Volvo V40 Review 2022 - Top Gear

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Car ReviewVolvo V40 reviewPrices from£21,150 - £30,435 8Top Gear TeamPublished: 13 Jan 2015

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• Overview
• Driving
• Interior
• Buying
• Specs & Prices

Skip 4 photos in the image carousel and continue reading1 / 4Advertisement“Volvo hits the premium hatch format on the head: the V40 is an impressive model that's a genuine Golf rival”

Good stuff

All-round abilities, classy interior, keen prices, very fuel-efficient engines

Bad stuff

At the moment, not a lot. This is a very able new compact hatch indeed

Overview

What is it?

You’d think that of all the posh car brands building a rival to the safe, sturdy, sensible VW Golf, it should be Volvo. But no: for years, Volvo has missed the premium five-door hatch target, giving us small saloons, small estates and small three-door coupes instead. By the law of averages, it was bound to stumble across a winning recipe at some point: the launch of the five-door V40 hatch is it.

This is a vital car for the brand. It’s intended to be a step up for Golf buyers, for those who don’t want the flash of an Audi A3 or BMW 1-Series. On looks alone, it’s there: this is a rather foxy-looking Volvo, and even the bonnet has been kept low and sporty thanks to the trick addition of a pedestrian airbag. Underneath, there’s a Volvo-ised version of the fine Ford Focus platform, plus a range of engines that shame even Bluemotion Golfs for efficiency. There’s no doubting the potential it possesses.

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Our choice from the range

VolvoD4 SE 5dr£24,115See prices and specs

What's the verdict?

“Great-looking, great to drive new Volvo should be a fine car to own.”8

Volkswagen Golf (Mk7)

£18,325 - £31,020 7

BMW 1 Series

£22,835 - £39,515 7

Audi A3

£22,500 - £37,925

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