First Oz look: Volvo’s new compacts

VOLVO Car Australia has debuted the all-new compact S40 sedan and V50 wagon ranges at the Melbourne motor show and revealed pricing and specifications as well.

However, while VCA opened its books last Friday to take orders for three S40 sedan variants and three V50 wagon variants customers will have to wait until the smallest Volvos hit dealer showrooms simultaneously in June.

Unlike the outgoing Netherlands-built S40/V40 range, the new compact Volvo line-up contains no sub-$40,000 entry model.

Instead, there are six generously equipped variants in the S40 2.4, S40 2.4 SE and S40 T5 sedan, and the V50 2.4, V50 2.4 SE and V50 T5 wagon. The V50 T5 AWD joins the range in 2005.

In a move that Volvo claims gives S40/V50 the best base performance of any compact prestige European car, VCA has chosen not to offer the entry level four-cylinder engine here, instead opting for a long-stroke 125kW/230Nm 2.4-litre all-alloy inline five-cylinder as its base engine.

Pricing for the new Belgian-built compact sedan and wagon range opens at $45,950 for the S40 2.4 five-speed manual sedan, with five-speed Geartronic auto versions adding $2000 across the board and equivalent wagon variants commanding a $3000 premium.

All S40/V50 models feature as standard twin dual-stage front airbags, large front side airbags and full-length side curtain airbags.

There’s also ABS with EBD, Volvo’s Side Impact Protection System, automatic seatbelt height adjustment, anti-submarining on all seats, Whiplash Protection System, Stability Traction Control, the new Intelligent Driver Information System, collapsible pedals and a seatbelt warning for rear passengers.

Other features standard across the sedan and wagon range include “Dala” T-Tec trim, automatic climate control, integrated rear seat child booster cushions, multi-split folding rear seat, cabin pollen filter, power windows/mirrors, cruise control, multi-function steering wheel, six-speaker CD sound system, approach lighting, home safe lighting, childproof door locks, front foglights, puddle lights and 16x6.5-inch alloy wheels.

For $48,950, the V50 2.4 manual adds a load cover, roof rails and load protection net as standard, while notable options include 17x7.0-inch alloy wheels ($1500), metallic paint ($1350), leather seats, steering wheel and gearknob ($3600), power driver’s seat ($1950), trip computer ($555), floor mats ($125), six-CD audio ($795), sunroof ($2150), bi-Xenon headlights ($2250), Dynamic Stability Traction Control ($2190), laminated side windows ($850), rain-sensing wipers ($250) and heated front seats ($315).

Priced in both manual and auto guise at $49,950 (S40) and $52,950 (V50), the 2.4 SE models add, as standard, leather seats, steering wheel and gearknob trim, wood-effect interior inlays, power driver’s seat, trip computer, floormats and rear armrest with cupholders.

VCA says the $4000 SE upgrade comprises $8575 worth of features, including $2000 for the no-cost auto option.

Meantime, the range-topping T5 models employ a 162kW/320Nm turbocharged 2.5-litre engine, mated to a six-speed manual gearbox or the same five-speed Geartronic auto. At $62,950, VCA says the new T5 S40 and V50 models offer better value than any other compact Euro.

On top of the SE specification, T5 models add aluminium interior inlay, eight-speaker CD audio, bi-Xenon headlights with washers, DSTC and “Stylla” 17x7.0-inch alloy wheels.

While base S40/V50 models are claimed to dash to 100km/h in 8.3 seconds (manual) and to a top speed of 220km/h, T5 models offers a claimed 6.9-second 0-100km/h sprint and a top speed of 240km/h.

Identical to the sedan forward of the front doors and based on the same new small car architecture (that also underpins the Mazda3 and Ford’s next-generation Focus), the V50 wagon is expected to outsell the sedan by three to one in Europe, but in Australia should comprise only 30 per cent of VCA’s total 650-unit forecast for 2004.

The V50 shares most of the S40's interior and exterior dimensions, except for overall length. The V50 is longer than S40 (by 46mm), but the V50 is marginally shorter than the outgoing V40.

The S40 body structure is 68 per cent stiffer torsionally than its predecessor, while V50 is 34 per cent stiffer than V40.

2004 S40 pricing:
S40 2.4 five-speed man – $45,950
S40 2.4 five-speed auto – $47,950
S40 2.4 SE five-speed man – $49,950
S40 2.4 SE five-speed auto – $49,950
S40 T5 six-speed man – $59,950
S40 T5 five-speed auto – $59,950 2004 V50 pricing:
V50 2.4 five-speed man - $48,950
V50 2.4 five-speed auto - $50,950
V50 2.4 SE five-speed man - $52,950
V50 2.4 SE five-speed auto - $52,950
V50 T5 six-speed man - $62,950
V50 T5 five-speed auto - $62,950