Volvo / S40 / SE sedan
Overview
NO longer the orphan of the local Volvo range, the all-new S40 is a trail-breaking car for the company.
It finally introduces competitive road behaviour into the mix.
Bearing the trademark Volvo design started with the S80 in 1998, the S40 is a well-proportioned, good-looking prestige sedan boasting the familiar Volvo values of safety, quality and comfort, with market-competitive ride and handling now added as a bonus.
Five-cylinder engines for all models and an ergonomic, fresh interior elevate the small Volvo into contention as a real challenger to BMW, Audi and Mercedes-Benz.
Model release dates: June 2004 - January 2006
Previous model
THE original S40, which replaced Volvo's boxy 440 sedan, went on sale in Australia in February 1997 with a 103kW/183Nm 2.0-litre engine. Later that year the range-topping S40 T4 sedan was made available with a 147kW/300Nm turbo engine, while 118kW/230Nm turbocharged 2.0T and 2.0T SE versions arrived here in February 1998 and July 1999 respectively. A 2.0 SE variant - and a new 90kW//170Nm 1.8 entry version - joined the S40 range here in July 1999. The new S40 lobs here in 2004 exclusively with 125kW/230Nm and turbocharged 162kW/320Nm five-cylinder engines.
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