SA Roadtests
South Africa
ctjag8
This is the home of automobile road tests in South Africa. We drive South African cars, SUVs and LCVs under South African conditions. It also just happens that most of the vehicles we drive are world cars as well, so what you read here probably applies to the models you can get at home.
*To read one of our road tests, just select from the menu on the left. Hover your cursor over the manufacturer's name, then choose from the drop-down menu.
*Please remember too, that prices quoted were those ruling on the days I wrote the reports.
Published in Witness Wheels on Thursday September 26, 2013
Looks deceive. Volvo’s V40 hatchback looks bigger but it’s only 45mm longer than a 1-series BMW. It has enough space for five big people and it carries 335 litres of cargo before laying the rear seatbacks down flat. But that’s not why we’re here. There’s a secret weapon in the V40 arsenal. It lurks under an innocuous code called R-Design.
It has little to do with outer details like silky metal trim, twin big-bore tailpipes and diamond-cut black alloy wheels; or the bespoke seats, steering wheel and instruments inside. It has all that, but the secret is in the engines and suspension. Only two V40 models qualify for the R-Design badge; a D3 diesel and one with the T5 turbocharged petrol motor. That’s the original 2.5-litre, five-cylinder T5 we know from the likes of early Kugas and Focus STs – just with more power. Both put grunt to the ground via six-speed Geartronic ‘boxes.
Suspension details include a Sport chassis that’s 10 mm lower than the Dynamic version on the regular models; Essential, Excel and Elite. Springs and shock absorbers are set firmer while the McPherson struts have 25mm piston rods, enabling the structure to better absorb lateral loads. At the rear, monotube dampers feature compression and return damping via the same valve. This gives shorter, faster fluid flow, which in turn means that dampers respond more quickly. Finally, thicker anti-roll bars help to keep things even more level. These all add up to a sporty drive that’s firm, but doesn’t endanger your fillings.
The turbocharged Volvo five-cylinder motor puts out 187 kW and 360 Nm, peaking on overboost at 400 Nm, to charge up to 100 km/h in 6,5 seconds and go on to 250 km/h if you let it. Torque delivery feels endless, surging steadily from 1800 to 4200 rpm, well matched by the Aisin-Warner microprocessor controlled transmission with manual override. This is selected in the traditional way by sliding the lever over to the Sport position on the left, then moving it forward for upshifts and back for down. There are no paddles. Unlike many others though, selecting Sport does actually sharpen responses noticeably and makes the engine come alive.
The interactive dashboard in the Volvo V40 has drawn a lot of attention. Ability to switch between three layouts with different configurations and functionality - Elegance, Eco and Performance - is common to all V40s. The difference is that with R-Design, all modes come in the same radiant blue colour; rather than the brown, blue and red hues found in lesser versions.
When it comes to seats, customers have a choice of supportively shaped Nubuk and textile, or optional full leather chairs, all crowned with an embroidered R-design logo. The comfortable, in-command driver environment includes a specially designed steering wheel, gear shifter, handbrake and sport pedals. Adding to the aura is a combination of “perforated” aluminium inlays, black upholstery, matching stitching and black headlining. It makes you feel at home.
Naturally, being a Volvo, all the expected safety build and equipment is present, with many more nice-to-haves available as options. That’s commendable, but let’s not forget the primary message. R-Design is Volvo’s secret weapon. It performs and handles like a German. Don’t spill the secret.
Test unit from Volvo Cars SA press fleet
The numbers
Price: R406 000
Engine: 2497cc, 20-valve, five-cylinder, turbocharged
Power: 187 kW at 5400 rpm
Torque: 360 Nm between 1800 and 4200 rpm
Zero to 100 km/h: 6,5 seconds
Maximum speed: 250 km/h
Real life fuel consumption: About 9,1 l/100 km
Tank: 62 litres
Warranty and maintenance: 5 year/100 000 km Volvo Plan
This is a one-man show, which means that every car reviewed is given my personal evaluation and receives my own seat of the pants judgement - no second hand input here.
Every test car goes through real world driving; on city streets littered with potholes, speed bumps and rumble strips, on freeways and if its profile demands, dirt roads as well.
I do my best to include relevant information like real life fuel economy or a close mathematical calculation, boot size or luggage space, whether the space is both usable and accessible, whether life-sized people can use the back seat (where that applies), basic specs of the vehicle and performance figures if they are published. In the case of clearly identified launch reports, fuel figures are of necessity the laboratory numbers provided with the release material. If I ever place an article that doesn't cover most things, it's probably because I have dealt with that vehicle at least once already, so you will be able to find what you want in another report under the same manufacturer's heading in the menu on the left.
My reviews and launch reports appear on Thursdays in the Wheels supplement to The Witness, South Africa's oldest continuously running newspaper, and occasionally on Saturdays in Weekend Witness as well. I drive eight to ten vehicles each month, most months of the year (except over the festive season) so not everything gets published in the paper. Those that are, get a tagline but the rest is virgin, unpublished and unedited by the political-correctness police.
Hope you like what you see, because there are no commercial interests at work here. As quite a few readers have found, I answer every serious enquiry from my home email address, with my phone numbers attached, so they can see I do actually exist.
Comments?
Want to ask a question, comment or just tell me you thoroughly disagree with what I say? That's your privilege, because if everybody agreed on everything, the world would be a boring place. All I ask is that you remain calm, so please blow off a little steam before venting too vigorously.
This site is operated by Scarlet Pumpkin Communications in Pietermaritzburg.
Unless otherwise stated, all photographs are courtesy of www.quickpic.co.za
Copyright this business. All rights reserved.
SA Roadtests
South Africa
ctjag8