We drove the 2017 Volvo V40 R-Design briefly to see what all has changed on the smallest Volvo offered in India. Here's what we feel about it.
The Volvo V40 R-Design is based on the Global C platform that also underpins the Ford Focus. The exteriors though won't give you a hint of it's underpinnings. The facelift gets features like the full LED headlights with the family Thor's Hammer LED DRLs. The R-Design variant gets it's own sporty bits like 17-inch alloy wheels, silver accents on the ORVMs, front spoiler, gloss black front grille, dual chrome tipped exhaust and a rear diffuser. The V40 is the longest and widest in it's class and looks ravishing, especially in the Bursting Blue paint shade.
On the insides, the V40 R-Design gets an all black interior that includes a Charcoal roofliner. The fully digital instrument cluster can be customized with different themes. The infotainment system comes paired to a Harman Kardon speaker system and can play DVDs, but misses out on features like Satellite Navigation (optional), Apple Car Play and Android Auto. The R-Design trim gets a badge on the steering wheel, aluminum pedals, ambient lighting, leather upholstery and aluminium inlays on the doors and dashboard. It also gets a huge (but fixed) panoramic sunroof, while the boot at 315 litres is accommodating. Seat comfort is excellent with good legroom, but is not the place to be if you are a claustrophobic person, thanks to the small windows and high window line.
The Volvo V40 facelift is powered by the new generation 2.0-litre Drive-E diesel engine that develops 150 HP and 320 Nm. The engine is mated a 6-speed automatic gearbox that transfers power to the front wheels. The engine feels quiet at idle, but does get coarse as you rev it to higher reaches of it's powerband. Power delivery is smooth and the engine feels responsive off idle.
The gearbox feels well-matched to the engine characteristics and it's only when you ask for an urgent downshift that it likes to take it's own sweet time.
The one department where it's underpinnings are obvious is in the way the new V40 drives. You get a feeling of connection while driving it fast, and you feel secure even at high speeds. The R-Design variant comes with a ground clearance of 133mm and 17-inch wheels. Overall, we were pleasantly surprised with the car's dynamics. One cannot classify it as the best in class, but we didn't find anything to complain either.
Safety is where the V40 beats it's rivals hands down. It was the first car in the entire Volvo lineup to get the City Safety II automatic braking system back in 2012. It uses LIDAR sensors that continuously monitors 6 metres ahead of the car and detects any obstacle like cars, pedestrians and cyclists in it's path. It also comes with a pedestrian airbag; now that's something that you don't hear often. The car can also park itself automatically in a parallel parking spot. Other safety features include a rear view camera and a Tyre pressure monitoring system.
The 2017 Volvo V40 R-Design is a car that keeps everything simple yet stylish. It has looks on the outside and practicality on the insides. The dashboard does look a bit passé and misses out on some tech-savvy features. Although you can have fun from behind the wheel with this car, which is surprisingly the most powerful car in it's segment. The V40 R-Design is a car for those who cheer simplicity and prefer something different to the regular roast of German hatchbacks.
(With almost a decade of experience under his belt, auto journalist, Ritesh Madhok, holds the steering at Motor World India, an online portal that brings you the latest scoops in the Indian automobile industry)
