Little Volvos were weird right from the start. They appeared in the model range of the Swedish company mainly due to the purchase of the DAF passenger department in 1972. There, at that time, they made small DAF 66 cars, which, accordingly, became Volvo 66. But the Swedes did not want to do badge engineering and tried to do something of their own. And now the rear-wheel drive Volvo 340 family appears with its extremely capricious and fragile CVT. The experience was found to be unsuccessful.

Models 440/460/480 appear next, but… something doesn't work either. It looks like the NedCar plant, which the company inherited from DAF, is somehow unlucky ... They want to close it, but the government comes to the rescue, and now a joint venture with Mitsubishi is being created and a new pair of soplatform cars appears, Mitsubishi Carisma and Volvo S40. the plant revives again.

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Volvo 440, 460, 480

But for the Swedes, the experience again turned out to be not very successful from a financial point of view, and by 2001 they sold their share in the enterprise and stopped producing the first generation "fortieth" by 2004. And in 2003 the second version of the Volvo S40 was released, which will be my story today. She had nothing to do with the Netherlands and the DAF legacy from the beginning - it seems to be good for her!

Not Focus at all

Volvo S40 II

Many motorists undeservedly consider the second generation S40 to be just a copy of the mega-popular Ford Focus II. They are not entirely correct. Indeed, Swedish engineers took an active part in the development of the C1 platform, on which the Focus, Mazda 3 and several other models are built. That is why the “second” Focus is so large and surprisingly comfortable for its class - there is a fraction of premium Scandinavian blood in its genes. Take a look, because in design it is much closer to the S40 than to its relatives in the concern, and he got the Volvo engines - for the RS and ST versions, they had a Swedish turbocharged "five" in store. But back to the S40, which shares about 60% of the parts with Ford, for which fans of the brand consider it a "fake Volvo."

Ford Focus II

The transfer of production to Belgium, to a factory in Ghent, had a positive effect on quality. And the car itself was a success, unlike its ancestors, it really was a "little Volvo", and not a foundling. Comfort, style, all corporate conventions and "chips" in terms of safety and controllability were observed. This is not to say that the car has become mega-popular, but sales have gone up the hill. The second generation S40 was produced from 2003 to 2012, the total production volume was about three hundred thousand cars. The C1 platform, underlying these machines, found its continuation in the EUCD platform, on which all modern cars of this brand are created, so that disputes about "authenticity" can definitely be stopped there and finally admit an obvious fact. The partnership with Ford has had a profound impact on the company and has led to the development of some of the most successful and scalable platforms in the global market. And the little Volvo did not lose at all from this - the relationship with some of the most popular cars in the world made it inexpensive to operate, but still of high quality in Swedish.

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Design features

The design of the S40 is quite traditional. Carrying body, with front and rear subframes. Independent suspension, front - MacPherson strut, rear - multi-link. The range of motors is recruited from Ford units, but the most powerful engines are from the Volvo series of in-line "fives". Gearboxes here are also either Ford or Japanese Aisin, for which the Swedes were one of the main customers of automatic transmissions. Unlike the simpler Ford and Mazda, Volvo also has an all-wheel drive option. The main difference from the mass platform relatives is the build quality, colors, the number of options and, of course, the abundance of powerful options.

Most of the cars have a 2- or 2.4-liter engine and an automatic transmission under the hood. Well, the quality of the paintwork allows you not to think about how to sell an already rusty five-year-old car with maximum profit. The Swedes still make sturdy and long-lasting cars. However, there are enough difficulties.

Breakdowns and problems in operation

Body and interior

The body is very well painted and also made of galvanized metal. The bottom is protected by a thick layer of mastic and many plastic elements, from lockers to sills with aerodynamic panels. The body is noticeably heavier than that of soplatformenniki - thicker body panels, much more noise-insulating materials and a higher quality of performance of almost all interior elements are used on Volvo. The junior series does not reach the monumentality of at least the "average" S60, but the comparison with classmates will easily win. The main body problems are associated with the difficulties of recovery from accidents, the price of new parts, and the absence of non-original elements, and a lot of seemingly secondary parts that are not especially needed, affect here. But after a cheap repair, the car ceases to be quiet and comfortable.

The interior is strong and only on very old cars does it start to get crickets, but the materials of the seats, door cards and a little - the electrician fail. Unfortunately, most of the seats are made of artificial leather, and after three to five years of use they already look shabby. The steering wheel, door cards of the front doors and control elements, buttons and handles, are badly rubbed. But that's half the problem.

After five to seven years, the interior equipment begins to fail more often and more strongly. For example, the power window unit may fail, it is located in the door, and its tightness is insufficient, or the guides of the power windows themselves may break. Immobilizer and electric seat drives will malfunction. Even on older cars, problems with the drives of the climate system appear, but they are very rare. In general, do not expect absolute reliability, but in comparison with almost any modern car, the S40 is a role model.

Electrician

This is not to say that there are no problems at all. Rather, there are no major problems. Salon "little things" have already been mentioned above. To them should be added the problems with the trunk lid harness, which are almost universally found at the age of three years. Also at risk are engine cooling fans, adaptive optics, xenon ignition units, a gas pump and a weak generator on cars with a 1.6-liter engine.

But here again the car is almost a role model, even very old people should not annoy with failures and at the cost of solving them. If something breaks, it is usually either not very expensive or it can be repaired successfully. Unless it is difficult to change the gas pump - there is no hatch in the cabin, you need to remove the gas tank to replace it, and the pump itself fails too often, and the fuel level sensor in the tank also breaks down more often than we would like. By the way, many owners cut out the hatch for replacement on their own - do not be alarmed, this greatly facilitates maintenance in the future.

Chassis

Common suspension components in one of the most common machines in Europe are not only low maintenance costs and a large number of "non-original" excellent quality in stock, but also good reliability. And if there are no items in the Ford catalog - it doesn't matter, look at Mazda catalogs. Most of the suspension components have a resource of at least 100 thousand kilometers, and often more. As usual, most often require replacement of the struts and bushings of anti-roll bars, and the rear silent blocks of the front arm. On cars that are often operated at full load, the resource of the rear suspension is greatly reduced, but it is unlikely that it will go less than 50-60 thousand kilometers even on bad roads and with two riders in the back.

Here wheel bearings are short-lived. The driving range of the original ones fluctuates in the range of 50-100 thousand kilometers, but drops sharply after forcing deep puddles - the bearings have poor tightness. Non-original ones often go even less. Moreover, the "native" Volvo hub also has studs 5 mm longer, and an additional oil seal on the reverse side, in contrast to the Ford and most of the non-original. Those whose hubs come out too often try to modify the design by stuffing grease under the dust cover or installing other protection. Traditionally for Volvo, the Nivomat body leveling system is among the options. With it, the cost of shock absorbers is overestimated several times, but the problem is solved in the usual way - by installing standard suspension elements. The cost of "ordinary" shock absorbers - no surprises. The difficulty lies elsewhere, there are more than a dozen versions of the suspension in terms of height and rigidity, and during repairs you need to be careful so as not to spoil the controllability of the car. The braking system on cars does not present any special surprises either. The relatively low price of brakes on cars with engines up to two liters is further reduced if you look at the details from Fords. On more powerful machines, the components are slightly more expensive. The rest is a reliable ABS, well-placed brake lines and reliable hoses.

Steering on cars with a 1.6 engine is no surprises at all, a conventional power steering pump and a rack. Tapping on it with runs over 150 is a common thing, but with proper operation, it will not flow. But with engines from 1.8 liters there are difficulties - here EGUR. The pump drive here is not from the engine, but from a separate electric motor. In theory, the system is more convenient and economical. In fact, with minimal fluid leaks from the system, it is airborne, the pump starts to "whine" and breaks down very easily. Unlike a similar Ford system, you can add fluid here - there is a filler neck. However, the pump still remains extremely vulnerable and in the fifth or sixth year of life may fail even if everything is in order with the fluids, simply having exhausted the resource of the electric motor. The replacement cost is about 40 thousand rubles, but over the past few years there have been proposals for refurbished parts or work to restore this element. For 2.4 engines there are good kits for installing a standard power steering pump - the pump itself and the connection lines. This option is for those who want to get rid of the problem of the "progressive" amplifier forever.

Transmission

Manual transmissions are traditionally reliable. And the Swedes avoided the problem that the Ford Focus 2 has - a reinforced box is installed on the 1.8 engine. On rare all-wheel drive cars with a 2.5 engine and a Haldex clutch, do not forget about changing the oil in the clutch and take care of the gearbox, especially if the engine is boosted to 300 hp. With. and more. Sometimes, with rough shifts, it "cuts" the upper gears with a stock engine, to say nothing of tuning. There are no special problems with automatic transmission. The Aisin AW55-50 / 55-51 series boxes already familiar from other Volvos were installed on the car. The problems of this box have long been known, and the resource is quite predictable. With quiet driving and regular oil changes every 60 thousand kilometers, you can count on 200 thousand resources before the first serious breakdowns. With more frequent oil changes, the resource may be even longer. But most often these boxes still overheat, they clog the valve body, which successfully disables the mechanical part of the unit. One has only to put on an unsuccessful crankcase protection, overheat the engine or automatic transmission, or simply not change the oil until the "first call" ...

The good news: repairs are not that expensive, spare parts are widely available, the box is well known in services, and there have long been means of extending its life. To do this, put a non-standard automatic transmission radiator and change the oil often, every 30-40 thousand kilometers, depending on from the style of movement. Since 2010, a more "fresh" Aisin TF80SC box has appeared on diesel engines, but since there are almost no cars with diesel engines, the chance of encountering such a configuration is also minimal.

The engines are of two series. Volvo turbo engines 2.4 and 2.5 were repeatedly covered in reviews, and. They are good, reliable engines with some quirks and long-standing weaknesses. It is worth watching the crankcase ventilation system and ignition modules. And also remember that the timing belt needs to be changed, as well as monitor the valve clearances, and the adjustment process is quite complicated here.

The engines from Ford 1.6 and 2.0 are also very good. The 1.6 engine family is quite old-fashioned in design, and the main drawback is one - low power for a rather heavy machine. It does not have the most reliable control system, but the safety margin of the "hardware" allows it to overcome most of the troubles. Failures of ignition modules, phase shifter valves, sensors and other little things are usually not fatal and are easily diagnosed. And the elements themselves are not very expensive.

The motor was developed a long time ago, back in 1998 with the help of Yamaha for the first generation Focus, and since that moment it has not become much worse. The S40 uses the simplest and most reliable version, without phase shifters, which significantly increase the cost of maintenance. In addition, Volvo recommends for it not low-viscosity SAE20-SAE30 oils, as Ford does, but the quite familiar SAE40 oil, which greatly increases the engine resource - even on a heavy Volvo, it can go all 250-350 thousand kilometers before piston wear in a typical urban cycle, and when driving on highways and all half a million kilometers. Just do not forget, again, to adjust the valves and change the timing belt. Engines 1.8 and 2.0 are from a different family. They are designed by Mazda and belong to the MZR. They are no more capricious than 1.6 engines, and many are impressed by the fact that they have a chain timing belt, with a chain resource of 150-200 thousand kilometers, which slightly simplifies maintenance in the first five to seven years of the machine's life. In addition, the power of a car with such an engine is already almost the same as that of a Rolls-Royce, that is, "sufficient". With these motors, it is already possible to order an automatic transmission, which was done by most of the car buyers.

In comparison with the weakest version of the Volvo "five", the MZR is slightly cheaper to maintain, but in practice, the 140-horsepower 2.4 engine is still faster than the 145-horsepower Ford one. Of course, the engine has its disadvantages, for example, a very poor thermostat design, a tendency to leakage due to an unsuccessful crankcase ventilation system and weak engine gaskets. However, all the disadvantages are covered by the simplicity, cheapness and good resource of the engine. A design feature is the keyless landing of the timing stars on the shafts, which, with hard operation, improper maintenance and unqualified repairs, can lead to fatal phase displacement and the meeting of pistons with valves.

What should you choose?

The small sedan from the Swedish company actually turns out to be a very good car - one of the cheapest to operate in the class in general, and certainly the most inexpensive of the premium cars. Of course, it is not the most advanced, and automatic transmission cannot be ordered with small motors, but if the quality of the design and economy in operation are important to you, you can put up with this. True, the configurations for cars with Ford engines will not be the most luxurious.

So, if the operating price is very important for you, then the 1.6 engine with manual transmission is your choice. But you will have to look for a good package, most of these cars will be "empty", and besides, they were often taken by "traveling" companies. Machines with 1.8-2.0 engines with manual gearbox are slightly more expensive, but have a longer engine life and are also a reasonable choice. If you need comfort, then in-line "fives" 2.4 and automatic transmission are best suited: traction, sound, a sense of participation in the "classics" of the company, and the configuration is usually maximum. Motors 2.0 is a little more practical when it comes to cars up to five to seven years old, but they also have less "Scandinavian fairy tales". We must try to take cars with a known mileage - this will allow us to predict the remaining resource of the automatic transmission and the cost of restoration. With a successful combination of circumstances, you can slightly modify the machine and extend the resource of the "weak link" by another hundred or two thousand at low cost. Finally, I will say that these same motors with manual transmission are most likely either the cars of the "racers", or they came already used from Europe. This means that the runs will be serious, and the operation will be tough. In general - to refuse.

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The Volvo S40 / V40 tempts not only with its attractive figure and Scandinavian style, but above all with its price. The cheapest copies on the go cost about 100-120 thousand rubles, and the most expensive 250-300 thousand rubles. However, do not think that this is a true Swedish car. Only the logo is unique here. As for the rest, it is a "hodgepodge".

Teamwork

The platform and suspension are the result of an effective partnership with Mitsubishi. The Japanese also shared one gasoline engine - 1.8 GDI with direct injection. Diesel engines came from Renault.

To optimize production costs, the assembly was organized on the same line with Mitsubishi Carisma at the Dutch NedCar plant. It was built from scratch in conjunction with a Japanese partner specifically for this purpose. In accordance with the concept, the cars were not competitors. The S40 aimed at the premium segment, while Karisma aimed at the more popular segment.

Body and interior

The silhouette of the 40th Volvo is hard to deny the elegance and individuality of style. The interior also evokes positive feelings. Good ergonomics, pleasant materials. The only pity is that the build quality left much to be desired.

In the oldest examples, paint is erased from the front panel. Of course, you can find the S40 of the first years of production with the interior in good condition. But this is not the merit of Volvo, but the special attention of the former owner.

Fortunately, quality has improved over the years. The body was updated, the interior was refined and the suspension modified. As a result, a fairly large number of various improvements turned out. Since April 1997, noise insulation has improved, and in 1998, side airbags appeared.

Those interested in buying should remember that the first facelift was carried out in 1999 (the headlights and the center console were changed), and the second in 2002. It was then that the car received characteristic headlights with dark inserts, and the location of the indicators on the instrument panel changed. In addition, the bumpers and grille have been updated.

In the first models, door hinges often suffered.

Undercarriage

The Volvo S40 cannot boast of good handling. Until 1999, the suspension was stiff, noisy, and short-lived. Over the years, the shape, design and attachment points of suspension elements have changed. Therefore, be careful when ordering parts online. So, in 2000, the wheel track increased by 16 mm, and the wheelbase - by 12 mm.

Surprisingly, the durability of the stabilizer struts outperforms many competitors.

The front axle has McPherson struts, lower wishbones and anti-roll bars. Unfortunately, the ball joints are firmly fixed, therefore, in case of wear, you will have to replace the lever assembly (from 2,000 rubles). However, the design of some analogs allows you to change the ball separately (from 400 rubles per support).

At the rear, a multi-link circuit is used, which Volvo has named Multi-Link. Average service life is more than 100,000 km. But when something wears out, you have to spend a lot.

Front wheel hub bearings also do not differ in durability - from 2,000 rubles.

Restoring leverage is inconsistent with the plant's recommendations, and few people know how to do it correctly. Although the spare parts kit is closely intertwined with the Mitsubishi Carisma range, few chassis elements are interchangeable. Only those who have dealt with both cars and know what fits what will be able to pick up analogs.

The rear levers create the most problems (from 1200 rubles per lever).

Engines

The range of Volvo C 40 engines is very wide. All of them are equipped with a belt-type timing drive with a replacement interval of 60,000 km.

The most durable are aspirated gasoline. They are able to cover more than 400,000 km without interruption. With proper care, turbo engines will last as much. Only the coils, air flow meter, starter and generator have to be changed. Gasoline units have a specific design, and therefore it is better to service them in specialized services.

But be careful. The "black sheep" is the 1.8i (125 and 121 hp) with direct injection, which is borrowed from Karisma. It is this unit that creates problems during operation and does not allow the installation of HBO, which for many potential buyers is a serious disadvantage. It's all about the capricious fuel system.

It should be borne in mind that hydraulic valve clearance compensators were used only in old gasoline units. In the samples of the last years of production, pushers of a fixed size were installed, so possible changes in the gap will not be automatically compensated. Adjustment required. When using HBO, the procedure will be needed every 20-30 thousand km, which will cost 2000-3000 rubles.

With diesel engines, the situation is not so rosy. They all hail from Renault and are operated according to French standards. A typical ailment is numerous oil leaks for the first 100,000 km.

Diesel engines suffer from oil leaks that are expensive to fix.

There were three versions of the 1.9-liter turbodiesel to choose from. The 90-horsepower has a conventional distributed injection. It is not very fast, shows average efficiency and is sensitive to loads at high speeds. Quite often punches the head gasket. The head itself can burst.

The 95-horsepower has received direct injection and represents a reasonable compromise between price, performance and economy. The weak point is the high pressure fuel pump.

Versions with a recoil of 102-115 hp. differ in the Common Rail injection system. They are the most modern and quietest in the diesel range, have higher potential, but are quite expensive to repair. Vulnerable elements: turbocharger and fuel injectors.

Typical problems and malfunctions

Given the age of the model, you will inevitably have to deal with numerous minor malfunctions. Owners complain about unreliable turn signal and light switches, instrument panel illumination malfunctions, and problems with the bonnet opening mechanism. Over time, the immobilizer and central locking refuse to obey, the lamps of the rear lights regularly burn out.

Transmissions also cause certain troubles: there are problems with shifting.

The body is very well protected against corrosion. However, in the very first copies, traces of corrosion are observed on the trunk lid and hood. Outside door handles sometimes burst from severe frost.

Over time, the parking brake mechanism jams.

Conclusion

The Volvo S40 / V40 is one of those cars bought with heart, not common sense. Yes, it is thoroughly protected against corrosion, practical, functional and well equipped. But in terms of quality and spare parts, it does not compare with more popular competitors. Volvo can only be recommended to those looking for an original car at an affordable price. It is better to pay attention to the youngest specimens collected after restyling in 2002.

Specifications Volvo S40 / V40 (1995-2004)

Petrol versions

Version
Engine				direct injection
Working volume
Location cylinders / valves
Power
Maximum torque
Performance
Maximum speed
Acceleration 0-100 km / h
Average consumption, l / 100 km

Diesel versions

Great car, MOT once a year. Purchased in 2009, during the operation has never failed. Starts up at any time of the year without problems. There were no breakdowns. Excellent handling, excellent dynamics. Fuel consumption is not annoying. Easy to operate, excellent visibility, the convenience of integrated child seats.

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Volvo S40, 2006

For the entire period of operation (2 years), the car only made me happy! Obedient, this is especially felt in winter, on snow, on ice (there is a winter driving mode). The assembly is Belgian. Serviced in the salon, and then by a trusted master on a regular basis. I have never used a spare wheel (stowaway). Very comfortable seats, comfortable. On a long journey she showed herself to be 5+. The car was in operation in the same family. Selling because I bought a crossover and a dacha for my wife!

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Volvo S40, 2005

I am very pleased with my car Volvo S40, I have not lived a day without it, it is like a "second skin", silent, maneuverable, safe. Volvo S40 skated me 6 years without one accident. Holds the road perfectly, starts without delay. In frosty weather it warms up in 5 minutes, the trunk holds 4 wheels and a lot of all sorts of things, in the rear seats you can perfectly expand to rest in full growth (up to 172). The crankcase protection is original.

In September 1995, the S40 debuted. Initially, this Volvo was called S4 / V4, but after the Swedes were sued for using other people's abbreviations (as the sports modifications of Audi were designated), the model was urgently renamed S40. In the new model designation, the letter indicates the body type: S - sedan, V - pickup and C - coupe or convertible, and the numbers indicated the model number. The new S40 is completely different from its predecessors, both in design and construction.

Three types of engines were offered as the main driving force for this model: 2.0 l and 1.8 l petrol and 1.9 l turbodiesel.

The result of three years of work, based on customer feedback since 1995, is the new generation Volvo S40, which appeared in 2000. More than 1,500 parts have been changed on the updated model, resulting in more than 30 major improvements that extend to safety, quality, environmental performance, dynamic performance, comfort and design.

Volvo S40 - one of the safest cars in the middle class, has become even safer, more comfortable and convenient.

Fresh touches have been added to the exquisite design of the model: new bumpers, new enlarged side lights, new front fenders, new fog lights, new direction indicators and twin headlights, new side moldings, colors, new alloy wheels, new transparent taillights, new rear panel and a new wiper.

The wheelbase has increased by 12 mm, the vehicle length has increased by 33 mm, and the front wheel track has increased by 18 mm.

The Volvo S40 is the only vehicle in its class to be fitted with an inflatable curtain (IC) as standard on all variants. A two-level airbag is also installed.

A lot of changes have been made to the chassis: new front wheel suspension, new engine mounts, which significantly increase driving comfort, noise protection and handling on winter roads. The interior of the salon has undergone significant modernization. The center console has been seriously modified: a new climate control panel, new control positions, a more convenient lower shelf, a new design of the audio system, window and mirror controls have been moved to the doors. Added a new multifunctional console above the tunnel, new seats and two new types of upholstery.

The Volvo S40 is a front-wheel drive vehicle with a transverse four-cylinder engine. You can choose from one of three petrol engines or a diesel engine. The turbocharged version has 200 hp.

All of these engines react very quickly and powerfully to the movement of the accelerator pedal. This allows you to pick up speed very quickly when exiting a bend or when overtaking a truck. It also means fewer gear changes in urban environments.

The transmission can be a four-speed automatic with three driving modes or a five-speed manual. In both cases, the maximum gear is overdrive, for quieter and more economical driving on suburban highways.

In 2003, the next generation Volvo S40 rolled off the assembly line. The new model is smaller than the predecessor S40 in size (50 mm shorter), but more competitive among classmates. The highlight of the interior is the unique center console, which has free space under it - a revolutionary solution that has never been seen on a car of this class.

This completely redesigned vehicle comes standard with the most advanced Volvo-patented systems and equipment in the field of passive and personal safety, including an increased chassis compared to the existing model in terms of base, as well as the width of the front and rear axles; body with 68% more torsional rigidity than the predecessor model; zones of gradual deformation to absorb impact energy; elements of the safety cage made of extra strong steel; advanced SIPS systems.

In the 2003 model year, fog lights, previously available as an option only, began to be fitted as standard. The standard specification of the Volvo S40 for the Russian market includes: air conditioning, power windows and heated front seats.

The difference between these cars and the previous version is the availability of all options. The new Volvo S40 can be optionally equipped with a built-in telephone, STC traction control and stabilization system, DSTC dynamic stabilization and traction control (skid prevention system), steering wheel-mounted radio remote control, cruise control, bi-xenon headlights, driver's seat memory with an electric drive, girtronic (automatic transmission with the ability to switch to mechanical mode) and much more.

And, of course, the familiar Volvo safety system. The new model meets all NCAP requirements. The S40 introduces unique systems that have never been seen in any car before and are not required by NCAP, but are consistent with Volvo's image as the standard of safety in the automotive industry.

Eight four-cylinder engines are available for the updated Volvo S40 family. There are six gasoline power units. This is a 109-horsepower 1.6-liter, two engines of similar displacement (1783 and 1834 cc), but with different power - 122 hp. and 125 hp. (the second engine - with direct petrol injection), and three variations of one two-liter engine, which in the atmospheric version produces 136 hp, with a low-pressure supercharger develops 165 hp, and with a high-pressure turbocharger - 200 hp. (version T4). The range is complemented by two newest turbo diesel engines with direct injection of the common rail type, which, with a volume of 1.9 liters, develop 102 or 115 hp. respectively.

The 2003 Volvo S40 was built at Volvo Cars' factory in Ghent, Belgium. Production of the previous Volvo S40s at the company's Born plant in the Netherlands has been discontinued.

In 2007, Volvo introduced the updated S40. The main objective of this facelift was to bring the entire lineup in line with the new corporate style, set the tone for the Volvo S80.

The design was developed for people with a young soul, who are able to perceive new things. Classic Volvo design elements are combined with new lines to create a new generation feeling. The sporty, taut exterior visually echoes that of the larger S80 and V70 models. The updated cars are outwardly easy to identify by the modified bumpers, radiator grill with a large logo, exhaust pipes and head optics. At the rear, the car received a modified apron. The taillights now use LED technology.

In addition to the refreshed design, the car received an original interior trim and added power. The avant-garde interior of the salon is made in the high-tech style. The interior has received new seat upholstery in Spring Green. The center console and the interior door trim have been completely redesigned. The cabin has become noticeably more spacious. The expensive "Premium Sound" audio system now plays MP3 and WMA files and has great surround sound.

The engine palette is as follows: a 1.6 liter gasoline engine, 100 HP, 1.8 liters with 125 HP, a gasoline engine, 2 liters with 145 HP. and 2 motors with a working volume of 2.4 liters with 140 and 170 hp. In addition, Volvo offers a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine that runs on 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline. The top-end version of the T5 engine received a power increase - about 10 hp. and now produces 230 hp. Along with this, 3 diesels are offered: 1.6 liters with 109 hp; 2 L with 136 HP and the strongest diesel is the D5 with 180 hp.

The Volvo S40 is equipped as standard with new safety systems. In critical situations, the EBL (Emergency Brake Light) system comes into play: if the driver brakes hard, the rear brake lights light up brighter and more intensely than usual. Bi-xenon adaptive headlights were offered as an option.

Production of the model ended in 2012 and was replaced by the Volvo V40 hatchback.



If the first "forty", produced from 1995 to 2004 in Holland, in technical terms was very close to Mitsubishi Carisma, then the second generation car, the birthplace of which was the Belgian city of Ghent, was built on the global "Ford" C1 platform - the same one, which formed the basis for our popular Focus and Mazda3.

However, buyers of the S40 with mileage benefit from this. There is no doubt that the car belongs to a prestigious and respected brand: the "forty" looks restrained and at the same time aristocratic, and in terms of the quality of finish, sound insulation and equipment, the "Swede" is much better than their soplatform relatives.

The line of S40 units was significantly lengthened due to stocks from the Ford range, therefore, owners of cars running over the warranty were able to service their car using "Ford" spare parts, consumables and individual chassis parts at prices that are significantly lower than "Volvo" ones.

All of the above fully applies to the practical V50 station wagon, which, despite the higher index in the designation, does not differ from the sedan in anything other than the body, and costs exactly the same money in the secondary market.

Finally, with due diligence, fans of an incendiary drive will be able to find hot versions of the T5, and even such extreme modifications at the age of three are estimated at no more than 850,000 rubles. It remains to be seen how reliable this car is.

Prevention and nothing more (body and its electrical equipment)

The car is painted very high quality, therefore, even after 4-5 Moscow winters, the body of the copy, which has escaped serious damage and handicraft repairs, looks quite decent. Even in places so favored by corrosion, which are traditionally considered to be the edge of the hood, trunk lid, windshield frame and sills, you are unlikely to find blisters of paint and pockets of rust. Anti-icing chemicals and radiators are not afraid. However, mechanics recommend cleaning them at least every two years. The operation is not cheap: for removing, disassembling and washing parts in the company service, they will ask for about 16 thousand rubles. But the replacement of the one who ordered to live long fan motor tormented by the need to constantly blow the radiator clogged with dust, dirt and fluff, will come out even more expensive. Also, do not skimp on the steel protection of the engine compartment: we have seen a lot of cars with a broken engine sump and an air conditioning compressor at dealerships.

There are very few problems associated with the electrical equipment of the passenger compartment. It is curious that the glitches placed on the front panel ignition lock, not always recognizing the key, as well as creaking and wedging air duct dampers climate control met exclusively on cars of the first two years of production, and today the S40 got rid of these misfortunes. Swedish engineers failed only to finally cure alarm siren... No, she does not yell when she pleases, however, in the operation of her control module sometimes malfunctions occur, introducing into a stupor the devices interacting with her and harming the CAN bus.

Quite reliable (transmission)

In the arsenal of the S40, released before 2008, there are five different gearboxes. Manual 5-speed IB5 and MTX75 are combined with "Ford" motors. The engines, developed directly by Volvo engineers, are based on the 5- and 6-speed M56 and M66 units, as well as the AW55 automatic transmission, created by the engineers of Aizin and Borg-Warner. Moreover, cars of the 40th series are the very lucky chance when you can safely choose any box, because they are all quite reliable. Even the Japanese-American "automatic", which often caused problems to the owners of the XC90 crossovers and S80 sedans of the first generation, behaves extremely docile in the lighter "forty".

There is no reason to complain about the clutch, which in general travels at least a hundred thousand. But it should be remembered that expensive dual-mass flywheels are installed on the in-line Swedish "fives", and in order not to get to buy a new part (46,000 rubles for a 2.4-liter engine), the clutch must be changed at the first sign of inadequate operation. As for the all-wheel drive versions, very few of them were sold, so such cars are rarely found in the secondary market. However, on those copies that nevertheless fell into the hands of the masters, there were no problems with the Haldex clutch connecting the rear wheels.

In full bloom (engines)

The S40 / V50 engines are the same story as the gearboxes. You can take any you like. Yes, each of them at first had their own cockroaches, but by 2007 almost all of them had been successfully removed by Swedish engineers. The problem of the check engine warning lamp that lights up from time to time (the electronics did not suit the composition of the air-fuel mixture) on cars with 2.4-liter engines was defeated by the new software of the control unit. It happened that on the same engines, due to a malfunction of the oil separator of the crankcase ventilation system, the oil seals began to run out. With the new cistern nothing like that happens.

The only thing that the "fives" still do not like is short working cycles without warming up, when, say, you need to start the car in order to drive it away literally a few meters. In this case, gasoline simply floods the candles, and it is not a fact that the next time it will be possible to start the engine.

The erratic performance of the 1.8 L Ford engine was overcome with a new program for the throttle valve control unit.

Even during operation, it turned out that the "Volvo" candles on Ford engines "Motorcraft" is much better at digesting our fuel. By improving fuel pumps, the engineers also overcame the periodic reluctance of most early S40 / V50 engines to start the first time. In general, looking closely at the car of a neat owner who regularly visited all MOT, in most cases you will get a working unit. Just remember that refueling anywhere is still not worth it, and preventive flushing of the throttle and injection nozzles will be useful.

We do not hold for the future (chassis and steering)

The reliability of the suspension of this Volvo can be called almost exemplary: the official dealers do not even keep front and rear levers, bushings and stabilizer struts, tie rods and tips! During the warranty period, these parts very rarely need to be replaced - unless on copies that have been in an accident. Shock absorbers are also enduring, which for adequate owners calmly nurture up to 80-90 thousand km. The only weak point of the car is front hubs: bearings may die somewhere in the 70 thousand. But this problem was characteristic mainly of early cars - by 2007, the Swedes had successfully solved it.

There are no complaints about the brakes either. The front pads run on average 25-30 thousand km, the rear ones - twice as long. Rims tend to outlive two sets of pads.