Review of the new Volvo S40 D3

No car of the Volvo S40's size is going to get very far without a good diesel engine. That's in terms of its figurative journey up the sales charts. In real terms, such a car could cover plenty of mileage with a petrol engine or a bad diesel, even some kind of steam engine might work with enough coal and someone to stoke the boiler but that's not the point. The issue is that diesel now accounts for a large proportion of sales in the small to mid-sized saloon market where the S40 competes. A good, affordable diesel engine can be the difference between customers signing on the dotted line or leaving in a hurry. It's lucky then, that Volvo and its S40 have the D3 engine at their disposal.

The S40 is a car with an innate capacity to confuse. It's based on the same platform as the Ford Focus family hatchback and Volvo's own C30 hatch but it's a saloon with a second tier premium badge so it's often judged against entry-level versions of compact executive saloons like the BMW 3-Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class. In reality, the closest direct rivals to the S40 are models like the Volkswagen Jetta (which is cheaper) and the Alfa Romeo 159 (which is larger). None of this will matter too much to customers if the S40's unusual make up suits and the D3 diesel engine should help ensure it does.

The engine is a 148bhp five-cylinder turbo diesel and very impressive it is too. The common-rail fuel injection system uses piezoelectric injectors which make multiple, precisely timed injections of fuel into the cylinders during each combustion cycle. It means that exactly the right amount of fuel is burned for optimum performance and economy. The unit serves up a useful combination of economy and mid-range punch. Get a bit sporty with the right boot and you'll see 60mph come and go in 8.9 seconds, although you'll need to be very slick at crashing through the manual gearbox to get anywhere near this time. The 9.0s that's claimed for the Geartronic automatic model will be more achievable for non racing drivers.

"The Volvo S40 has established a reputation as an uncommonly high quality compact saloon"

That's not to say the S40's six-speed manual transmission is in any way obstructive - quite the opposite in fact. The gear ratios are well chosen and the action is positive and precise. As with any turbo diesel car, the strongest performance will come in the middle of the rev-range, when the torque really starts to swell at around 1,500rpm through to 2,750rpm. With a peak figure of 350Nm being asked to shift just 1,504kg down the road, you just know that you're not going to have to work this motor hard to get the best from it.

Volvo has made some small incremental improvements to the car's look and feel. At the front end, the chrome-framed 'egg-crate' grille has been reprofiled and features a bigger Volvo badge. Clear lensed headlights and a wider air intake look a little more distinctive, while at the back, there's a revised LED tail light assembly as well as a modified bumper, boot handle and tail pipe design.

Drop inside and the key design feature remains. It's a centre console that's a softly contoured moulding featuring supremely easy to use controls and fresh air behind it. You can even specify aluminium or semi-transparent plastic finishes and everybody who gets in will notice it. This is one of the neatest interior design features of the last few years. More recently, the control layout has been altered while the centre storage area features a smaller handbrake and a revised armrest for better driver comfort.

Five versions of the 2.0-litre diesel-engined S40 are offered. The ES specification model opens proceedings followed by the SE variant. The ES model features 16-inch alloy wheels, a CD stereo, a height adjustable steering wheel, dynamic stability control and electronic climate control. The SE model adds 17-inch alloy wheels, cruise control, power folding mirrors and front fog lights. If you want to go further, the ritzier R-Design, SE Lux and Premium derivatives really pile on the equipment. As well as the D3 engine, buyers will also find D2 and D4 power options in the S40 range offering less and more power respectively.

If lighter weight componentry was used, Volvo could have maybe eked a couple of extra miles per gallon from the S40 D3 and improved upon the already strong 134g/km of carbon dioxide emissions and 55mpg economy. Volvo is a brand that's pushing to be recognised alongside the prestige German marques, however, so its products have to look and feel the part.

The Volvo S40 has established a reputation as an uncommonly high quality compact saloon that's a little out of the ordinary. The D3 turbodiesel engine merely reinforces its strength and seems to be the 'smart money' pick of the range. It's a vehicle that is very easy to buy and run and which imposes few compromises if the compact size is sufficient for your needs. A small Volvo that's genuinely desirable? That's about the size of it.

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