Volvo V40 (2012 – 2019) Review
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Volvo V40 (2012 – 2019) At A Glance
Comfortable and enjoyable to drive, a good (if rather confusing) range of engines, fabulous record on safety.
Trails competition on interior quality, some iffy ergonomics and dated interior design, boot smaller than in most rivals.
Judged in isolation, the Volvo V40 looks like an appealing car. It’s very pleasant to drive, refinement is impressive and the engines offer a good balance of performance and economy. It also offers decent practicality and impressive safety credentials. However, it’s outgunned in several areas by key rivals such as the Audi A3, BMW 1 Series and Mercedes A-Class, and feels a little dated by comparison. That said, the V40 replaces ruthless German efficiency with sophisticated Scandinavian style, so it’s likeable nonetheless. Get the complete picture with our Volvo V40 review.
They say that if you’re standing still, then you’re actually going backwards, and few cars are a better illustration of this than the poor-old Volvo V40.
You have to feel sorry for the car, really, because in many ways, it did move things forward. As a replacement of both the S40 saloon and V50 estate, it had morphed into the premium hatchback that was proving so popular with buyers all over the UK, so it looked ready to take the fight directly to well-heeled rivals such as the Audi A3, BMW 1 Series and Mercedes A-Class.
Based on the Ford Focus of the day, it had truly match-winning mechanicals that provided a brilliant blend of fun and comfort, even by premium car standards. The engine range provided an impressive mix of performance, economy and refinement, while the cabin provided a competitive amount of space and practicality compared with rivals.
The amount of standard luxury equipment was also competitive, while the amount of standard safety kit was out-of-this-world. This was the first car of its type to include automatic emergency braking as standard across the range, paving the way for this important safety feature to become so widespread in today’s modern cars, something for which Volvo should be applauded.
However, there were one or two key areas in which the V40 didn’t move the game on enough, and they would prove to be costly.
The first of them was interior design. The dashboard layout was very similar to that in the cars that the Volvo V40 replaced, and this was a problem. For starters, that layout wasn’t all that good to begin with, and it meant that ergonomically, the V40 wasn’t as strong as it should’ve been.
It also meant that, visually, the design looked rather old-school even when it was brand-spanking new, and against the super-desirable rivals that the Volvo V40 was up against, it simply didn’t have enough wow-factor, especially in comparison to the recently replaced BMW 1 Series.
Things quickly got worse. Not long after the Volvo V40 arrival, new versions of both the Audi A3 and Mercedes A-Class came along, both with vastly improved interior quality, more gadgets, and much more wow-factor as a result. Compared with these, the V40’s interior was nowhere for desirability.
Reviews for Volvo V40 (2012 – 2019)'s top 3 rivals
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Inside of the Volvo V40 (2012 – 2019)
- Boot space is 324–1032 litres
- Euro NCAP rating of five stars
| Dimensions | |
|---|---|
| Length | 4369–4370 mm |
| Width | 1783–2041 mm |
| Height | 1420–1470 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2646–2648 mm |
Volvo V40 (2012 – 2019): Practicality
There’s a similar amount of headroom and legroom to that found in rivals, so tall adults will sit in reasonable comfort, although there probably won’t be all that much spare space in which to spread out.
Two small children in child seats will have space to spare, too. Like its rivals, this is also a car that’s better suited to carrying two adults in the back rather than three, due to limited shoulder room and a middle seat that’s narrow, hard and raised.
The boot of the Volvo V40 is a decent size at 335 litres, but it can’t match its main rivals on this front, and the narrow opening can make it tricky to load in awkward items like pushchairs or golf clubs.
There’s a very hefty lip to negotiate when loading heavy items, too, and when you drop the 60-40 split folding rear seats for more cargo space, there’s a pronounced step - and a slope - in the extended load floor. You can get a moveable boot floor to improve matters, but this costs extra.
Volvo V40 (2012 – 2019): Quality and finish
When it was first released back in 2012, the Volvo didn’t feel too out of place with the Audis, BMW and Mercs it was competing with.
The dense soft-touch dashboard covering looked and felt pretty good, and the various switches and buttons worked with a slick precision. However, the Volvo’s interior didn’t age as well as those of rivals, in terms of both its materials and its design.
What’s more, some of those rivals were replaced soon after the Volvo V40’s arrival, with cars that were significantly higher in quality than their predecessors, and which felt considerably posher and more high-tech than the Volvo. Don’t get us wrong, the V40 doesn’t appear cheap, and the build quality feels sturdy and solid, it’s just that it can’t match its super-impressive rivals for tactile appeal.
Volvo V40 (2012 – 2019): Infotainment
Early V40s all came with eight speakers, Bluetooth, a CD player, a USB port, and aux-in socket, and an AM/FM radio (DAB was a cost option), and it was controlled by scrolling through menus on a 5.0-inch screen using a rotary controller.
Now, we usually favour such systems over more modern touchscreen systems, but this one features long, convoluted menus and rather fuzzy graphics, so it’s not as intuitive to use as rivals systems found in Audis and BMWs.
If you wanted sat-nav on any of the trims, even the loftier ones, you had to pay extra, and this brought a bigger 7.0-inch screen and voice control. However, it was based on a similar interface to the regular system, so it was no easier to use.
When the car was facelifted in 2016, DAB became standard-fit and standard navigation was added to Inscription and R-Design Pro trims. Again, if you wanted to add it to Momentum or R-Design trims, you’d need to pay extra. It was the same basic system as before, too, so useability wasn’t any better.
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Child seats that fit a Volvo V40 (2012 – 2019)
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Volvo V40 (2012 – 2019): Prices
Prices chopped and changed over the car’s lifetime - as prices always do - but at about the time that the car went off sale, the cheapest version would’ve set new-car buyers back just over £20,000. The cheapest diesel version cost around £22,500, meanwhile.
The upgrade to a Nav Plus version was just shy of £1000 while the upgrade from Momentum to Inscription was about £3000. The priciest version was the T5 R-Design Pro, standing at more than £32,000.
This wasn’t a cheap car, then, although it was a shade cheaper than the Audis and BMWs it was up against. It didn’t hold on to its value quite as well, either, so used examples will also be a bit cheaper, and prices have had plenty of time to come down. You should be able to find several tempting examples - of varying types in terms of engine and trim - for below the £8,000 mark.
Volvo V40 (2012 – 2019): Running Costs
What with all the chopping and changing on the engine range, there was a fair amount of chopping and changing on precise fuel economy figures, too, although the ballpark figures involved were fairly similar.
According to the official figures, buyers of the Volvo V40 T2, T3 and T4 could expect upwards of 50mpg, although on the latter, that dropped to 46mpg on cars fitted with the optional automatic gearbox. It’s no massive surprise that the T5 is much thirstier at 35mpg.
Earlier Volvo V40 D3s and D4s made do with figures of around 65mpg, and these dropped to around 54mpg with the addition of the automatic gearbox.
On all these figures, though, bear in mind that all the testing is done in a laboratory, and replicating these figures in real life is notoriously difficult. What’s more, these are earlier NEDC figures, which are even more optimistic than later WLTP ones.
Insurance groupings on the Volvo V40 range from 17 on the entry-level D2 to 35 on the highest-powered T5. The T3 and D3 version you’d want, meanwhile, sit in the early 20s. Since insurance groupings range from group 1 at the cheapest end of the scale to group 50 at the most expensive, you can see that premiums will range from reasonably affordable to rather steep. If you really want to cut your costs, choose a version with as modest a power output as you can tolerate.
Volvo does an entirely reasonable job for reliability according to most of the various reliability studies doing the rounds. The Warranty Direct Reliability Index ranks the brand mid-table, while it sits in 10th place in the 2019 JD Power Vehicle Dependability Survey, well ahead of the industry average.
Real MPG average for a Volvo V40 (2012 – 2019)
Real MPG was created following thousands of readers telling us that their cars could not match the official figures.
Real MPG gives real world data from drivers like you to show how much fuel a vehicle really uses.
Average performance
78%
Real MPG
26–73 mpg
MPGs submitted
1234
Diesel or petrol? If you're unsure whether to go for a petrol or diesel (or even an electric model if it's available), then you need our Petrol or Diesel? calculator. It does the maths on petrols, diesels and electric cars to show which is best suited to you.
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- Engines range from T2 Geartronic to T5 Cross Country AWD Geartronic
- Readers report Real MPG to be between 26–73 mpg
Volvo V40 (2012 – 2019): Handling and ride quality
The suspension has been softened off to give a more relaxed, easy-going nature, and these attempts have been successful.
Most bumps in the road are absorbed in a controlled, fuss-free manner, and only the nastiest, sharpest-edge potholes will get anywhere near upsetting the car’s composure. That’s the case whether you’re plodding along a pockmarked urban street or hammering along a motorway.
And despite the cushy ride, the V40 is also still pretty good fun in the corners. Granted, it’s not quite as flingable as the Focus, but grip is strong, body roll is well contained and the steering is responsive, well-weighted and really precise. You might not be such a fan of the mushy, long-travel clutch pedal, which makes finding the biting point trickier than it needs to be, but that’s the only real criticism here.
Looking for a second opinon? Why not read heycar's Volvo V40 review
Volvo V40 (2012 – 2019): Engines
If you chose an engine with a ‘T’ prefix you’d be getting a petrol, while ‘D’ engines predictably, were diesels. For the petrol engines, the outputs in question were around 120PS for the T2, 150PS for the T3, 180PS for the T4 and 250PS for the T5.
The Volvo V40 T2 was just about perky enough to haul the V40 around with a reasonable amount of purpose, although it did need working a bit harder when rushing up to motorway speed.
The Volvo V40 T3 undertook that task with a bit more ease, and generally provided a useful bit of extra urgency, so it’s worth the upgrade. The T4 was a bit quicker, although the difference isn’t really all that noticeable in everyday use, while the T5 had some serious pace, seeing off the benchmark 0-62mph dash in around six seconds.
It’s a similar story with the diesels. With around 120PS, the D2 was fine most of the time, but the 150PS D3 provided a useful amount of extra urge on those occasions when you wanted to build speed quickly. The 177PS D4 was stronger still, but we never tried it in its later 190PS guise.
The T5 and D4 both came with an eight-speed automatic gearbox, which worked fairly unobtrusively, while the rest had a six-speed manual as standard, and it was quite satisfying to snick through the gears.
Volvo V40 (2012 – 2019): Safety
This is an area in which Volvo has dazzled for years, and the V40 is no exception to the rule. It was one of the first cars of its type to include automatic emergency braking as standard across the range, a move that has to be applauded, and is probably part of the reason that this important safety feature is so commonplace on more modern cars.
The occupants of the cars also have seven airbags to help keep them safe in a smash, and there’s even one outside the car to help protect any unfortunate pedestrians that might unwittingly get in your way. Unsurprisingly, the V40 absolutely aced Euro NCAP’s crash tests, with a maximum five-star score.
However, it’s worth noting that you have to upgrade to a high-end Inscription car to get parking sensors as standard, and even-higher-end R-Design Pro trim for a reversing camera. No version gets a spare wheel standard, either, with a tyre repair kit provided instead.
| Engine | MPG | 0-62 | CO2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| D2 | 60–83 mpg | 9.8–11.9 s | 88–126 g/km |
| D2 Automatic | 60–61 mpg | 10.5 s | 101–124 g/km |
| D2 Cross Country | 59–76 mpg | 9.9–11.9 s | 96–99 g/km |
| D2 Cross Country Automatic | 59–61 mpg | 10.6 s | 101 g/km |
| D2 Cross Country Geartronic | 72 mpg | 9.9 s | 101 g/km |
| D2 Cross Country Powershift | 69 mpg | 12.1 s | 108 g/km |
| D2 Geartronic | 74 mpg | 9.8 s | 101 g/km |
| D2 Powershift | 72 mpg | 12.1 s | 102 g/km |
| D3 | 60–74 mpg | 7.9–9.6 s | 99–114 g/km |
| D3 Automatic | 59–63 mpg | 8.4–8.6 s | 104–132 g/km |
| D3 Cross Country | 59–74 mpg | 7.9–8.5 s | 99 g/km |
| D3 Cross Country Automatic | 59–60 mpg | 8.5–8.7 s | 105–127 g/km |
| D3 Cross Country Geartronic | 71 mpg | 7.9 s | 105 g/km |
| D3 Geartronic | 54–71 mpg | 7.9–9.3 s | 104–136 g/km |
| D4 | 66–74 mpg | 7.0–8.6 s | 99–114 g/km |
| D4 Automatic | 67 mpg | 7.2 s | 109 g/km |
| D4 Cross Country | 64–71 mpg | 7.3–8.6 s | 104–117 g/km |
| D4 Cross Country Automatic | 66 mpg | 7.5 s | 112 g/km |
| D4 Cross Country Geartronic | 54–66 mpg | 7.1–8.3 s | 112–137 g/km |
| D4 Geartronic | 54–67 mpg | 6.8–8.3 s | 109–136 g/km |
| T2 | 46–53 mpg | 9.2–10.4 s | 124–142 g/km |
| T2 Automatic | 49–50 mpg | 9.8 s | 129–133 g/km |
| T2 Geartronic | 51 mpg | 9.2 s | 129 g/km |
| T3 | 46–53 mpg | 7.8–8.9 s | 124–143 g/km |
| T3 Automatic | 48–50 mpg | 8.3–8.5 s | 118–136 g/km |
| T3 Cross Country | 50 mpg | 8.5 s | 128 g/km |
| T3 Cross Country Automatic | 48–50 mpg | 8.5 s | 131–138 g/km |
| T3 Geartronic | 51 mpg | 7.8 s | 129 g/km |
| T4 | 51 mpg | 7.7 s | 129 g/km |
| T4 Cross Country | 51 mpg | 7.7 s | 129 g/km |
| T4 Cross Country PowerShift | 46 mpg | 8.5 s | 143 g/km |
| T4 PowerShift | 46 mpg | 8.5 s | 143 g/km |
| T5 Automatic | 48 mpg | 6.4 s | 137 g/km |
| T5 Cross Country AWD Automatic | 44 mpg | 6.1 s | 149 g/km |
| T5 Cross Country AWD Geartronic | 34–44 mpg | 5.8–6.4 s | 149–194 g/km |
| T5 Geartronic | 35–48 mpg | 6.0–6.1 s | 137–189 g/km |
Volvo V40 (2012 – 2019) Models and Specs
On early Volvo V40s, the trims available were ES, SE, SE Lux and R-Design. The entry-level ES version came with plenty, including alloy wheels, climate control, four powered windows, remote locking and a leather steering wheel, on top of all the safety and luxury kit we mentioned earlier.
SE added posher cloth upholstery, cruise control, automatic wipers and power folding door mirrors, while SE Lux added leather upholstery and bigger alloys. R-Design versions got a range of styling upgrades and part-leather upholstery.
Then in 2016, the trim structure changed completely on the Volvo V40. Momentum was now the entry-level trim, which was pretty much the equivalent of SE but without cruise control.
That box was checked by the more luxurious Inscription trim, along with ones for full leather, rear parking sensors and automatic wipers and sat-nav. R-Design trim was basically the same as Momentum but with more styling bits, while R-Design Nav Plus added (guess what?!) navigation, cruise control and parking sensors, and R-Design Pro trim topped it up with the leather and automatic wipers, as well as a reversing camera.
| Dimensions | |
|---|---|
| Length | 4369–4370 mm |
| Width | 1783–2041 mm |
| Height | 1420–1470 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2646–2648 mm |
| Miscellaneous | |
|---|---|
| Kerb Weight | 1342–1533 kg |
| Boot Space | 324–1032 L |
| Warranty | 3 years / 60000 miles |
| Servicing | 12000–18000 miles |
| Spare Wheel | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | Tyre-repair kit | ||
| Alternative | Space-saving spare wheel | ||
| Costs | |
|---|---|
| List Price | £18,995–£34,730 |
| Insurance Groups | 17–26 |
| Road Tax Bands | A–J |
| Official MPG | 34.0–83.1 mpg |
| Euro NCAP Safety Ratings | |
|---|---|
| Adult | - |
| Child | - |
| Pedestrian | - |
| Overall | 5 |
On sale until September 2021
On sale until March 2016
On sale until April 2015
On sale until July 2014
| Hatchback | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Version | List Price | MPG | 0-62 |
| D2 SE Lux Nav 5dr | £24,320 | 83.1 mpg | 11.9 s |
| D2 SE Lux Nav Powershift 5dr Auto | £25,805 | 72.4 mpg | 12.1 s |
| D4 Cross Country Lux Nav 5dr | £28,770 | 64.2 mpg | 8.6 s |
| D4 Cross Country Lux Nav Geartronic 5dr Auto | £30,320 | 54.3 mpg | 8.3 s |
| D4 Cross Country SE 5dr | £25,570 | 64.2 mpg | 8.6 s |
| D4 Cross Country SE Geartronic 5dr Auto | £27,120 | 54.3 mpg | 8.3 s |
| D4 R-Design 5dr | £25,345 | 65.7 mpg | 8.6 s |
| D4 R-Design Geartronic 5dr Auto | £26,895 | 54.3 mpg | 8.3 s |
| D4 R-Design Lux Nav 5dr | £28,220 | 65.7 mpg | 8.6 s |
| D4 R-Design Lux Nav Geartronic 5dr Auto | £29,770 | 54.3 mpg | 8.3 s |
| D4 SE 5dr | £24,570 | 65.7 mpg | 8.6 s |
| D4 SE Geartronic 5dr Auto | £26,120 | 54.3 mpg | 8.3 s |
| D4 SE Lux Nav 5dr | £27,770 | 65.7 mpg | 8.6 s |
| D4 SE Lux Nav Geartronic 5dr Auto | £29,320 | 54.3 mpg | 8.3 s |
| T5 R-Design Lux Nav Geartronic 5dr Auto | £31,900 | 34.9 mpg | 6.1 s |
On sale until April 2014
| Hatchback | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Version | List Price | MPG | 0-62 |
| D3 ES 5dr | £21,845 | 65.7 mpg | 9.6 s |
| D3 ES Geartronic 5dr Auto | £23,445 | 54.3 mpg | 9.3 s |
On sale until September 2013
| Hatchback | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Version | List Price | MPG | 0-62 |
| T4 Cross Country SE 5dr | £25,930 | 51.4 mpg | 7.7 s |
| T4 Cross Country SE Powershift 5dr Auto | £27,415 | 46.3 mpg | 8.5 s |
| T4 R-Design 5dr | £25,630 | 51.4 mpg | 7.7 s |
| T4 R-Design Powershift 5dr Auto | £27,115 | 46.3 mpg | 8.5 s |
| T4 SE 5dr | £23,730 | 51.4 mpg | 7.7 s |
| T4 SE Powershift 5dr Auto | £25,215 | 46.3 mpg | 8.5 s |
| T5 Cross Country Lux Geartronic 5dr Auto | £33,875 | 34.0 mpg | 6.4 s |
Good
- V40 awarded five-stars in Euro NCAP tests, scoring 98% for adult occupants, 88% for pedestrians, 75% for child occupants and 100% for safety assist systems.
Bad
- Powershift dual clutch automatic transmission requires fresh fluid every 3 years at a cost of £250.
What to watch out for
Report of gearlever of 3 week old Volvo V40 becoming detached.
10-02-2017:Emissions problem reported on 2015 Volvo V40 D4 (2.0 litre 184PS twin turbo). Car has been in dealer for 9 weeks.
27-04-2017:Report of door locks intermittently sticking in 2014 Volvo V40, just out of 3 year warranty. Volvo dealer quoted £1,000 to replace them all, with a 20% contribution from Volvo. We suggested a squirt of WD40. Apparently this is a widespread problem and Volvo has agreed to resolve the problem on V40s up to 4 years old.
14-05-2017:Report 2013 Volvo V40 T4 needing new clutch and single mass flywheel at 24,500 miles.
24-08-2017:Report of 2014 Volvo V40 D2 R Design making an unpleasant noise at 49k miles. Owner's mechanic diagnosed gearbox problem (though more likely to be the Ford clutch and dual mass flywheel).
15-09-2017:Report of wiring glitch on 2012 Volvo V40 causing loss of power steering, speedometer going down, SRS warning lights and other lights coming on. Owner finds whenever someone alters the seat or the car goes over a sharp bump these problems occur. There is a connector with 3 plugged wires going into it and if the owner turns the car off and wiggles these a little, on the next ignition all of the error codes and issues are gone and the car works perfectly.
26-09-2017:Report of multiple dashboard warnings from 2014 Volvo V40: no traction control no aircon sluggish steering no indication on the dashboard no speedometer and not starting or can't even switch it off. Bought from large dealer 5 months previously, so dealer liable.
21-10-2017:Report of pedestrian airbag of 2014 Volvo V40 being triggered by a pigeon strike and costing £3,500 to rectify.
21-12-2017:Report of clutch pedal of 2016 Volvo V40 D2 sticking at 14,400 miles. Faults found to be a combination of failing clutch slave cylinder and leaking crankshaft end seal. Repaired FoC.
27-01-2018:Report of 2013 Volvo V40 T3 losing power in the fast lane of M5 in December, 2017 with a message saying DSTC problem on the dash. Car was taken to local garage (where owner bought the car). Garage is no longer a Volvo dealer though is official Volvo repair agent. The mechanics could not pinpoint the fault, but Volvo recommended they change the ECM which they did at a cost of £1300+. A few days later the same fault occurred with the same message on the dashboard. The fault was still evident when the same mechanic took over the car, but although they have tested everything, they cannot find the cause of the car suddenly losing power and the fault has not occurred again.
01-01-0001:Report of rear door of Volvo 2012 V40 failing to unlock. Volvo dealer traced it to a faulty batch of central locking actuators affecting some early V40s. Advised both rear doors need rectification. Eventually offered to pay 75% of the cost. Apparently Volvo forums suggest this is not uncommon. See: 27-4-2017.
02-05-2018:Report of 2015 Volvo V4 D2 with 1,969cc 120PS Volvo 4-cylinder engine gumming up its EGR. This was replaced under warranty with a new system including a redesigned valve and pipework to improve the circulation. (Actually £600 worth of work and parts.)
15-05-2018:Report of cylinder head gasket failure leading to severe corrosion of 1.6 Ford diesel engine in 2014 Volvo V40 at 47,000 miles. New engine required at £7,800. Volvo offered 40%. But this is a Ford engine and can be obtained for less than half that amount.
23-05-2018:Report of engine light on dash of 2014 Volvo V40 D4 in March 2018. Volvo diagnostics say there is an air leak somewhere due to the EGR valve not closing due to carbon build up (at 40k miles). Not covered under Volvo Selekt warranty as no mechanical breakage. Needs stripping down to find the fault (£1,500-£2.000).
11-07-2018:Problems with April 2014 Volvo V40 D4 R Design. Wheel bearing failed at 3,000 miles. Engine light then started coming on and dealer modified the EGR valve, cooler and piping of cooler at 11 months. At about 8,000 mils Oil too full warning came up. Car trailered to dealer who serviced it early. Same thing occurred 10 months later in January 2018. (Suspect owner trying to run it on ordinary diesel instead of Super.) At 25,000 niles new clutch, DMF and slave cylinder fitted to cure grating noise when restarting using clutch pedal on start/stop. On last day of warranty occurred again. Now back with dealr who will not fix it under warranty because now 3 years and 3 months old.
13-08-2018:Report of Volvo V40 Cross Country displaying multiple dashboard warnings but when Volvo dealer applies diagnostics at £220 - £500, no fault is found. Owner says, "if you leave the car for a period of time and then restart it the fault messages often disappear by themselves." Advised to take to an independent spcialist.
10-09-2018:Report of an issue of battery draindowns of 2014 Volvo V40 D3 when parked caused by repeated RDAR Satellite seeking while parked up, even with engine switched off. Owner says this has been the subject of a class action in the USA vs Volvo for failing to admit/fix by a free software update.
04-01-2019:Owner of 2014 Volvo V2 D2 Powershift quoted £2,500 by Volvo dealer to replace the ATE Teves Mk 60 ABS/ESP module. Can probabky be remanufactured by http://www.ecutestng.com for about £400 + dismantiling, carriage and re-fitting.
05-03-2019:Report of clutch pack of 2014 Volvo V40 Cross Country D2 115 Powershift slipping when pulling away from a standstill and the car jerking slightly when being driven at a steady speed.
27-04-2019:Report of Powershift transmission of 2014 Volvo V40 Cross Country 1.6D2 snatching when pulling away from a standing start or a slow rolling start. All other gearchanges smooth. If it's a wet clutch Poweshift it probably needs a transmission fluid and filter change.
29-05-2019:Report of a/c pump of 2013 Volvo V40 leaking onto the aux belt, which then shredded and took out the timing belt, effectively scrapping the engine of the car.
18-06-2019:Report of failure of clutch slave cylinder external to the bell-housing of a 2016 Volvo V40 T3 manual. Only the slave cylinder needed to be replaced. Fluid had not leaked onto the clutch plates. Car had been in for 3 year service and inspection prior to terminaton of warranty just 20 days before.
14-08-2019:Report of "sudden failure" of turbos on 2018 Volvo V40D4 at 20,000 miles. "White smoke everywhere, power failure and engine over revving" suggests failure of turbo bearing oil seal and siphoning of sump oil into the combustion chambers.
10-10-2019:Report of "noticeable bubbling, hissing noise coming from behind the dashboard when the a/c is on" in a 2017 Volvo V40 Cross Country. Dealer said there was a service bulletin for this problem and had the car for 2 days, dismantling the dash to fit noise insulating lagging to an a/c pipe. When car was returned the noise was still apparent.
26-10-2019:Report of engine of January 2019 Volvo V40 T2 (not mentioned if 1,969 Volvo manual if 1,498cc Ford auto) stuttering when cold (as if it is overchoked), which makes it dangerous to pull out onto a fast main road. Problem escalated by dealer to Volvo UK, and it has been passed on to Sweden.
26-10-2019:Report of 2014/64 Volvo V40 D2 failing MoT and MoT re-test on excessive emissions. Following a good blast and some Esso diesel it still failed the retest although the reading had halved (though still over double the limit). It has been suggested to owner that the DPF might be the issue but no warning light or change in performance (limp mode). Volvo wanst about £1,100 with no guarantee.
04-11-2019:Report of problems with Powershift transmission of 2014 Volvo V40 D2 since the first year. Dealer said it needed software update. Independent Volvo specialist advised owner there is a transmission problem. Volvo dealer the car was purchased from new says Volvo can’t help with repair costs. Back in 2015 owner was flagging up transmission problems with gear changes, only to be told it’s a software update requirement.
26-11-2019:Report of smoke pouring from engine of 62k mile 2015 Volvo V40 D2 1,969cc VEA engine. Towed to Volvo dealer who reported leaking head gasket. We suspect the well known problem with the EGR cooler and the problem should be covered by Volvo.
03-12-2019:Clutch failure (clutch pedal stuck down) on 2016 Volvo V40 D2 at 70,000 miles. Might have been caused by fluid leak from concentric clutch slave cylinder, engine crankshaft end seal or transmission end seal.
04-12-2019:Entirely separate clutch issues reported on 2016 Volvo V40 2.0 petrol model at 25,000 miles, 4 months out of warranty. Dealer suspects failed clutch slave cylinder (requiring £1600 worth of work, as it’s a transmission-out job). Estimates a Volvo UK contribution of 10 per cent, but cannot be confirmed until the slave cylinder has been removed and the car is in bits anyway.
26-07-2021:Cam belt failure on 2016 Volvo V40 D2 Cross Country. Car was on its original belt (which has a recommended replacement schedule of 87,000 miles. Neither Volvo or its dealer is willing to assist with the cost of a new engine.
Model History
- February 2012: Volvo revealed all-new V40
- January 0001: Engine range
- February 2012: Volvo V40 R-Design and Cross Country prices revealed
- April 2012: Volvo announced the pricing for V40
- September 2012: V40 R-Design launched
- March 2013: New low emission D2 automatic and T2 petrol introduced
- February 2014
- September 2014
- April 2015
- July 2015
- February 2016: Volvo V40 and V40 Cross Country mildly restyled for 2016
- August 2019
February 2012
Volvo revealed all-new V40
Available with fixed panorama glass roof that stretches from the front windscreen to the backrest of the rear seats.Interior of the all-new Volvo V40 is designed around people with a strong emphasis on ergonomics, comfort and an engaging driving experience.
All-new V40 features Volvo's iconic ultra-slim centre stack, now in a more sculpted version than in previous models. The centre stack comes as standard in charcoal. Modern Wood, Shimmer Graphite and Centre Court (tennis-inspired look with a red stripe) are options.
Centre stack has a Silk Metal Chrome finish frame that enhances the décor. The same finish is also found in the doors and on the Instrument panel as well as around the centre display, outer air vents, start button and gearshift gaiter.
Below the armrest is a storage compartment suitable for CDs and other small items. It also features a connector for either USB/iPod or AUX, depending on the audio system specified. The armrest can be adjusted to provide extra support for the driver. Two cup holders and a 12V power outlet are integrated in the console in front of the armrest.
The gearshift knobs for the automatic and manual transmissions are transparent and LED-illuminated from inside. The pattern is reflected to create an exclusive 3D illusion. There are also LED lights in the door panel storage pockets.
The two-piece, 40/60, rear seat backrest can be easily folded in different ways when carrying long objects. There is a practical hanging load net in the load compartment.
The V40 is available with a new, fully graphic instrument cluster. This active TFT (Thin Film Transistor) crystal display brings the interaction between car and driver into a new dimension. The instrument cluster expresses emotional functionality, always displaying the most important information in any given situation right in front of the driver.
The five-cylinder 2.5-litre turbocharged T5 engine has a power output of 254 hp and 400 Nm of torque, including 40 Nm overboost delivered during acceleration. To achieve low fuel consumption and CO 2 emissions, internal friction has been reduced.
The T5 comes with automatic transmission and acceleration from 0-62 mph takes 6.7 seconds. Fuel consumption is 35.8 mpg (EU Combined). The mid-range offer includes two versions of a 1.6-litre GTDi engine: T4 with 180 horsepower and T3 with 150 horsepower.
The 180 hp engine offers maximum torque of 270 Nm, including 30 Nm overboost. This gives excellent drivability throughout the speed range. The torque curve is relatively gentle, resulting in a particularly comfortable driving experience. The 150 horsepower T3 engine offers 240 Newton metres of torque. Volvo's engine experts have managed to bring fuel consumption down to 48.7 mpg. This corresponds to CO2emissions of 134 g/km.
The T5 version comes with a six-speed automatic gearbox, while the T4 is available in combination with the automatic six-speed Powershift transmission or a six-speed manual gearbox. The T3 comes with a manual gearbox. Powershift operates in principle as two parallel manual gearboxes with separate clutches, a system that provides quick and fuel-saving gear changes.
The five-cylinder 2.0-litre D4 turbodiesel has been optimised for fuel-efficient driving pleasure. The piezoelectric fuel valves keep fuel consumption to a minimum thanks to exceptionally fast and precise injection pulses under high pressure. This results in efficient combustion. In order to give the car better driving properties, the turbocharger has been fine-tuned for high torque from low revs.
This engine delivers 177 hp and has torque of 400 Nm across a wide rpm range. Acceleration from 0-62 mph takes 8.3 seconds with the automatic gearbox (8.6 sec with manual). Fuel consumption and CO2emissions is 62.8 mpg (119 g/km) with a manual gearbox and 53.3 mpg (139 g/km) with the automatic (EU Combined).
In addition there is the 2.0-litre D3 producing 150 hp and 350 Nm of torque. Both turbodiesels are available with a six-speed automatic transmission or six-speed manual gearbox.
The D2 version of the Volvo V40 comes with CO2emissions as low as 94 g/km - corresponding to fuel consumption of just 78.8 mpg. The 1.6-litre diesel engine has 115 hp and 285 Nm of torque, including 15 Nm overboost. The D2 engine is combined with a six-speed manual gearbox and start/stop function. Other details such as smooth underbody panels also contribute to low fuel consumption and low emissions. The 1.6-litre diesel engine can also be mated to the six-speed Powershift gearbox.
January 0001
Engine range
| Petrol engines | Displacement | Configuration | Output | Torque |
| T5 | 2.5 | 5-cyl in-line | 254 hp | 360 Nm + 40 Nm overboost |
| T4 | 1.6 | 4-cyl in-line | 180 hp | 240 Nm + 30 Nm overboost |
| T3 | 1.6 | 4-cyl in-line | 150 hp | 240 Nm |
| Diesel engines | Displacement | Configuration | Output | Torque |
| D4 | 2 | 5-cyl in-line | 177 hp | 400 Nm |
| D3 | 2 | 5-cyl in-line | 150 hp | 400 Nm |
| D2 | 1.6 | 4-cyl in-line | 115 hp | 270 Nm + 15 Nm overboost |
February 2012
Volvo V40 R-Design and Cross Country prices revealed
The V40 R-Design is available in the striking launch colour, Rebel Blue, unique to R-Design, along with six other colours. Prices start from £22,295 for the D2 R-Design, still benefiting from class leading CO2 emissions of 94g/km, up to the T5 Geartronic R-Design Lux Nav, available from £31,390.
The V40 Cross Country is Volvo's answer to those customers that want a small 5-door hatchback but with a more 'off-road' and rugged look. As standard, the Cross Country SE is offered with autofolding door mirrors with ground lights and black mirror covers, 16" alloy wheels, rain sensor, textile/T-Tec upholstery, tread plates and silver roof rails.
The Cross Country can be further enhanced by specifying the Cross Country Lux version. This includes the ample specification of the SE, plus leather-faced upholstery, active bending xenon headlights, 17" alloy wheels, LED day-running lights, rear reading and theatre lighting.
The V40 Cross Country is available from £22,595 for the D2 Cross Country SE, up to the T5 Geartronic Cross Country Lux Nav with All-Wheel Drive, from £33,875. Both models are available to order now and first customer deliveries will start to take place in January 2013.
Volvo V40 Cross Country Wheel and Tyre Sizes are:
16-inch with 205/60 R16 tyres.
17-inch with 225/50 R17 tyres.
18-inch with 225/45 R18 tyres.
April 2012
Volvo announced the pricing for V40
Starting at £19,745 on the road, the all-new Volvo V40 enters the premium hatchback segment with a class-leading set of innovative high-tech features.
Volvo's first new model to be fully developed according to its human-centric, Designed Around You strategy, the car is the first in the world to feature a pedestrian airbag, an innovation which helps reduce the severity of pedestrian injuries in the event of an impact. The all-new V40 is also the only model in its class to fit City Safety as standard and offer Pedestrian Detection, effective at speeds of up to 22mph.
The luxury hatchback will be available in ES, SE and SE LUX trim with Bluetooth fitted as standard across the range. Customers are able to place orders now with production starting in May. Volvo expects the first customer cars to be delivered in September.
September 2012
V40 R-Design launched
The unique R-Design front features a silk-metal framed high-gloss grille with re-profiled front bumper and day running lights. The sporty stance is further enhanced with an ironstone rear diffuser, silk-metal finished details and twin exhaust tailpipes. The five-spoke diamond-cut wheels (standard with 17" or can be upgraded to 18") complete the stylish, dynamic look. The interior also gains from unique features such as the embossed R-Design leather/T-Tec upholstery, TFT instrument display, sports steering wheel, sports pedals and unique aluminium inlays.
Those wishing to further enhance their vehicle can upgrade to the R-Design Lux which adds additional features, such as embossed full leather-faced upholstery, active bending xenon headlights with headlight cleaning system, rain sensor, cruise control, keyless start and rear theatre lighting.
On top of the Rebel Blue livery, the V40 R-Design buyer has a choice of six other exterior colours. Prices will be announced in early October with dealers being able to take orders immediately. Customer deliveries are expected to start during January 2013.
March 2013
New low emission D2 automatic and T2 petrol introduced
V40 D2 and V40 R-Design D2 can be ordered with dual clutch Powershift automatic. CO2 emissions (EU Combined, preliminary figures) are 102 g/km (72.4mpg) in the standard and R-Design versions and 108 g/km (68.9mpg) in the V40 Cross Country.
Manual versions of the V40 D2 and V40 D2 R-Design (115hp) now come with reduced CO2 emissions, down from 94g/km to 88g/km (EU Combined), which translates to 83.1mpg. Corresponding figures for V40 Cross Country with the D2 engine are 99 g/km (74.3mpg).
New T2 engine with 120hp Available on the V40 and V40 R-Design, Volvo Cars has added a new variant of the four-cylinder, 1.6-litre engine to the range of direct-injected petrol engines. The Volvo V40 T2 has 120 hp and 240 Nm of torque. CO2 emissions with the manual gearbox are 124g/km (EU Combined, which translates into fuel consumption of 53.3mpg.
February 2014
99g/km 190PS/400Nm torque Volvo 2.0 litre 4 cylinder D4 diesel and 245PS 2.0 petrol engines added to V40 and V40 Cross Country engine line-up. To order in the UK from March 2014, but production of D4 not until September 2014.
Initially, the V40 can be equipped with two engines from the four-cylinder Drive-E engine family: the 245PS petrol turbo T5 and the turbo diesel D4 with 190PS. An 8-speed automatic gearbox contributes to the refined drive. The D4 engine features world-first i-ART technology with pressure feedback from each fuel injector instead of using a traditional single pressure sensor in the common rail.
EC lab test Fuel consumption for the manual D4 190 is 74.3 mpg (EC Combined), which corresponds to CO2emissions at 99 g/km. The figure for the V40 Cross Country is 70.6 mpg (104 g/km) with the manual gearbox. The four-cylinder petrol turbo T5 has 245 hp and 350 Nm of torque. Fuel consumption in a Volvo V40 with the 8-speed automatic is 54.3mpg (136g/km). All figures are preliminary. 27-3-2014: New D4 available with Geartronic gearboxAlso joining the new D4 in the V40 is the 245PS T5 FWD (front-wheel-drive) from the new Drive-E engine family. Fitted as standard with the new 8-speed automatic gearbox, CO2emissions have decreased to just 137g/km (representing a £350 saving on vehicle tax from the previous T5), giving fuel consumption in the combined cycle of 47.9mpg.
D4 and T5 are available to order in March 2014, however production start of the D4 will be September. A number of new options are now available, giving greater opportunity to personalise and enhance V40s.
September 2014
2.0 litre 245PS/350Nm Drive-E petrol turbo engine and 8-speed paddleshift automatic transmission made available in the AWD Volvo V40 Cross Country. UK orders taken from January 2015.
April 2015
All manual diesel Volvo V40 and V40 R-Design models (120hp to 190hp) now with sub-100g/km CO 2 emissions thanks to the arrival of the new Drive-E engines. New 1.5-litre petrol auto option introduced. New colours Magic Blue and Onyx Black replace Caspian Blue and Black Sapphire.
|
V40 Diesel |
|
|
||
|
Engine |
CO 2 g/km |
MPG |
Power |
Notes |
|
D2 1,969cc |
94 |
78.5 |
120hp |
Power increased by 5hp over previous D2. |
|
D3 1,969cc |
99 |
74.3 |
150hp |
CO 2 emissions and fuel consumption both improved (by 15gkm and 8.6mpg respectively) over previous D3. |
|
V40 Petrol |
||||
|
Engine |
CO 2 g/km |
MPG |
Power |
Notes |
|
T2 Auto |
129 |
51.4 |
122hp |
New 1.5-litre T2 Auto (6-speed) engine introduced. |
|
T3 Auto |
129 |
51.4 |
152hp |
New 1.5-litre T3 Auto (6-speed) engine introduced. |
Two new four-cylinder diesel Drive-E engines introduced on V40 Cross Country with enhanced power, emissions and fuel consumption. D2 and D3 manual variants both now with sub-100g/km CO 2 emissions. New colours Magic Blue and Onyx Black replace Caspian Blue and Black Sapphire.
|
V40 Cross Country Diesel |
||||
|
Engine |
CO 2 g/km |
MPG |
Power |
Notes |
|
D2 1,969cc |
96 |
76.4 |
120hp |
Power increased by 5hp over previous D2. Emissions cut by 3g/km to 96g/km. |
|
D3 1,969cc |
99 |
74.3 |
150hp |
Manual models now with sub 100g/km CO 2 emissions - cut by 18gkm with 10.1mpg fuel economy improvement compared to previous D3 |
July 2015
The gradual transition to Volvo's new range of in house DRIVe engines is confusing. Here is the current line-up for the V40:
T2 turbo petrol manual: 1,969cc 4-cylinder, 122PS, 220Nm from 1,100-3,500rpm
T2 turbo petrol auto: 1,498cc 4-cylinder, 122PS, 220Nm 1,600-3,500rpm
T3 turbo petrol manual: 1,969cc 4-cylinder, 152PS, 250Nm from 1,300-4,000rpm
T3 turbo petrol auto: 1,498cc 4-cylinder, 152PS, 250Nm from 1,700-4,000rpm
T5 turbo petrol auto: 1,969cc 4-cylinder, 245PS, 350Nm from 1,800-4,800rpm
D2 turbo diesel manual and auto: 1,969cc VEA 4-cylinder, 120PS, 280Nm from 1,500-2,250rpm
D3 turbo diesel manual and auto: 1,969cc VEA 4-cylinder, 150PS, 320Nm from 1,750-3,000rpm
D4 turbo diesel manual and auto: 1,969cc VEA 4-cylinder, 190PS, 400Nm from 1,750-2,500rpm
D4 AWD turbo diesel auto: 2,400cc 5-cylinder, 190PS, 420Nm from 1,500-3,000rpm
February 2016
Volvo V40 and V40 Cross Country mildly restyled for 2016
New LED ‘Thor’s Hammer’ headlights give it a new look shared with Volvo’s new XC90, S90 and V90. The V40 and V40 Cross Country are the first models in the segment to get full LED headlights as standard across the range. Also new are grille meshes featuring an updated Volvo Iron Mark.
Exterior update includes the addition of eight new wheels and five new colours to the V40 range, including the completely new Amazon Blue and Denim Blue, as well as three colours already used by other models in the Volvo Car UK portfolio: Bursting Blue, Mussel Blue and Luminous Sand.
Volvo has reduced CO2 emissions on its D2 manual powertrain to just 89 g/km in all trim level and wheel options.
The V40's trim structure has also been changed in line with the new XC90. Grades Momentum, Inscription R-Design and Cross Country.
A new upholstery called City Weave is added. Several new interior panel trims will also be offered: Milled Aluminium, Black Grid Aluminium and Stealth Aluminium. New tread plates will be added for the R-Design and Inscription trim levels, and an updated key fob with the new Volvo logo will be available.
The Volvo On Call smartphone app, which allows remote access and control over a wide range of in-car features, receives a substantial update. Volvo On Call already delivers wearable connectivity (Apple Watch/Android Wear), and the new Microsoft Band 2 connectivity now enables voice-control for certain features when using Windows 10-based smartphones.
Other updates to Volvo On Call include a calendar integration function that connects your personal calendar to the mobile app, allowing it to send calendar appointment destinations directly to your navigation on request. For 2016, Volvo On Call will broaden its scope and provide support for up to 10 Volvo vehicles, giving access to all the usual functions across a fleet of cars.
Volvo also introduces Flic button compatibility with Volvo On Call. Flic allows you to program a single physical ‘smart button’ to perform several tasks, such as locking your car, and can be used as a shortcut to Volvo On Call services.
Volvo now also offers support for Windows 10 with a new version of the Volvo On Call application that can be used on regular PCs and tablets to interact with your car.
August 2019
Volvo announced installation of Vodafone data SIM car in all 2020MY Volvos. Allows car and occupants to be fully connected, with a WiFi hotspot, access to apps, real-time traffic information and safety alerts. Access to up to 100GB of data, independent of the user's own SIM-enabled devices. Operation is seamless across 42 European countries and territories. Available for up to 12 months for no extra charge on top of the car's initial purchase price, after which customer has the option to extend the agreement and continue to use the service by way of purchasing a data plan from Vodafone. SIM card available on all Model Year 2020 Volvo models, with a simple retro-fit option for cars already purchased.
