Volvo V40 review
The Volvo V40 is a stylish, safe, and comfortable premium hatchback that offers a desirable badge and low running costs, making it a tempting used buy.
Author: Charlie Harvey
31st Dec 2025 – 8 mins read
When the Volvo V40 arrived in 2012, it was a real head-turner. It marked a huge step forward for Volvo, transforming the V40 name from a sensible-but-dull estate car into a genuinely stylish and premium hatchback to rival the likes of the Audi A3 and BMW 1 Series. It also made headlines for its incredible safety record, becoming one of the safest cars ever tested at the time. Over the years, the V40 was updated to keep it fresh, most notably in 2016 when it gained the smart ‘Thor’s Hammer’ LED headlights seen on the rest of the Volvo range. While it’s starting to feel its age now compared to newer rivals, especially on the inside, it remains a very handsome car. It’s also incredibly comfortable and packed with safety kit. It might not be the most practical or exciting car in its class, but if you’re looking for a sophisticated, safe, and affordable entry into premium hatchback ownership, the V40 is a very smart used choice.
Pros
- A very stylish and sophisticated design
- A premium-feeling interior and comfortable ride
- Comes with a huge amount of standard safety kit
Cons
- Feels outdated compared to most of its more modern rivals
- Some of the engines can be a bit unrefined
- The boot is small for a family hatchback
Interior
Dashboard & tech
The interior of the V40 is a classy and comfortable place to be, but it’s where the car's age is most apparent. When it was launched, the ‘floating’ centre console design was cool and futuristic. Today, however, the dashboard looks very button-heavy compared to the large touchscreen-dominated interiors of more modern rivals like the Mercedes A-Class.
Despite this, the quality is excellent. It feels very well-built and sturdy, with plenty of premium materials that give it an upmarket feel. Later models also benefit from Volvo’s ‘On Call’ smartphone app, which allows you to check on your car remotely. It’s a very comfortable cabin, even if the tech is a generation behind.
Comfort
Comfort is a real strong point for the Volvo V40. It’s a car that’s tailored more towards a relaxed and supple ride than sporty handling. The seats are famously comfortable – a long-standing Volvo tradition – and the suspension does a brilliant job of soaking up bumps, making it a very calming car to drive.
It’s a fantastic long-distance cruiser, feeling quiet and refined on the motorway. If you want a hatchback that will leave you feeling relaxed after every journey, the V40 is one of the best. Just be aware that the sportier R-Design models with their larger wheels have a slightly firmer ride.
Quality
Volvo has a reputation for building solid, durable cars, and the V40 feels like it will stand the test of time. The interior is well put together, and everything feels robust. However, the brand has had a bit of a hit-and-miss record in some reliability surveys in recent years.
Nearly 20% of owners in one survey reported a fault, with common issues including sticking door locks and problems with the Ford-sourced 1.6-litre diesel engine that powered earlier D2 models. As with any used car, it’s important to check for a full and comprehensive service history.
Practicality & boot space
Interior space
As a small family car, the V40 is very capable. It can carry four adults with relative ease, and there are lots of useful storage spaces dotted around the cabin. It’s a perfectly practical car for a small family. However, if you plan on regularly using the middle rear seat, you might find things a bit of a squeeze. Rivals like the Volkswagen Golf are a bit more comfortable for carrying three people in the back.
Boot space
Boot capacity is the V40’s biggest practical weakness. It offers 324 litres of space, which is on the small side for a family hatchback. It’s enough for the weekly shop or a couple of weekend bags, but it’s beaten by all of its main rivals, including the Audi A3, BMW 1 Series, and Mercedes A-Class. This is a little disappointing for a brand like Volvo, which is usually a champion of practicality. Folding the rear seats down opens up a more useful 1,032 litres of space.
Driving
Driving experience
The Volvo V40 is a car that focuses on providing a comfortable and secure driving experience. It’s not the sharpest or most exciting hatchback to drive, lacking the agility of a BMW 1 Series, but it handles neatly and feels very safe and predictable on the road.
Its real strength is its relaxing nature. It’s an easy car to drive around town and a superb motorway cruiser. The supple ride and supremely comfortable seats make it a great choice for anyone who covers a lot of miles and wants to arrive at their destination feeling fresh.
Performance
The V40 has been offered with a wide range of petrol and diesel engines over the years. The post-2016 lineup is a bit simpler. The petrol choices are the T2 (118bhp) and the T3 (148bhp). Both are smooth and offer decent performance, with the T3 being the quicker of the two.
The diesel engines are the D2 (118bhp) and the D3 (148bhp). Both are 2.0-litre units and offer a great blend of performance and excellent fuel economy. The D3 is a particularly strong performer, with plenty of pulling power for relaxed motorway cruising.
Running costs
Fuel economy & CO2 emissions
Regardless of which engine you choose, the Volvo V40 offers very low running costs. The diesel engines are the stars of the show if you do a lot of miles. The D2 can officially achieve an incredible 78.5mpg, with very low CO2 emissions. Even the more powerful D3 can return over 72mpg.
The petrol engines are a great choice if you do most of your driving around town. Both the T2 and T3 have an official fuel economy figure of around 50mpg, which is very respectable.
Value for money
As a premium hatchback, the V40 was priced to compete with its German rivals when new. However, it hasn’t held its value as strongly, which is fantastic news if you’re buying a used one. You can get a lot of car for your money, with huge savings available on nearly-new models. This makes the V40 a very sensible way to get into a stylish and comfortable premium car without the premium price tag.
Reliability & Warranty
As mentioned, Volvo's reliability record has been mixed in recent years. While many owners have a trouble-free experience, it's not quite up to the standard you might expect from a premium brand. It's crucial to check the service history thoroughly. From new, all Volvos came with a three-year, 60,000-mile warranty.
Safety
Safety features
Safety is Volvo’s trademark, and the V40 is one of the safest hatchbacks you can buy. When it was tested by the safety experts at Euro NCAP in 2012, it received the highest score they had ever awarded.
It was one of the first cars to be fitted with autonomous emergency braking as standard, and was the very first car in the world to feature an airbag for pedestrians, which deploys from under the bonnet to cushion an impact. Even by today’s standards, it’s an impressively safe car.
Trims & Engines
Trim levels
The V40 is available in a range of well-equipped trim levels.
Momentum: The entry-level model is generously equipped with 16-inch alloy wheels, climate control, adaptive LED headlights, and rear parking sensors.
Nav Plus: This version adds a larger seven-inch touchscreen with satellite navigation, cruise control, and a reversing camera.
Inscription: This is the luxury-focused trim, adding 17-inch wheels, leather upholstery, and automatic wipers.
R-Design: This is the sporty-looking model. It gets a body kit, 17-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels, and sports seats.
R-Design Pro: The top-of-the-range model combines the sporty looks of the R-Design with the luxury features of the Inscription, and adds larger 18-inch alloy wheels.
Engines
The V40 offers a choice of efficient petrol and diesel engines.
T2 Petrol: A 2.0-litre (manual) or 1.5-litre (automatic) engine producing 118bhp.T3 Petrol: A more powerful version of the same engine, producing 148bhp.D2 Diesel: A 2.0-litre diesel engine with 118bhp, offering the best fuel economy in the range.D3 Diesel: A more powerful 2.0-litre diesel with 148bhp, providing a great balance of performance and efficiency.