Road Test: Volvo V40 Cross Country D4 Elite

Volvo have been threatening to come on strong in the last few years, with concepts and prototypes like the Concept Universe, Volvo C30 Electric and the Volvo V60 PHEV; the world’s first diesel-electric plug-in hybrid production car. Most recently too, the Volvo Concept Estate, Concept Coupe and Concept XC Coupe have shown the future of the brand’s intended interior and exterior design, all of which are enticing prospects from the Swedes.

Volvo will launch an all-new XC90 in 2015, with many all-new models expected to be in the incubation phase, however, the youngest model in the existing range is the Volvo V40 Cross Country, which still offers plenty to admire about its design and technology. Based on the Volvo V40 (a South African Car of The Year finalist for 2014), the Cross Country is essentially a jacked-up version of the V40 premium hatchback, to the tune of 40 mm over the standard model.

The V40 Cross Country is easy to spot, with unique alloy wheels (also available in 19-inch); a dark, contrasting front bumper with honeycomb mesh grille and vertical daytime running lights. Sculpted side sills, together with front and rear skid plates with contrasting silver inserts, as well as silver coloured roof rails round out the exterior highlights. The V40 CC attracts a fair amount of attention, even when attending the super- and race-car infested scene at this year’s Knysna Hill Climb.

Always a leader in safety technology, the Swedish manufacturer is chasing a target of zero deaths or injuries in any of their vehicles by 2020. The Volvo V40 is a shining example of the company’s progress in this regard, having achieved the highest safety score ever recorded by the Euro NCAP safety agency of 98 percent. Volvo has achieved this with comprehensive technology aids, including pedestrian detection and collision avoidance (City Safety) with auto-brake function, lane keeping assistance, blind spot monitoring and… the world’s first pedestrian airbag. It works with sensors fitted to the front bumper that detect contact between the car and a pedestrian, at which point the rear end of the bonnet rises and the airbag inflates across the lower edge of the windscreen and A-pillars.

So we know it’s safe, but how comfortable and practical is the V40 Cross Country? Well, it will seat five adults, cart 335-litres of luggage and offers a number of useable storage pockets, compartments and cup-holders. As a result of its sweeping lines and elegant design, the V40 CC doesn’t boast the easiest of access through the rear doors and boot, but credit must be given for its ability to swallow two mountain bikes (without having to adjust the seat positions), two sets of riding gear and luggage for a weekend. The boot also features a underfloor storage area for additional space or security.

The V40 Cross Country will also manage to keep passengers entertained with a good quality sound system with the usual connectivity options of Bluetooth, USB and Aux-In. There are 7 ‘mood’ options for the interior ambient lighting, including a setting that adjusts the colour between blue and red depending on the cabin temperature. The LCD driver’s instrumentation is a classy addition to the driving experience, which can also be set between Eco, Elegant and Performance colour themes, while the layout and information is concise and legible for taking in at a glance.

The quality of the interior materials is suitably high for a premium car and, together with the minimalist design, textured dashboard and chrome highlights, imparts a subconscious sense of calm that all Volvos seem to manage. The interior is also well insulated and makes for a quiet and relaxed journey most of time, however, tyre noise does increase relatively easily in relation to the coarseness of the road surface. In terms of its Cross Country title, a brief stint on 35 kilometers of the Western Cape’s finest dirt roads proved that if you plan to explore the countryside, then it would be wise to consider whether 16- or 17-inch alloy wheels would be more accommodating, as the 40 profile rubber is unflinching over broken ground.

Back on tarmac, however, the standard 18-inch wheel and tyre combo was put to good use over Garcia’s Pass where the V40 Cross Country handled with verve. A taught chassis and suspension keep body roll to a minimum, while the electronically assisted steering, when set in its ‘High’ setting, does respond well and weights up better than most. The result of these traits allows the driver to enjoy the car’s neutral and grippy handling, making it quite good fun.

The Volvo V40 Cross County D4 Geartronic Elite is powered by a 5-cylinder 2.0-litre turbo-diesel engine. Peak power is 130 kW and maximum torque is 400 Nm from 1 750 r/min. The D4 engine is a touch hesitant off the mark, but with its cheeks puffed out and forcing air into the combustion cycle, the turbocharger helps the engine produce more than enough grunt across the rev range. Together with the 6-speed automatic transmission, the 0 – 100 km/h sprint takes a brisk 8.3 seconds, but the low-revving nature of the diesel means fuel consumption is unlikely to ever reach double digits. Volvo claim an average fuel consumption of 5.2 l/100km and I averaged 8.5 l/100km over 400-odd km; but I wasn’t hanging about. It’s an easy car to drive on longer journeys, as the torque makes overtaking a quick and safe affair, while the Geartronic transmission can be placed in a ‘Sport’ mode for added response or a sequential manual mode for direct control of gear changes and sharper throttle response.

It’s a good-looking and polished product all-round from Volvo. Stood next to its V40 stablemate the raised ride height and toughened appearance aren’t the only distinguishing features. The brawny D4 engine isn’t available in the V40 premium hatchback, so the V40 CC offers more performance in this regard. In addition, a quick glance around the the ‘crossover hatchback’ car park will confirm it isn’t a crowded space. The Mini Countryman and Subaru XV don’t play in the same premium league as the Volvo, and the new Mercedes-Benz GLA 200 CDI is less powerful and considerably more expensive. So if you have a little weekend warrior in you, but don’t want to forgo the luxury of a premium hatch in favour of a larger SUV, then you might be one of the many people who gave my press car a double take.

What we like…

• Styling that draws attention.
• Strong performance.
• Active Bending Lights (ABL) with Dual Xenon Technology and rear PDC as standard.

What we would like…

• Keyless entry.
• Paddle shifters for the transmission.
• The new D4 biturbo engine with i-Art system that uses 2 500 bar injectors, each with its own microcomputer, to deliver revolutionary new levels of fuel economy and refinement. Plus, the update would bring with it an 8-speed transmission and paddles shifters.

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