A hothatch from the cool swedes

Volvo's practical 2016 V40 gets perky with extra turbocharger punch and some aesthetic add-ons

When an automaker one has known to be straight-laced for most of its life does something out-of-the-box or slightly atypical, one cannot help but take notice.
A couple of weeks ago, when we were told there was a new hothatch available from Volvo for test drive, we were excited. for two reasons. First of all, hatchbacks from this Swedish manufacturer are a bit of a rare thing. Secondly, when we heard the word hothatch, we were instantly turned on by the performance-affordability equation.
For 2016, Volvo is betting big on the 2016 Volvo V40, which, in hothatch format, wears a 'T5' badge (indicating performance), and an 'R-Design' badge (indicating aesthetic gains). We take a closer look!
DESIGN & AESTHETICS
Volvos are seen as beacons of automotive safety, but they aren't objectified like some German counterparts. The Swedes themselves refer to them as "Lagom", which roughly translates to "just enough". In fact, in the past, if you saw a particularly unobtrusive or incredibly average vehicle, chances are it was a Volvo. Of course, there have been winds of change at their design studio, as seen with the arrival of the new XC90 SUV. However, the V40 is an example from their transition phase.
The V40 is actually based on the Ford Focus. The compact segment classification it gets comes from its 4,369mm length, 1,802mm width and 1,420 mm height. What that means for us commoners is that it's a good size on the outside, easy to strut with alongside traffic - without getting nicked - and fuss-free in tight parking spots.
The whole car has a slithering look about it. The spearheading front end has slightly squinting heading lamps - and the sculpted hood, with its many creases that seemingly converge at the grille, make it look as if the car was caught in a moment of motion, even when stationary. Volvos have also managed to incorporate miniature strip LEDs to pose as fog lamps.
Of course, if brand recognition isn't your deal, the Volvo emblem - a circle with an arrow pointing diagonally upwards to the right, representing the ancient chemical symbol for iron - should remind you of its Swedish roots.
The height of the bonnet, partly determined by safety legislations, is sporting and low. It also incorporates the world's first pedestrian airbag that pops out from under the hood and covers parts of the windshield and A-pillar. I must say, this is the sort of technology that makes cross traffic and blind spot alerts look pedestrian!
The lightly raked windshield - that merges seamlessly with the hood and roof - gives it that inherent sporting silhouette. You also have a very muscular shoulder line - it sets off from the front lamps as large and flat, then angles itself as it flows over the hood; as it reaches the end of the rear door, it sweeps up into an integrated "hook", inherited from the legendary P1800.
The rear is an evolution of the C30s - the car it replaces. It incorporates large vertical taillamps and blacked out edges of the large rear window, and is characterised by three horizontal ridges: one on the roof mounted spoiler, the other a truncated body panel, and the rear bumper.
It's all about accessorising these days and that is exactly why Volvo has given the T5 the R-Design kit. Two notable features are the double round stainless steel exhaust pipes, ready to whisk out all the gases that create the 240-something horses, and the five-spoke diamond-cut wheels. They are appropriate gestures for a hothatch.
"Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it." So said Conficious, and he would be especially right if he were talking about the V40. The compactness makes it cute and the bulges give it character. It tries so hard not to offend your eyes that it's almost Canadian. Good news is: the neo-robotic looks are of the past now and fluidic lines are evident. Finally, the V40 is a bit of a unisex car; you can almost never know who is behind the wheel.
If you like what you see on the outside, you may want to get inside this Swedish sanctum of sorts. Like the Golf GTI and SEAT cars, it has a dark tone cabin with black high-quality surfaces everywhere your eyes fall and hands reach. It's a structured design with everything stacked over the other, as though on invisible grids. Again, bringing some light are the lovely trimmings of aluminum on the door handles, centre console, and air vent surrounds.
From the driver's perspective, the steering wheel and column stalks have a nice chunky look and feel. It's not industrial grade toughness, but feels substantial and tactile. The instrument binnacle has a customisable digital display that turns the background lighting from green-, blue- or red-lit, depending on themes. The signature floating console remains on the V40, which means your centre console is the size of a cutting board, leaving some useful and concealed stowage space behind it.
The highly stylised seats are upholstered, with a mix of microfibre and leather. Some may think the padding is slim, but they offer a great range of adjustability. However, getting into the front cabin might be a concern. Remember to duck and you should be good.
Entry into the rear is rather easy, but the view out of the windows is hindered - no thanks to the pulled back design effect, or shall I say, d-effect of the glazed portions. Once inside, it is a snug fit, with space even for the taller ones among us, on the outbound seats that have been pushed a little inwards. That leaves the centre passenger with a tiny seat and a transmission tunnel to deal with. We didn't see a sunroof in the test car - we are assuming it is to keep the structural integrity of the chassis.
POWERTRAIN & PERFORMANCE
Pop the hood of this T5 model, and you will be able to see the complexities of the force-fed turbocharged 2.0-litre inline four-cylinder motor, which is matched to an eight-speed automatic. I hear you say "Ooh, eight speeds on a cheapish car." Yes, more points for Volvo! You can start up the engine using the push button, but you need to insert the key into the slot, which is kind of counterintuitive and, in modern slang. lame!
If you look up the spec-sheet, you will read that the T5 produces 242bhp at 5,500rpm and max. torque 350Nm. That's some 25 odd horsepower than the mighty VW Golf GTI - an advantage you can feel on the tarmac too. You can confidently race away from the screeching start - typical of front wheel drive cars - to a 100 km/h in a claimed 6.4 seconds and, unlike turbo engines of the past, there is no lag here. This one seems to have power all across the tachometer.
If you factor in the compact dimensions and throttle-happy nature, this V40 makes for a zippy car. The braking performance is equally commendable; the pedal conveys the right amount of pressure and the car obeys. It's not just the shooting-for-the-horizons kind of performance either. The electric power is speed dependent and can achieve a 10.8 metre turning circle, which helps it swing tight corners with ease, while maintaining the heft required during spirited drives, keeping you interested in driving.
The Swedish manufacturer is also big on sustainability and it shows, considering 85 per cent of the car is recyclable. The T5 does not drink copiously, but sips fuel at the rate of 5.9l/100km, keeping it frugal, and emits only 137 g/km of C02. Features like stop/start technology and brake energy recuperation make it possible to stretch more kilometres out of the 62-litre petrol tank.
FEATURES & FUNCTIONALITY
Similar vehicles like the Lexus CT 200h, Golf GTI and Audi A3 have a bigger boot, but the V40's 324-litre boot is sufficient space to stow your large suitcase and more. There is added flexibility, thanks to the 60:40 split folding that renders up to 1,032 litres.
Safety remains at the forefront of the Volvo campaign. The City Safety system, which Volvo boasts so much about, can identify people and objects, and brake for you, if you ignore the audible alerts - it works at up to 50 km/h. You can expect the usual high-end safety features like blind spot monitoring, lane keeping system, cruise control, and tyre pressure monitoring. You also have standard features like parking sensors and a rear camera. The Road Sign Information supports the driver by displaying road signs in the instrument display and notifying you of speed limits. Parent folks have ISOFIX mounting points for child seats too.
In other cars, you'd have to reach out for a hard copy of the owner's manual but, in the V40, the tech-enthused can access a soft copy by a few turns of the knobs and a few clicks through the infotainment system.
In terms of entertainment, you can add a digital TV receiver to the seven-inch multimedia screen. You can also avail of Bluetooth to stream audio and talk hands-free. Navigation isn't available, but you can connect through Bluetooth or WiFi - it's pretty nifty. The 8-Speaker & 4/45W Amplifier system also creates sounds to set it apart from standard equipment in other cars in the class.
With the summer months closing in, we can vouch for the dual-zone air conditioning. It is also capable of maintaining a ventilation cycle when your car is locked, keeping things fresh inside.
VERDICT
The 2016 Volvo V40 T5 R-Design is a hothatch undercover. Its tarmac trolling dynamics will remind you that being functional, environmentally conscious and safe can be fun too. The fact that it currently retails at Dh109,900 makes it one of the best buys of the segment. Alas. it's missing some of that aesthetic aggression!
 
 

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