Volvo V40 cross country: a class apart

V for vibrant. Yes, that's precisely the term that I would like to use to describe Volvo's latest creation — the V40 cross country. A bigger version of a hatchback, the V40 brings forward an aggressive exterior design with comfort and safety features that are to be felt and experienced. To do that, we recently got our hands on this Swedish machine.

If you talk about looks, this particular vehicle just breaks away from everything else existing within its segment. It's an instant head turner, especially due to its front, which portrays a sloping sculpted bonnet, a honeycomb mesh grille, along with vertical fog lamps. A sharp line originates all the way from the front to the rear, thereby highlighting its side profile with a pair of black side view mirrors along with elegant 17 inch alloys. Unlike the front, the rear tail gate has a radical appearance, courtesy a contrasting rear bumper, skid plates and oval shaped tail lights. The interiors are equally classy, with a full-length sunroof, and a waterfall like center console that houses a 8 inch screen without navigation.

Photo: Arun Changrani

Performance
The car is high on the comfort factor, as there is ample of space in the front as well as the rear. In fact, three people can be easily accommodated at the back, which is a good thing. The V40's engine is very responsive, with the automatic transmission handing out good shifts. The ride is brilliant and it seems Volvo has studied a lot about Indian road conditions, as the suspension is tuned in such a way that going over pot holes and broken road surfaces isn't really an issue. The handling too is really impressive.

Specifications
Volvo v40

Engine Displacement
1984 CC

No. Of Cylinders
5 cyl. turbo diesel

Power
150 hp

Torque
350 Nm

Price (Ex-showroom delhi)
₹ 28.5 lakhs

Verdict
All in all, we would say that the Volvo V40 is a vibrant product with features that create quite a noise (40 decibels to be precise). It brings to you brilliant looks, comfort factor, driving enjoyment and most importantly, safety, which is one of its most important credentials.