things, and the top version of the S40 allows you to ride so quickly that the price of the error becomes too high. So, behind the wheel of T5, a cold head is doubly needed. At the same time, the confidence that the S40 inspires allows you to get real pleasure from driving this car, including when fast driving.
 
Too right
All people have the criteria by which they evaluate cars lie in different dimensions. Some look at the car in terms of design, others are more important, the third - low operating costs, the fourth - comfort. And for the sake of these priorities, they forgive their cars with shortcomings, which are considered secondary. With Volvo S40, the situation is somewhat different. During the final press conference, when journalists were offered to ask questions, it turned out that there were no questions. A rare case when fifty journalists who always strive to get the developers of the car were with tricky issues were unanimous: they say, what to ask when everything in the S40 is right. And with noise insulation, by the way, they coped very well at Volvo. So it turned out a car, practically deprived of flaws. So, S40 is an ideal car? It turned out that there is another aspect - irrational.
 
When Guy Burzhon asked the journalists about their impressions of the car, he heard in response: some of you have too correct. This was said by a girl who has a decent experience in driving different cars and good car control skills. Nevertheless, for her, such excessive correctness meant the absence of something for which this car can be loved. But it was necessary to see how compliment her words turned out to be for Gu Bourgeon - he literally shone with joy. After all, S40 sought to do this. And this machine is intended just for those who live in measurement correctly - wrong, understands what this means, and can do one and avoid the other. And the fact that people living in other dimensions like other cars are not surprising. And so the perfect car is unlikely to ever be created.

Leonid Klimanovich
 
 
 
     
 
  

Source: Avtopanorama magazine