Volvo V40 range gets new Drive-E engines

From May this year Volvo will update its V40 model, equipping the premium Swedish hatchback with its range of high-efficiency Drive-E engines and Volvo’s latest eight-speed automatic gearbox.

This means the revised V40 line-up now offers an impressive performance to efficiency ratio, with 190hp on offer in the D4 turbodiesel variant, returning a claimed 74.3mpg combined with 99g/km CO2 when mated to the six-speed manual.

On Bing: see pictures of the Volvo V40

Find out how much a used Volvo V40 costs on Auto Trader

This makes it even more efficient than the current, less powerful 177hp, 185g/km D4 turbodiesel. However, the new unit’s efficiency does drop slightly when mated to the automatic transmission at 67.3mpg combined with 109g/km CO2, according to Volvo.

The new 2.0-litre turbodiesel D4 engine will also be available in the V40 Cross Country, offering similar performance to the regular hatchback with a slight efficiency penalty due to the car’s extra ride height and poorer aerodynamics.

The manual Cross Country D4 will return up to 70.6mpg combined with 104g/km CO2 on the official EU combined cycle – opt for the eight-speed auto and that drops to 65.7mpg combined with 112g/km.

Expect the new higher-output V40 D4 to dispatch the 0-62mph benchmark sprint in around 8.0 seconds.

Alongside the introduction of the revised D4 diesel engine, Volvo is also debuting its latest 245hp 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine, badged T5.

Fitted as standard with the same eight-speed automatic as offered elsewhere in the range, expect the new performance-focused hatch to sprint from 0-62mph in 6.5 seconds.

Although this latest T5 unit is 9hp down on that found in the current all-wheel drive V40 T5 R-Design and Cross Country variants (yes, Volvo’s engine line-up is now slightly confusing) and sends power to the front axle only, it is much more economical.

Returning a claimed 47.9mpg with 137g/km CO2, it marks a 12.2mpg improvement and a whopping 48g/km reduction in CO2 emissions (saving £350 per year in car tax), potentially due to the two extra ratios in the latest automatic ’box.

The new Volvo V40 D4 and T5 models are on sale now with deliveries beginning later this year.

On Bing: see pictures of the Volvo V40

Find out how much a used Volvo V40 costs on Auto Trader

Volvo V40 review (2012 onwards)

Volvo Drive-E engines review (2013 onwards)

Read a Volvo review on MSN Cars

By motoringresearch.com