Overview & Reviews

German car companies have long been the dominant players in the compact sport sedan market. The Volvo S40, introduced to the North American market in 2000, was the Swedish brand's first stab at stealing some market share. Though it had its shortcomings, the S40 was a decent small sedan that helped redefine Volvo's image. Instead of the standard boxy shape once associated with Volvos, the S40 had a sleeker silhouette and was relatively fun to drive.

Volvo released the improved second-generation S40 midway through 2004. Styling is sportier and more refined, as are the car's ride and handling dynamics. Additionally, there are now two engine choices, including a turbocharged five-cylinder. Though it still doesn't have the prestige or athleticism of its German competition, the latest Volvo S40 costs less and still offers plenty of refinement, comfort and style.

Current Volvo S40
The Volvo S40 compact sport sedan is available in two trim levels -- T5 and T5 R-Design. Both are front-wheel drive and powered by a turbocharged 227-horsepower 2.5-liter five-cylinder. A five-speed automatic is the sole transmission.

Standard feature highlights include a sport suspension, a telescoping steering wheel with auxiliary audio controls, a sunroof, Bluetooth and a six-CD changer with satellite radio, HD radio and iPod control. The "R-Design" adds sporty exterior and interior styling cues. Options include leather seating, heated seats, a navigation system and a 12-speaker premium sound system.

Inside the S40, the seats, dash and panels look upscale and classy, and the ultra-slim center stack design makes a fashion statement while adding to the car's functionality. The driving position is snug and comfortable, but adults seated in the rear might find legroom tight.

In reviews, our editors have found the Volvo S40 entertaining to drive thanks to its turbocharged engine and lively handling. But the S40 just doesn't do much else to distinguish itself. Whether you're looking for the latest technology features, sportier performance, better fuel economy or just a more prestigious image, you'll likely find a better choice for a premium or entry-level luxury sedan.

Used Volvo S40 Models
The present second-generation Volvo S40 was introduced midyear as a 2004.5 model. (A related wagon variant is called the V50.) Compared to the current model, the S40 hasn't received major changes since then, but you'll want to pay attention to the various updates over the years when shopping for a used model.

Up until 2010, Volvo offered a base 2.4i model. It came with a naturally aspirated 2.4-liter inline-5 rated for 168 hp and 170 pound-feet of torque. The turbocharged T5 was a bit less powerful from the debut until 2007 than it is now; it made 218 hp. You might also encounter a model with a manual transmission; Volvo intermittently offered a manual for both the base 2.4i and T5 over the years. All-wheel drive was also available for the T5 through 2010.

There have been a few important equipment changes as well. Stability control became standard on all S40s for 2007, and upgraded audio components and the new blind-spot monitoring system joined the roster for '08. The '09 model received a slew of former options as standard equipment.

The first-generation Volvo S40 sport sedan debuted for 2000. It came with a turbocharged 1.9-liter four-cylinder engine that made 160 hp and 170 pound-feet of torque. A four-speed automatic transmission delivered power to the front wheels, and there was no manual transmission or AWD option. Standard features included ABS, automatic climate control, power windows and locks, and heated mirrors, while features like leather upholstery and a power driver seat were optional. In 2001, Volvo added safety features to the S40 and made minor styling changes to the headlights and interior. The company also brought out a new five-speed automatic transmission. For 2003, power was increased to 170 hp, and a CD player became standard. In 2004, Volvo added an LSE trim to the lineup to sustain interest in the car until the current generation launched later in the year.

In reviews of the first-generation Volvo S40, we noted that it was a competent small sedan but nonetheless a tough sell over the less expensive but comparably upscale turbocharged or V6-powered Volkswagen Jetta. If you're interested in buying a used S40 of this vintage, we'd recommend going with one from '03 or later, as these models benefited from the abovementioned mild power bump and standard CD player.

User Reviews:

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  Stylish, yet glitchy, Euro sport sedan - 2005 Volvo S40
  By Steve - June 16 - 2:00 am

  Still like the car 5 years later but looking forward to my next and it wont be another Volvo. Heres a sample of the issues Ive had since purchase: key fob doesnt work (Im on my 4th replacement), car towed 4 times because engine immobilizer wont disengage, lights fell out of side mirrors, radio replaced, heated seats replaced, driver window assembly broke, front woofers replaced, clock doesnt keep time, driver seatbelt wont release when pulled, passenger airbag disables when a passenger is in seat, etc. 2 really annoying attributes: blind spots galore & wheels can not be rotated. Car wobbles at highway speed and no amount of balancing works. Took 2 sets of tires to figure out problem

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  Is it a sin to be in love with your car? - 2006 Volvo S40
  By Tim J - June 5 - 8:23 pm

  Bought a Barrents Blue 2.4L 5 cyl automatic S40 with black leather interior, climate package, select package, sunroof, 6 disc CD player, etc. Im in love with this car! Got a great deal from my local Seattle dealer. The salesman was great too: no pressure, easy to work with, gave me all the necessary info to help me make a solid decision, etc. I highly recommend this car. It rides great. It feels safe and well made. The layout of controls is excellent. A buddy has an Audi A4 (way too many of those in Seattle, BTW) and you are overwhelmed with dials, switches, and readouts. The Volvo S40 has a simple yet elegant controls layout. Kudos Volvo engineers! I highly recommend this car.

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  One day, it may save my life. - 2004 Volvo S40
  By Darius - May 7 - 2:00 am

  Purchased a Cherry Red S40 w/ Sports Pkg for $20.3k. Good dealership, much nicer than Ford. The car is pretty quiet and fairly smooth. Im still in the break-in period so Im drying to push this puppy to 5k RPM after 2k miles. No real complaints except the seat adjustments are much different than the Lexus. Accidentally ran a red light on the other day and stopped before hitting another car at the intersection. Good brakes. Two thumbs up.

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  Im Glad Its Gone - 2000 Volvo S40
  By Mrs. Showers - May 4 - 2:00 am

  I have never had so many problems with a car in my life. It has spent time in the shop (averaged out) every four months. It was in 33 days at one point for a cracked battery casing which caused battery acid to spew in the engine compartment. The control module and several other parts had to be replaced. The headlights also burned out frequently. The mileage never impressed me. Not enough room for more than 1 passenger.I took a bath financially to get rid of this leased vehicle and Im glad I did. I will say that I felt like I was in a foreign film when I went zipping down our narrow side streets.

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  Before you buy - 2003 Volvo S40
  By CBG - May 1 - 2:00 am

  I really do like my S40, but the maintenance cost are a bit outrageous. In one year I have spent apx. $700.00 JUST ON MAINTENANCE. Plus every 15,000 miles you have to replace all the break pads ($150). The car is very fun to drive and has great pick-up, but if I had known I would be spending so much money on maintenance I would have stayed with my Toyota.

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  Excellent car that saved familys life! - 2006 Volvo S40
  By Will J - April 30 - 9:03 am

  Our Volvo saved our life/limbs! We were recently hit at full speed from a guy who ran a red light! our car absorbed all the impact. None of us were severely injured (thank God!). I miss my Velvet already :-(. We always got tons of remarks on the styling and the interior. Very sturdy, high quality equipment inside and out. Looked great with 18" rims on it. I bought it fresh from the Swedish factory in 2005, and had ZERO mechanical problems in 5 yrs of driving, including driving 2 yrs on the autobahn! My car was totaled in the accident but I plan to get another. I am Volvo for life. :-)

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  I highly recommend this car - 2005 Volvo S40
  By Dave from Chicago - April 29 - 8:33 pm

  I cant say enough good things about the Volvo S40 T5. The vehicle is sporty and refined, delivering nimble handling and peppy acceleration in a sleek and comfortable package. The interior design is as intuitive as it is impressive, with great looks, excellent control placement, and firm yet comfortable seats. The trunk size is also fantastic for its class. For its performance, the fuel economy is exceptional. I regularly get better than 35 mpg on true highway speeds, and I typically average around 25 mpg in the city. City dwellers will particularly enjoy the size of the vehicle, which makes finding parking spaces easy while providing ample interior space.

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  DECK ERROR - 2005 Volvo S40
  By Darrell - April 17 - 4:13 am

  The cd player should be recalled but it would cost Volvo too much to repair them all. For me - $720, not counting labor. I can get one from Best Buy for half that installed. Very disappointing - I thought Volvo would stand by their product but, instead, they hand you a bill. Im going to try Audi or Mercedes when I purchase my next car.

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  2005 S40 T5 AWD - 2005 Volvo S40
  By jstephens617 - April 16 - 10:16 pm

  I bought this car used in 2006 with 20K miles on it. This was my first "new" car purchase out of college. The dealership gave me a great deal at 22K fully loaded with leather, cold weather package, sunroof, etc. I needed the all wheel drive since I drive roughly 100 miles round trip to work. This car has excellent acceleration and while on the highway it has no need to downshift to pass somebody. The power range and turbo plus the AWD system make this car a blast so drive. The geartronic transmission make the drive even more enjoyable by allowing me to switch into manual mode when needed.

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  Great Vehicle - 2001 Volvo S40
  By Keith - April 7 - 3:16 pm

  Well, now I have 150,000 miles on it, yes, 150K! I dont know what people are talking about but I have not had a single issue with this car yet! I got it at 81K and knew that it would last, and it did. Yes, the cup holders are awful, but if you are like me and not like to have picnic in your vehicle, you will be just fine. I still average 28mpg with the ac running here in San Diego. If this car goes to junk, I would buy one again for about 7000 bucks. Beats buying a Civic as these are very very safe cars. The only issue I had was to change the coil wire which ran about 70 bucks! Just go and buy one, if it feels good, then it must be the right car.