Test drive 5 reasons to buy or not to buy a Volvo S40 II

The attitude towards the second generation Volvo S40 can be conditionally divided into three groups. Some consider it "the poor man's version of the S80" and therefore ignore it, others do not like it, since the Swedish model is in many ways similar to the Ford Focus. The third group of people does not pay attention to the other two, considering it an excellent choice.

In fact, all three groups are right, as evidenced by the history of the model. Its first generation came after Volvo became the property of DAF, but was built on the Mitsubishi Carisma platform. This was unsuccessful and prompted the Swedish company to part ways with the Belgian truck maker and embark on an adventure with Ford.

A second Volvo S40 shares a platform with a second Ford Focus, which also powers the Mazda3. The architecture itself was developed with the participation of Swedish engineers, and under the hood of the model are the engines of both companies. Ford is participating with engines ranging from 1,6 to 2,0 liters, while Volvo remains with more powerful 2,4 and 2,5 liters. And they are all good, so there are few complaints about the engines.

With gearboxes, the situation is more complicated. Both manual and automatic Aisin AW55-50 / 55-51 and Aisin TF80SC, which are combined with diesels, do not cause problems. However, Ford's donated Powershift transmission, introduced in 2010 with the 2,0-liter engine, is a different story. At the same time, it is more often sad, as evidenced by the numerous official actions of models with him.

However, let's take a look and find out what the owners of this model most often complain about. And also what they praise and prefer.

Weakness number 5 - the skin in the cabin.

According to many, this is not a serious complaint, but enough to ruin the mood for many. This is largely due to the status that the brand's models have won. Volvo cars are good, the quality of materials is high, but they are not "premium". So it's not entirely clear what to expect from the S40's interior.

The leather in it should be of good quality, but wears out quickly. However, according to its condition, it is possible to show the age of the car with great accuracy, since cracks in the seats appear with a run of about 100000 km.

Weakness #4 – residual value.

The indifference of thieves has a downside. As already mentioned, interest in the Volvo S40 is not very high, which means that resale will be difficult. Accordingly, the price of a car drops sharply, and this is a serious problem. Many owners are forced to make big discounts just to sell their car, which they have invested heavily in over the years.

Weakness #3 – Poor visibility.

One of the serious shortcomings of the model, which almost all its owners complain about. Some of them get used over time, but there are others that claim to struggle for years. Forward visibility is normal, but huge pillars and small mirrors, especially when driving in urban conditions, are a complete nightmare for the driver.

Problems arise mainly when leaving the yard or secondary road. Due to the wide front struts, there are several "blind spots" in which there is no visibility. It's the same with mirrors, the owners of the car say.

Weakness number 2 - clearance.

Low ground clearance is one of the biggest drawbacks of the Volvo S40. Those 135mm should make the car owner go fishing with him or get to his villa if the road is not in good condition. Climbing curbs in urban areas also becomes a nightmare, as the crankcase is very low and suffers the most from below. It happens that it breaks even with a light blow.

Volvo has tried to fix the problem by installing plastic underbody protection, but this is not very effective. Sometimes the front bumper suffers, moreover, it is quite low.

Weakness number 1 - closing the trunk and front suspension.

Every car gets damaged, and this happens relatively rarely with the S40. However, there are some minor drawbacks, but they are very annoying. Some owners complain about the trunk lock not working properly. The trunk is closed, but the computer reports exactly the opposite and advises you to visit the service center. This is due to a problem with the electrical system, the cables of which in this part rub and begin to break.

Another common problem is with the front suspension, as the hub bearings are the weakest part and are particularly prone to damage. There are also complaints about the oil filter membrane, which often breaks. Car owners are adamant that only genuine parts should be used for repairs, as the S40 is highly susceptible to counterfeiting.

Strength number 5 - the indifference of thieves.

For many car owners, it is quite important that their car is not among the thieves' priorities, but there are both good and bad sides to this. In the case of the Volvo S40, the main reason is that the model is not the most popular, which means that there is less demand for it. The same is with spare parts, as sometimes they are the reason for theft of a car. And with Volvo, spare parts are not cheap at all.

Strength number 4 - the quality of the body.

The owners of the Swedish model do not cease to praise because of the high quality of the coating of the galvanized body. Not only metal and paint on it deserve good words, but also protection against rust, which Volvo engineers paid serious attention to. This is unlikely to surprise anyone, since a model without such qualities will not be able to take root in Sweden, where conditions, especially in winter, are rather harsh. The same is true in other Scandinavian countries.

Strength number 3 - manageability.

Once a Ford Focus built on the same platform offers good handling and handling, the Volvo S40 should be on an even higher level. Almost everyone who drove this car speaks about this.

The model also receives high marks for its winter harsh road conditions and excellent engine response. This is not only a 2,4-liter engine, but also a 1,6-liter one.

Strength #2 - interior

Volvo S40 claims to be a higher class car and thus gets a quality interior. The ergonomics and quality of materials were mainly noted, because everything in the cabin is done so that a person is comfortable. Small buttons on the center dashboard are easy to use and the various systems are easy to read, combined with comfortable lighting.

Plus, the seats are very comfortable and the owners don't complain of back pain even after a long ride. Does not work on tall people who easily find a comfortable position. In other words, if it weren't for the already mentioned low quality leather, everything inside the S40 would be great.

Strength No. 1 - value for money.

Many admit that they settled on the Volvo S40 because there was not enough money for the S80 or S60. However, almost none of them regret their choice, because you still get a quality Swedish car, but for a smaller amount. “You get into the car and you immediately realize that you made the right decision with its purchase. In addition, it is cheaper to maintain due to the C1 platform, which is easy to repair,” is the general opinion.

To buy or not?

If you tell a Volvo S40 owner that he actually drives a Ford Focus, it is very likely that you will hear some insults. In fact, the owners of Swedish cars are calm and intelligent people. And they don't like being reminded of Focus. In the end, you just have to decide which strengths and weaknesses are more important to you.