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2008 Volvo S40 Safety Review

July 22, 2008

SAFETY | 9 out of 10

Expert Quotes:

Volvo has focused even more attention on safety
Road & Track

This may be the safest car in this size class.
MyRide.com

a considerable amount of high-tensile steel
Kelley Blue Book

safer than ever
Automobile

Staying true to its safety roots even in the smallest entry-level sedan, Volvo has upgraded the 2008 S40 with standard and optional, as well as active and passive, safety features found on many of its newer platforms.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the S40 scores four stars for the driver and five for the passenger in frontal crash tests. It also merits five stars for side impact testing for both front and rear seat passengers. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) rates the S40 “good” across all measures for its frontal offset test.

Standard active safety features include side impact and side curtain airbags, four-wheel anti-lock brakes, an electronic stability system with traction control, and tire pressure monitoring. For 2008, the hazard lights now automatically engage any time the airbags are deployed. And with standard EBL (Emergency Brake Light) functionality, the new, brighter LED rear lights will flash rapidly in a panic braking situation.

Volvo’s BLIS (Blind Spot Information System), “which lights an indicator just inboard of either of the S40’s side mirrors when a car occupies its corresponding blind spot,” according to Cars.com, is a stand-alone option. Self-steering bi-xenon headlamps are an option in T5 models. The Haldex AWD system can be had only on the T5 AWD for a premium of about $2,000. It engages only when front wheel slip is detected and includes the rough-riding Sport Package.

Building on the foundation of what Volvo dubs “Intelligent Vehicle Architecture,” it seems the company has attempted to “stuff the levels of safety found in the flagship S80 luxury sedan into the S40's small package,” according to MyRide.com. That includes four grades of steel in the front structure “to create optimal crumple zones” (Car and Driver) and “extremely rigid cross members for side-impact protection” (Kelley Blue Book).

Conclusion

Building on an already safe vehicle and a stout chassis, incremental upgrades to the 2008 Volvo S40 make it an even better choice for the safety-conscious buyer.

SAFETY | 9 out of 10Expert Quotes:Volvo has focused even more attention on safetyRoad & TrackThis may be the safest car in this size class.MyRide.coma considerable amount of high-tensile steelKelley Blue Booksafer than everAutomobile Staying true to its safety roots even in the smallest entry-level sedan, Volvo has upgraded the 2008 S40 with standard and optional, as well as active and passive, safety features found on many of its newer platforms. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the S40 scores four stars for the driver and five for the passenger in frontal crash tests. It also merits five stars for side impact testing for both front and rear seat passengers. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) rates the S40 “good” across all measures for its frontal offset test. Standard active safety features include side impact and side curtain airbags, four-wheel anti-lock brakes, an electronic stability system with traction control, and tire pressure monitoring. For 2008, the hazard lights now automatically engage any time the airbags are deployed. And with standard EBL (Emergency Brake Light) functionality, the new, brighter LED rear lights will flash rapidly in a panic braking situation. Volvo’s BLIS (Blind Spot Information System), “which lights an indicator just inboard of either of the S40’s side mirrors when a car occupies its corresponding blind spot,” according to Cars.com, is a stand-alone option. Self-steering bi-xenon headlamps are an option in T5 models. The Haldex AWD system can be had only on the T5 AWD for a premium of about $2,000. It engages only when front wheel slip is detected and includes the rough-riding Sport Package. Building on the foundation of what Volvo dubs “Intelligent Vehicle Architecture,” it seems the company has attempted to “stuff the levels of safety found in the flagship S80 luxury sedan into the S40's small package,” according to MyRide.com. That includes four grades of steel in the front structure “to create optimal crumple zones” (Car and Driver) and “extremely rigid cross members for side-impact protection” (Kelley Blue Book). ConclusionBuilding on an already safe vehicle and a stout chassis, incremental upgrades to the 2008 Volvo S40 make it an even better choice for the safety-conscious buyer.  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.

Next Steps:

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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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