Safer cars

Volvo V40 is a heavy sporty performance with advanced safety features.

Common people in India are not much familiar with the Volvo brand. But those who know how to distinguish between a normal hatchback and a luxury hatchback?, they would definitely know the worth of Volvo V40. And you can understand the worth with the fact that the car is an immediate rival to Mercedes Benz A-Class and BMW 1-series. That said, it is superbly built and it is not a plain vanilla sibling of V40 Cross Country. The front of the car no doubt is the basic Volvo design, but the drooping silhouette and 17-inch wheels add solidity to the overall design. Inside too, the Volvo V40 is no less than its German rivals with all black cabin, leather stitching, automatic headlamps, cruise control, rains sensing wipers, pedestrian airbags, City Safety System, all which have certainly aced the passenger comfort and safety. However, in the era of touchscreens, the 5-inch dial operated infotainment is still old-school. But the chink in the armour is the 2.0L engine which is more powerful than both Mercedes A-Class and BMW 1 series. Overall, it's a fantastic car from Volvo but with weak sales and service network, the buying decision is certainly an emotional one.

Is it crazy to spend over 25 lacks on a small hatch back Well, consider this. Your family could be safer in this, than a huge imposing SUV, that you could buy for the same money. What if its also luxurious and more fun to drive than similarly priced vehicles. Sound good right But there is a problem. If you had been driving a sedan for a few years, chances are, you would have thought about a luxury car at some point. And for me (and possibly others), only three German brands come to mind. So, when I think of buying an entry level luxury, Volvo was not particularly on my list. That was until recently. I had an opportunity to drive a Volvo V40 on a week-long trip. Within few miles of driving it was clear to me this was not the Volvo I imagined. This was fun. A couple weeks earlier, on a business trip to Europe, I had the opportunity to drive an A4. So, I had a good yard stick to compare. Yes, the A4 is a class above and almost double the price. But a good yardstick none the less. If anything, the V40 was far more engaging and fun. The V40 has low ground clearance. While it could possibly handle a bit of country side, it can?t handle the monster speed breakers in some cities. So, if you live in Bangalore, avoid it like the plague. Now that is out of the way, let?s look at the good stuff. Inside and outside, attention to detail is meticulous. Just look at the rimless rear view mirror. The Scandinavians make great and elegant interiors. It makes some German interior look industrious. However, the small TFT screen is disappointing and there are too many buttons. Who uses number pad keys? It has a thumping great sound system. Acceleration is rapid. But not linear. Lets say you put your foot down. Nothing seems to happen for about two second and then everything happens in the next second. If you want a lesson in how forced combustion engines work, this is a great example. The turbo kick-in will wake up the Sebastian Vettel in you. By the way, this 5-cylinder must be the best sounding diesel engine I have heard. Want more power? No problem. You can take it to your authorized Volvo dealer and say so. Unlike any other car in India, Volvo can perform an official engine mod for you, called the polestar optimization. Now that the good stuffs are out of the way, lets look at the great stuff. The V40 has the best brakes I have every tried in any car. (3-series, A4, Civic included). It gives so much confidence when you push the car. It has the best front row seats of any car I have ever driven too. Don?t know why. But it is genuinely good. I guess, Volvo sees both as Safety aspects. Naturally, they have to be the best at it. This Volvo is so much fun, I almost forgot to talk about safety. The 5-star safety rating doesn?t begin to explain how safe this car is. This car has airbags even outside. Yes, if you crash into a pedestrian an airbag would pop out of the front to help save the pedestrian. Wait, it gets better. It wont let you crash into a pedestrian or anything in the first place (at city speeds). The V40 comes standard with front facing radar and camera that will automatically brake the car, if it senses an impending collision. The verdict It works. I drove through bumper to bumper traffic, narrow village streets and highways and it doesnt intrude normal driving. It auto braked twice during my entire trip. Both the time, I felt it, it made the safer judgement. That to me is the greatest value of this car. If you are a first time luxury car owner, you are probably going to be overwhelmed with the thought of how much you would lose if you crash, dent or bump. In the Volvo, you will feel invincible. Whats more, it feels every bit built to last. If you think VWs are built like a tank, this in on whole another level. If the Volvo forums are true, this would be far cheaper than the Germans to service and repair.

Look and Style: The car has stylish sporty looks with well-designed edges. Comfort: Luxury and comfort is good and it is very convenient car.... The front seats are comfortable too. Pickup: Good pickup, good acceleration. Mileage: Awsome in its class, good in mileage. Best Features: The best thing is the safety features of the car. Needs to improve: Groud clearance is less according to the Indian roads. If it would have been increased a bit, no other car can beat it. Overall Experience: Overall, it's been a nice experience owning this car.

Volvo V40 cross country is another luxury vehicle from the stable of Swedish company Volvo cars. Currently it is launched with only diesel engine. The car is little expensive for the people like us but after seeing its impressive features the price can be compromised. It is loaded with all those features which is available in this segment. It has 2.0-litre turbo charged diesel engine with the displacement of 1984cc and returns the fuel economy of 16.81 kmpl. The acceleration and pick up of the cross country is quite good and with the top speed of 205 kmph which is quite thrilling for the passengers sitting inside but at the same time Volvo V40 can reach the speed of 100 kmph in quite a few seconds. Because of its engine quality there are no any vibration for the occupants inside the car and the road grip is also impressive.   The look of the car is quite inviting with lot of exterior qualities and with plush interiors. The interior of the vehicle is equipped with air conditioner, adjustable multi functional steering wheel which is covered with leather, digital clock and many other such aspects to makes the occupants feel good while touring. Apart from these it is loaded with power steering, power windows, fuel and lid opener are controlled by remote, reading lamp and the arm rest for the back passengers, height adjustable front seat belt, cup holders for both front and back occupants, multi functional steering wheel, cruise control and lot of aspects for comfort and convenience. For the entertainment of the passengers the cross over has an advanced audio unit with DVD player, radio and four speakers which can be controlled by remote and was soothing and played good music and entertain the persons sitting inside while long journey.