Wilvo S40 test drive since 2007 sedan
Volvo S40: Young again
The well -known Swedish automaker, Volvo is famous for its prestigious limousines and car -like station wagons, although it cannot be said that its relatively small models are statists in the world market.All these 340/360s models, their successors of the 400th series were sold very well, even despite the fact that they were relatively expensive-Volvo after all. The volumes of their sales can be called good, and around the mid -nineties in this sector we went much better. The secret of this success is the emergence of a completely new model that continued the trends that appeared in the revolutionary bold Volvo 850, and possessed a fresh, far from a suitcase and a much higher level of comfort, security, controllability. The new family of sedans S40 was called, and the station wagon, as without it, received the designation V40. For 1996, I must say, it really was something ...
But sooner or later, even the best cars gradually become not so defiantly revolutionary, and if the process of their evolution is somewhat stretched in time, it may well be so that one of the competitors will take the place of the bestseller. So it happened with our hero. A few years after the start of sales, the revolutionary Volvo was lost against the background of the latest competitors, and all its merits became not so obvious and indisputable. The one -platform relative of this Volvo, the Mitsubishi Carisma hatchback, with which the fortieth series was assembled at the same factory, during the same time he managed to endure two serious modernization, as well as a radical update of appearance, and at present, the issue of launching his successor is currently being served. .
The Volvo, for nothing that the Swedish company now belongs to the Ford Corporation, stagnation has happened to the S40/V40 model: since its debut in 1996, it has not changed much. Although no, one serious change took place almost immediately after the launch of this car in production. Initially, this Volvo was called as S4/V4, but after the Swedes were sued for the use of other people's abbreviations (as AUDI sports modifications were designated), the model was urgently renamed S40/V40. It turned out everything seems to be without big changes, but at the same time, Audi has nothing more to worry about: these modest sedan and station wagon will no longer cause associations with its expensive speeders.
Such a long Volvo S40/V40 career can be explained only by one thing: in good demand for this model. Indeed, timely upgrades and light fit of the face allowed this car even six years after the debut to look one hundred percent. The design can be called classic, strict and prestigious, although a more serious adaptation of the Sorokoy’s appearance to other models of this company would not have prevented, and even more, without the branded huge rear lights in the shape of a ruby \u200b\u200bfamily, the S40/V40 family as a poor relative. If you put all the models nearby, then you can immediately see which of them how many years old: in the forty family there is everything that the real Volvo needs, but in comparison with more fresh models it is even defiantly old. Still, the development of this family was engaged in those ancient times when there were no such wonderful cars such as the VW Passat B5 or Audi A6 of the second generation. In other way, this car was created according to the canons of that time, and in today's car party it simply lagged behind fashion.
It was this, that is, the striking difference between Volvo S40 and other one-class models, and was the reason for the next modernization. She is another because literally a couple of years ago Volvo already made this model restyling, during which she underwent small cosmetic changes. Apparently, this seemed a little, and the Swedes, probably under the strict leadership of Ford's marketers, decided once again, let's hope - the last one, to correct the face of the S40/V40 family. Which, in turn, can indirectly indicate its ambulance: usually all manufacturers do this. And although there are no specific information or at least rumors about the development or tests of the successor yet, by all secondary signs, after all these maneuvers, he should, in theory, appear. Otherwise, the S40 will become not only a long -liver, but also a white sheep in the Volvo gamut - the model is already contrasting with more new ones, and then this gap will only increase. In addition, without replacing the platform and the appearance of the body developed from the zero, this model simply can not see normal indicators in the EURONCAP crash tests, which most buyers have recently focused on. The new Laguna II has reached the maximum result - five stars, and in the present form the forty series simply is not able to get it. And so you can question the main thing - the image of the safest manufacturer ...
But back directly to the description of the car. There are not so many changes in the latest generation of Volvo S40/V40, and all of them are rather decorative: basically it is a retail of appearance, designed to rejuvenate a little in order to reduce the gap that arose between it and other models of the company. Although, in my subjective opinion, one could not save - a more bold change in the Volvo S40/V40 design would benefit the model. The most noticeable touch is a false radiator grille made in the style of the 60th model. Only the drawing has been changed, but the result is very noticeable: only a large-scale mesh instead of the previous vertical stripes, and in front the car simply played. Indeed, there is no doubt in the talent of the chief designer Volvo.
Once again, the S40 model lighting is updated: this time the headlights have become not just transparent, but also separate, and separate reflectors have lamps of high and near light. By the way, it is easiest to find out the updated car by headlights, the car's gaze has become more closely and cold. There are other changes that are even more inconspicuous to a simple motorist: new front and rear bumpers, moldings. In the cars of the 2003 model year, fog lights, previously offered only as an option, are now installed in the standard - you do not need to pay extra for them.
By the way, about the standard configuration: it is noticeably richer than before. The salon has also changed, the dashboard now slightly resembles the S60, the three -spoke steering wheel is also made in its style. It is only a pity that in this direction the creators did not advance further. The central console deployed to the driver, which is available in the S60 and S80 models, would look even more spectacular on the fortieth. But there is no court and there is no court. But new seats appeared in front and behind, which allowed not only to increase the level of comfort and safety, but also to slightly increase the space in the cabin. In general, the style of decoration of the salon, as well as appearance, remained the same, so the difference between the models of 2002 and 2003 model years can be noticed only by a specialist and the owner of such a car.
Usually, when an elderly model of the latest modernization goes on sale, all dealers of this brand begins the sale - they offer customers various discounts and gifts, trying to realize the maximum number of copies even before the car is discontinued. About the same thing happens with the Volvo S40 of the 2003 model year: according to advertising leaflets, each buyer who ordered this car for a certain period receives several expensive options for free. You can get more accurate information about this action from the dealer, but one thing can be said for sure: the gift offers really profitable and expensive options, and not some kind of rug set there. But as for the retail value, by the way, a small inconsistent was obtained: in neighboring Russia, with all its dragon customs duties, such a car costs a little more than seventeen thousand dollars, and we have fifteen ... And even without taking into account these very customs duties, only The price of the car and the cost of delivery.
SUBJECTIVE OPINION:
(+) High -quality interior, pleasant appearance.
(-) relatively high price, small errors in the decoration of the cabin.
Text: Pavel Kozlovsky
