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2008 Volvo S40 Performance Review

July 22, 2008

PERFORMANCE | 7 out of 10

Expert Quotes:

the 2.4i felt like a tortoise on Xanax
Car and Driver

frugal yet peppy five-cylinder engine
Kelley Blue Book

T5…loses its choice of transmissions
Cars.com

at 3,126 pounds…a relative lightweight.
Edmunds

Don't confuse quickness with satisfaction
Jalopnik

The 2008 Volvo S40’s mechanical bits are all over the map, from sedate to ferocious, comforting to kidney-jarring, according to reviews from around the Web.

Comments on the S40’s standard 2.4-liter inline-five, which registers 168 horsepower and 170 pound-feet, range from “perfectly adequate” (Edmunds) to “unimpressive, especially up long grades” (ConsumerGuide). The optional 2.5-liter turbo in the T5 brings 227 horses to the table, but perhaps even more significantly, its 236 pound-feet of torque is available from 1,500 to 4,800 rpm, allowing, says Car and Driver, “launches off the line” and great highway passing, all with “no noticeable turbo lag.” Kelley Blue Book feels the “turbocharged engine brings the little S40 to life.”

Some bemoan the cancellation of the T5’s manual transmission option, with a five-speed automatic the lone choice for the turbo engine in 2008: “the Geartronic manual shift mode is not as quick nor as fun to drive as the discontinued six-speed manual,” finds Edmunds. The base engine still has a choice of five-speed manual or five-speed automatic. “Go easy on it and the stick can be slid from gear to gear with barely two fingers,” remarks Kelley Blue Book, reflecting general praise for the manual transmission. Of the automatic, they feel it “seemed to work quite well.”

Car and Driver hails the base suspension’s “firm ride that manages to be both comfortable and compliant.” Cars.com agrees: “curves produce only modest body lean, and the sedan corners crisply.” The stiffly sprung sports suspension, standard with AWD models and included with the Sports Package, “makes for an uncomfortably stiff ride,” observes ConsumerGuide. Edmunds concludes, “most drivers would be more content with the standard setup as it offers a more livable compromise between performance and comfort.” Of note is the electro-hydraulically assisted power steering standard across the board. It's a willing ally with the S40’s responsive chassis, one that exhibits “high-speed confidence and low-speed ease,” according to Edmunds. “Just the right amount of effort,” agrees Road & Track.

Remarkably, both base and turbo engines achieve identical city/highway fuel-economy ratings of 20/28 mpg with the five-speed automatic. All-wheel drive drops both figures by 2 mpg.

Conclusion

The best choice among the different versions of the 2008 Volvo S40 seems to be a T5 minus the sport package and all-wheel drive.

PERFORMANCE | 7 out of 10Expert Quotes:the 2.4i felt like a tortoise on XanaxCar and Driverfrugal yet peppy five-cylinder engineKelley Blue BookT5…loses its choice of transmissionsCars.comat 3,126 pounds…a relative lightweight.EdmundsDon't confuse quickness with satisfactionJalopnik The 2008 Volvo S40’s mechanical bits are all over the map, from sedate to ferocious, comforting to kidney-jarring, according to reviews from around the Web. Comments on the S40’s standard 2.4-liter inline-five, which registers 168 horsepower and 170 pound-feet, range from “perfectly adequate” (Edmunds) to “unimpressive, especially up long grades” (ConsumerGuide). The optional 2.5-liter turbo in the T5 brings 227 horses to the table, but perhaps even more significantly, its 236 pound-feet of torque is available from 1,500 to 4,800 rpm, allowing, says Car and Driver, “launches off the line” and great highway passing, all with “no noticeable turbo lag.” Kelley Blue Book feels the “turbocharged engine brings the little S40 to life.” Some bemoan the cancellation of the T5’s manual transmission option, with a five-speed automatic the lone choice for the turbo engine in 2008: “the Geartronic manual shift mode is not as quick nor as fun to drive as the discontinued six-speed manual,” finds Edmunds. The base engine still has a choice of five-speed manual or five-speed automatic. “Go easy on it and the stick can be slid from gear to gear with barely two fingers,” remarks Kelley Blue Book, reflecting general praise for the manual transmission. Of the automatic, they feel it “seemed to work quite well.” Car and Driver hails the base suspension’s “firm ride that manages to be both comfortable and compliant.” Cars.com agrees: “curves produce only modest body lean, and the sedan corners crisply.” The stiffly sprung sports suspension, standard with AWD models and included with the Sports Package, “makes for an uncomfortably stiff ride,” observes ConsumerGuide. Edmunds concludes, “most drivers would be more content with the standard setup as it offers a more livable compromise between performance and comfort.” Of note is the electro-hydraulically assisted power steering standard across the board. It's a willing ally with the S40’s responsive chassis, one that exhibits “high-speed confidence and low-speed ease,” according to Edmunds. “Just the right amount of effort,” agrees Road & Track. Remarkably, both base and turbo engines achieve identical city/highway fuel-economy ratings of 20/28 mpg with the five-speed automatic. All-wheel drive drops both figures by 2 mpg. ConclusionThe best choice among the different versions of the 2008 Volvo S40 seems to be a T5 minus the sport package and all-wheel drive.  2008 VOLVO S40 STYLING | [8 out of 10] Car and Driver: “looks as if it had spent many a long winter's night at a Swedish gym” Cars.com: “substantially freshened for 2008” Edmunds.com: “Volvo didn't automatically commit to the 'longer, lower, wider' philosophy” Fresh and modern at its ...

Read More of this Review:

  1. styling
  2. performance
  3. quality
  4. safety
  5. features

Other Choices:

The 2008 Volvo S40 occupies an in-between price range, so it competes with luxury-brand rivals as well as affordable alternatives. The Acura TSX, which includes the superior service of Acura dealerships, has especially nimble handling, a good ride, and impressive fuel efficiency, but its backseat is somewhat cramped. Another possibility is the Subaru Impreza; in its base 2.5i form, it’s a much more affordable alternative, with standard all-wheel drive and performance from its horizontally opposed four-cylinder engine similar to the base five in the Volvo. And the Impreza WRX offers performance that rivals the T5, at a lower price. The Saab 9-3 is another alternative, bringing good, sharp handling and decent performance, but its ride can be choppy and its interior isn’t especially roomy. The Jetta may provide the most value in this class for those who are completely practically minded. Its five-cylinder engine offers performance that’s very comparable to that in the standard 2.4i model, with similar equipment and a backseat that’s a bit roomier, at a price that’s close to $10,000 less. That said, if safety features are the priority and you’re willing to pay the extra money for them as options, the S40 is unbeatable.

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See the Volvo S40 in Other Years:

2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000

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