2011 Volvo S40

The 2011 Volvo S40 is a stylish compact sedan boasting great performance along with its safety and comfort. It looks sleek, being a vehicle from the house of Scandinavian designers; an individual or a family, thus will find it attractive.

The 2011 S40 has a powerful 2.5L turbocharged inline-5 engine mounted on its hood. Equipped with a 227-hp, 236 lb-ft of torque engine, the S40 takes off with a startling lack of hesitation and easily crosses the big four-lane highways that dominate this road. The S40’s strong performance on city streets and highways also comes from the turbocharged engine-which helps to achieve 143 mph. But whereas the sedan does have some touches that will make you feel a little older, like the 5-speed automatic transmission, where the modern sedans more commonly come from the factory with 6 or even 8 speeds, the car’s transmissions are still nice and smooth and give the car a pretty genuine manual-shifting feel through the available Geartronic mode.

One area that really stands out about the S40 is its safety features. Volvo long ago became synonymous with safety, and this isn’t any different. Standard equipment of the S40 includes six airbags, anti-lock brakes (ABS), traction control, vehicle stability control, and ISOFIX child seat anchors to secure child seats. Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD) also helps distribute force at all four wheels, so stopping power is enhanced and skidding is kept to a minimum.

Inside, the cabin is appointed to seat five very comfortably. High-quality materials, seats are comfortable for short trips as well as long-haul journeys. Dual-zone automatic climate control ensures that the driver and passengers are kept comfortable at any temperature. The optional leather-upholstered interior sets a plush standard. However, like the siblings, there is no push-start ignition nor do you get modern technology features that include a big touchscreen with the S40. Its infotainment system does include a 7-inch display with a CD player, USB and auxiliary inputs.

Volvo S40 may term its outer body as simple yet elegant. Its clean lines and smooth curbs provide a look that won’t easily date and will still be good years after its release. Coming at 103.9 inches and 177 inches in its wheelbase and overall length, S40 marks a sufficient spot in between roomy interior and compact exterior measurements. This also makes it quite easy to handle maneuvers within the urban streets while sufficient legroom is given to passengers.

For those conscious of the environment or who cares about fuel economy, this S40 gets by just fine in both these regards. It returns an average of 21 miles per gallon, with 19 of those in the city and 28 on the highway. Not class leading by any stretch of the imagination, it is, however, quite commendable given everything it promises with its turbocharged engine.

In terms of suspension, the S40 is fitted with an independent McPherson strut in the front and a multi-link independent setup at the rear. The car provides a stiff, yet comfortable ride by absorbing bumps and other road imperfections without apparent difficulty. The braking system that provides ventilated discs at the front and a solid disc at the rear also helps it to tackle and stop swiftly and smoothly under varying conditions further enhancing the safety profile of the car.

With regard to performance and safety, the 2011 Volvo S40 is the perfect choice for anyone in need of a reliable and safe compact sedan with a style that has got no match. A blended mix of performance, comfort, and safety makes driving enjoyable for those heading out to an extended day at work, a weekend getaway, or a family road trip. It’s less modern in the infotainment system, but it’s still worth it because the driving experience is enough to make up any minor shortcomings, combined with Volvo’s commitment to passenger safety.