AtVolvoholiday - new compact crossoverXC 40 became the car of the year in Europe. Moreover, they promise to bring the novelty to Russia now. Dealers are rubbing their hands and gearing up for sales, including offering unprecedented discounts on their current pseudo-off-road hatchback. V40 Cross Country. Should I succumb to the Swedish tricks? Let's try to answer withSubaru XV, another interesting novelty, actively promoted in the same class and price range.
Why didn't we test, for example, the Mercedes GLA or the latest BMW X2? Just because of the cost - both are at least half a million more expensive. Moreover, it is with these “Germans” that the XC40 will have to compete. In addition, both Volvo and Subaru still have certain nuances with image positioning - if the Swedes are pursuing an active policy of fully introducing the brand into the luxury segment, then Subaru is still between heaven and earth - it seems like the Japanese cannot be attributed to the mass market, but it will not work to call it a premium either.
One way or another, both fall within the framework of up to two million. And both in well-equipped versions - with 2.0-liter engines, automatics and all-wheel drive. The only difference is that the Subaru XV is brand new, while the Volvo V40 CC, in its sixth year, has undergone a slight facelift.
It is quite difficult to believe that we have a completely new generation XV in front of us: even specialists have to look for external differences from the previous version with a magnifying glass. Freshness and youth are given out by new headlights, a radiator grille and not even new, but slightly newly decorated bumpers. Why is this a new generation? Because the technical stuffing has been completely updated - a new platform in the car, the power structure of the body and the engine. True, new, so to speak, in Japanese.
The chassis scheme remained the same, the body frame almost did not change externally - only the technological and component basis is different. The famous FB20 engine received three-quarters of the new components, including a new cylinder block. The Lineartronic variator has also been redesigned, becoming lighter and receiving new characteristics that provide greater efficiency and better traction to the engine.
Subaru's bright colors are no accident. XV is in steady demand among the beautiful half of humanity. Actually, the Swedish competitor plays on the same field. You rarely see men driving a V40 Cross Country
The Volvo update from the outside affected only the headlights, but how! Now they shine with the branded "Thor's hammer", so it will not be difficult to distinguish the current version from the pre-reform one. All other changes should be looked for inside, and they mainly concern the introduction of electronic assistants.
Stylistically, the already attractive Volvo V40 Cross Country does not seek to win the hearts of avid jeepers. Unlike the “bullying” Subaru, the clearance of the “Swede” was left intact. An off-road body kit is nothing more than a fashion accessory, especially when it is not pragmatically black, but, on the contrary, is additionally decorated with silver inserts and diffusers.
Both test participants have grown thanks to a slight refinement from conventional hatchbacks: XV - from the five-door Impreza, Volvo - from the V40. All-terrain performances instantly ousted their “civilian” donors from the market, and XV also disowned the name of the legendary, but completely lost popularity in Russia model
Ba! Is this the interior of a Subaru?! Probably, I have never been so pleasantly surprised, sitting in the passenger compartment of the Pleiades Constellation car. After years of criticism, the Japanese heeded the pleas and made the interior decoration able to compete with representatives of the best European schools. The salon is now in leather with elegant stitching and piano lacquer inserts. Combinations of decorative overlays look interesting and stylish, and there are even small decorations on the power window buttons. The picture is crowned by the central tower of a large touch screen of the multimedia station, which is covered by a second display with service indications from above. Everything together looks modern and expensive, but the tactile perception still needs to be improved: the plastics used are harsh and creak in some places when driving.
The multimedia station displays nice graphics with high resolution, good sensitivity and fast responses. The functionality of connecting gadgets is complete. Navigation is built on the basis of the system of a well-known company Tom Tom, but, alas, it does not know how to show traffic jams and requires getting used to, in particular, to the method of entering the address
Switching from Subaru to Volvo is like returning from a modern office to a home living room. If the interior of the XV tries to look expensive, then the interior of the V40 Cross Country is - the quality of finishing materials and the overall level of assembly are clearly above the Japanese. The texture of the front panel "under the skin" is superior to other natural components. The moral obsolescence of the interior decoration is compensated by the ornate Swedish style, the selection of interesting textures and the smart branded liquid crystal instrument panel. And if the central display were not so small and recessed into the front panel, the Volvo interior would have pleased Scandinavian comfort for more than one year.
As for convenience, opinions are divided here. The “Japanese” is definitely more spacious and lighter, the landing in it is higher, and the ergonomics are clearer and more familiar. Lush chairs are in fact harsh and a bit wide.
In Volvo, landing is like in your sports car. You sit down low, but tightly and tenaciously. In the hands of a plump "steering wheel", around the perimeter of small windows surrounded by subdued light due to the dark ceiling. Management of secondary functionality requires a habit - the specific location of individual buttons and adjustments, as well as the on-board computer menu, accustoms owners to the Volvo architecture. Quickly find the desired functions is not immediately obtained.
The back is more comfortable in Subaru - and again due to the space. In the V40, the sofa, in fact, is two separate armchairs, over which a sloping ceiling hangs back to back. The amount of additional goods in both cars is a necessary minimum.
Trunks in both cars are small, especially inSubaru - 310 liters versus 324V40 Cross Country, given that both are equipped with "stowaways". With family tasks, such can not cope. A couple of sports bags or one travel suitcase with a couple of packages - that's all that will fit here.
Both Subaru and Volvo are powered by 2.0-litre petrol engines. True, the V40 SS has a head start in the form of a turbocharger, which allows you to remove 190 hp from the engine. with., and in the top versions - and all 245. XV cannot boast of such power: 150 “horses” and slow 10.6 seconds in acceleration to 100 km / h.
In ordinary life, such indicators are enough: the XV is agile and easy to accelerate thanks to the good return of the motor in the first half of the tachometer and the smooth, but quick actions of the variator. It is only necessary to actively press the air gas pedal, which has a small margin of empty travel. However, with an increase in speed, it is necessary to be ahead of the curve with the Japanese “horses”, giving the box the opportunity to get into the peak torque in advance. Theoretically, you can spur the box on with the petals on the steering wheel, simulating the shifting of seven gears, but in reality you quickly refuse this, choosing a more measured pace of movement. The box would definitely benefit from a Sport mode.
Volvo is completely different in character. The potential of a more powerful engine has a clear limit - about 2000 rpm. Up to this point, the V40 CC does not show its true characteristics. On the contrary, the tight accelerator and the baritone of the T4 engine with diesel notes slow down the driver's desires. But as soon as the drawn arrow of the tachometer rushes to the zenith, the numbers of the electronic speedometer literally jump beyond the mark of 120 km / h at a falling rate of speed gain. Under the hood, there is 300 Nm of thrust, which allows the pretty Swedish creature to accelerate to 100 km / h in 7.4 seconds. And these are indicators of hot hatches.
In terms of handling, both cars are good. Despite the increased center of gravity, Subaru's new “carriage” has clearly benefited: a rather sharp steering wheel with a measured effort and a clear following along the trajectory allow you to feel confident in any situation. The all-wheel drive system and the tenacious Nokian friction clutch morally help to drive on a snowy road - even with deliberate provocations, the car quickly and safely stabilizes.
The steering wheel of the Volvo is even richer, and the speed of cornering is higher - the car seems to be glued to the road, while the connection with the driver is clearer not only due to the “tight” steering wheel, but more accurate reactions to the pedals. There is one thing: on Volvo, electronic “collars” are noticeably stricter - where the XV gives a little frigging by pulling the car with gas, the V40 stops everything in the bud by “suffocating” the motor.
ANDSubaru, AndVolvo equipped with a full set of virtual "eyes" that control the flow around the car, control the position in the lane, radar cruise control and proximity system. Particularly pleased with the active "cruise", which turns any out-of-town trips into relaxation. But the lane keeping system works on Subarumalfunctioning - "eyes" very often cannot clearly determine the markup, which is whyXVregularly leaves the lane. Whose fault is more here, the question is open.VolvoEquipped with proprietary systemOn callcapable of remotely controlling part of the car's functions
Suspensions also deserve laudatory reviews. At Subaru, it is “airy” - the XV rides along small and medium potholes, as if lightly touching the asphalt. But with an increase in the size of the pits, the predominance of energy intensity becomes obvious: the shock absorbers hold the blow, but in the cabin it is already shaking. V40 Cross Country, on the contrary, saves passengers to the last - if flip flops and muffled knocks get to the cabin, then the driver determines them exclusively by ear.
The exit from the highway to light off-road immediately changes the participants in places: 220 mm of ground clearance, very good geometry, proprietary X-mode system makes the XV the clear winner in this discipline. By turning off the ESP, you can quite confidently walk on the virgin lands on the Subarik.
Volvo's main off-road trouble is a civilian clearance of 145 mm and a low nose. In addition, turning off the safety electronics requires intervention in the on-board computer. With the system activated, it desperately stifles any slip and does not let go through deep snow. On the V40 Cross Country, even light off-road driving is possible only when absolutely necessary.
The updated Subaru XV engine proved to be economical. On the highway, the car fits into 7-7.5 liters of gasoline, and the consumption in the city does not exceed ten. Turbocharged Volvo is more voracious: with regular use of engine power, you need to count on 13-15 liters in the city
What is the upshot?
Two very worthy rivals, who after the test easily divided the spheres of influence.
Subaru XV- it is a "universal", in the sense that the machine is suitable for most tasks. Elegant inside and out, spacious, light and modern car has found a compromise between very good driving characteristics both on asphalt and off it. But it is not devoid of shortcomings: a useless trunk brings the economic component, not the most powerful engine cools the driver's ardor, and the queues at the car dealership are reduced by a considerable price for such a small car. Give up the "Japanese" a little pride, and sales would be clearly better.
Volvo V40 Cross Country T4- a car with a twist, which, with the widespread enthusiasm for crossovers, not everyone will be able to see. Despite the pseudo-off-road disguise, the Swedes turned out to be a real hot hatch, which, as an additional option, offers a cozy interior and the ability to drive in comfort. To be honest, this car would have looked much better with a sports body kit from the Polestar court studio and anatomical “ladles” in the cabin, especially since the new XC40 will definitely select the laurels of an off-road compact. Volvo could think about repositioning the V40, given that compact "lighters" in the Russian market can be counted on the fingers of one hand.
On October 25 this year, four weeks after the world premiere at the Paris Motor Show, the Russian presentation of the Volvo V40 Cross Country took place as part of the opening of Fashion Week in Moscow. In Gostiny Dvor, those modifications of the new model were presented (and their prices were announced), which from February next year will be available at Volvo Cars dealerships.
Having conceived a cross-country vehicle of the “C” market segment, the Swedish designers did not fool their heads with complex technical solutions. Based on the Volvo V40 hatchback, the engineers simply increased its ground clearance and added rear-wheel drive using the familiar Haldex clutch. In exactly the same way, the Volvo V70 Cross Country station wagon, which appeared in 1997, was created. A simplified one is also provided, i.e. front-wheel drive, modification of the Volvo V40 Cross Country.
Other features of the V40 Cross Country include the Hill Descent Control system, which controls the speed of movement when descending, as well as the Hill Hold function, which facilitates the process of starting uphill. The first of the mentioned technologies is offered only for the all-wheel drive version of the Cross County.
The rest of the differences between a cross-country vehicle and a regular counterpart, such as bumper and body sills or vertically mounted daytime running lights, are, in my opinion, more decorative than functional.
Some difficulties arise with the determination of the ground clearance of new items. One of the independent sources calls the value 173 mm. The manufacturer only reports that the clearance of the V40 Cross Country is 40 mm more than that of a road car. But in this case, it becomes incomprehensible how the height of these cars can differ only by 13 mm, that is, be equal to 1458 and 1445 mm, respectively. The width and length for both models are the same - 4370 and 1802 mm. However, there are other inaccuracies in the factory specification, so I recommend being careful.
While the engineers at Volvo Cars didn't make things difficult for themselves, the marketing people took care not to overshadow life with the difficulties of choice for Russian buyers. Only two modifications of the Volvo V40 Cross Country are offered on our market - front-wheel drive, with a T4 gasoline engine, and an all-wheel drive version with a T5 gasoline engine, however, in three trim levels - Kinetic, Momentum and Summum. What is hidden behind these names is not yet clear. It is only known that the price of the front-wheel drive version starts from 1.189.000 rubles, and the T5 AWD modification starts from 1.279.000 rubles.
1984 cc T4 4-cylinder petrol engine with direct fuel injection and turbocharging develops 132 kW (180 hp) at 5000 rpm and 300 Nm of torque in a wide range - from 2700 to 5000 rpm.
The listed characteristics of the motor in combination with a 6-speed automatic transmission Geartronic allow the car with a curb weight of 1452 kg to reach a speed of 100 km / h in 8.7 seconds. Volvo does not name the value of the maximum speed in accordance with corporate rules.
The Volvo V40 Cross Country T4 version is very economical. It consumes 10.4 liters of fuel per 100 km - in the city, 5.8 liters - on the highway and 7.5 liters - in the combined cycle. CO2 emissions are 174 g/km.
But the modification of the Volvo V40 Cross Country T5 AWD is much faster. Up to 100 km per hour, a car equipped with a 5-cylinder gasoline engine with a volume of 2497 cubic meters. cm, with direct fuel injection and turbocharging, as well as Geartronic automatic transmission and four-wheel drive, manages to accelerate in 6.4 seconds.
Of course, a powerful engine, all-wheel drive transmission and increased by 60 kg weight of the car lead to increased appetite. 11.6 liters (city), 6.4 liters (highway) and 8.3 liters (combined) - these are the fuel consumption values for the T5 AWD modification.
In addition to what I said earlier, Cross Country differs from the road version of the Volvo V40 with the original mesh grille, anodized black frames framing all the windows of the car, black exterior mirror housings and roof rails. In addition, the car will be available with a panoramic glass roof and heated windshield.
Especially for the Volvo V40 Cross Country model, the designers of the Scandinavian company have developed GEMINUS (16-inch), LARENTA (17-inch), MEFITIS (18-inch) aluminum alloy wheels. All of them are offered in two color options - silver and gray. Black wheels are available as an accessory.
New body colors are also offered for the off-road vehicle: Raw Cooper metallic, Biarritz Blue metallic, Amazon Blue metallic, Misty Blue metallic, Nightshade Gray metallic. And for the seat upholstery, you can choose one of seven leather options, among which Volvo marketers highlight brown Espresso Brown. However, a two-tone interior trim is also provided.
In all other respects, the V40 Cross Country off-road vehicle is no different from the road version of the Volvo V40.
The V40 Cross Country, in particular, uses Dynamic Stability Control and Traction Control (DSCT), which includes a number of technologies that improve both driving safety and driving quality. First, with the help of a body roll angle sensor, the system detects the tendency to skid the car at the time of its first signs. Thanks to this, the position of the machine is corrected with greater accuracy. Secondly, Corner Traction Control ensures that the Volvo V40 Cross Country handles corners quickly and confidently.
Of course, the Volvo V40 Cross Country has been designed with the IntelliSafe philosophy in mind and is therefore equipped with the latest in safety and driver support. In the list of new technologies, you can see, for example, an airbag for protecting the driver's knees and an airbag for protecting pedestrians, as well as a parking assist system plus a traffic sign recognition function. In addition, the Volvo V40 Cross Country is equipped with advanced pedestrian detection technology with full automatic braking and an updated City Safety system, which is now capable of preventing collisions at speeds up to 50 km/h. These innovations make it possible to call the Volvo V40 the most intelligent model in terms of safety in the history of the Swedish company.
It is impossible not to recall that the designers replaced the traditional instrument panel on the Volvo V40 with a liquid crystal display. Now the driver, in accordance with his preferences, can choose one of three options for displaying information. Such a dashboard is also convenient in that only the information necessary in a given situation is displayed on the screen. The experts who developed the new Volvo Sensus information system also sought to achieve this maximum simplicity. In this system, all information is displayed on a color monitor located at the top of the instrument panel. All Volvo Sensus functions can be controlled using the buttons located on the steering wheel, as well as via the controls located directly below the monitor. In addition, there is also a remote control. A mobile application allows the driver to maintain contact with his car in remote access mode.
Just as in the case of the road version of the Volvo V40, the designers of the V40 Cross Country did not forget about such a prosaic, but no less important task, as the convenient placement of cargo in the trunk. Numerous hooks, a storage box for small items, an additional floor, one of two hanging mesh options (soft or steel), as well as a “Luggage Compartment Optimization System”, which includes two floor rails, a partition for separating luggage and a belt for securing it, help the driver of the V40 Cross Country to load a wide variety of luggage.
As you can see, the differences between the regular and all-terrain versions of the Volvo V40 are minimal. Therefore, the decision of Volvo Cars to supply only the V40 Cross Country model to Russia is not at all surprising. Given the specific road conditions, it does not make sense to offer us a front-wheel drive car with limited ground clearance when there is a version with increased ground clearance and all-wheel drive transmission.
By and large, the Volvo V40 Cross Country is not even a crossover, much less an SUV. So what is it? It seems to me that due to its compact size, high engine power and improved cross-country ability, the V40 Cross Country is well suited for year-round operation in the metropolis, taking into account regular trips outside it. It's just a pity that the version with diesel engines will have to wait. However, in any case, I would call this model a little differently - Volvo V40 Cross City.
Photo by Volvo
As always, journalists are offered cars in rich trim levels. The black Volvo V40 Cross Country with distinctive aluminum sills and overhangs front and rear is no exception. True, before the top version with a 249-horsepower engine, the two-liter 213-horsepower unit that I got. a little underwhelmed. But the rest did not yield. In some ways, this is for the better - it is not so voracious, taxes are lower, and there is enough power, and even in conditions of predominantly urban driving, for the eyes. After all, whatever one may say, the machine is not the biggest, the same Ford Focus.
I note that the comparison with the "Focus" is quite appropriate, since the model was developed at a time when Volvo was part of the friendly family of the Detroit auto giant, and therefore, along with the impeccable Scandinavian design in the Volvo V40 Cross Country, no, no, and healthy American high-tech pragmatism will flash. However, what the company from Gothenburg has always remained true to itself is the desire to make the car as safe as possible. It is not surprising that the Volvo V40, which debuted last year in Geneva, without a la SUV body kits and without Cross Country in the name, became the world's first car with a pedestrian airbag. When I spoke with Stefan Inerfeld, project leader of the V40, I was very upset by the news that such a humane machine would not be sold here.
As the company explained to me, the V40 did not reach Russia due to the expected low demand for compact station wagons, but its more brutal version, with increased ground clearance and all-wheel drive, finally came. And I am very pleased that the pedestrian airbag was not thrown out of the options package. It is available in Russia and will cost 39 thousand rubles. How much philanthropy has not yet died out in us will be shown by the sales statistics, which are just beginning.
But it's time to get behind the wheel. Despite the compactness of the car, the driver, and even a very tall one, will have enough space in the Volvo V40 Cross Country (although it should be noted that the seat cushions are a bit short), but those sitting behind will have to crowd. This applies to legroom and especially to the head. The three passengers in winter clothes in the back seat were sad to look at. The guys joked optimistically, they say, in tight quarters, but not offended, besides, clinging to each other - warmer. They did not know that the rear seats also have tri-band heating.
That's what a car from Scandinavia means! Heating issues are given increased attention. The car also has pre-heating, a web of invisible electric heating threads has tightened the entire windshield, side mirrors and rear door glass have not been left without attention. You can start warming up the engine and interior remotely from an iPhone, there is a corresponding free program in the App-applications, you just need to type the word Volvo. Through a smartphone, you can also control the location of the car, the state of a number of its parameters. But the “smart” car did not submit to completely fashionable gadgets, for example, with an insufficient level of gasoline in the V40 Cross Country tank, it will not allow it to be burned completely just for the sake of heat.
In a warm car, you can and even need to ride without outerwear. A coat or jacket restricts the driver's mobility, but also increases the risk of injury in a speeding crash. The Swedes fighting for the safety of the car proved this. It turns out that the few centimeters that separate the body from the seat belt are enough in a collision to cause serious injury. I remembered this when I saw the speedometer needle that had crossed the “hundred” mark. I confess, I did not expect such a frisky, in one breath acceleration from the Volvo V40 Cross Country, given the slush and snow under the wheels. That's when all-wheel drive is needed!
As I said, not all Volvo V40 Cross Country delivered to Russia are equipped with it. Cars with four-cylinder engines 180 hp they don't have it. But five-cylinder units of 213 and 249 forces - please. The drive is permanent and non-switchable. It is not possible to force only one axis to work. There are no downshifts or transfer cases. To “hundreds” my “black arrow” fired in 7.2 seconds, losing to the older “sister” some 0.5 seconds. "Hundred" submits to the 180-horsepower version at around 8.7 s, which is also impressive. And no talk about Volvo cars and their drivers!
From the first kilometers traveled, you feel the care of the driver. It is especially evident in dense city traffic. Side indicators of "blind" zones in the A-pillars will prevent sloppy lane changes. By the way, these electronic devices, which are now flaunted by prestigious brands, first appeared on Volvo 7 years ago on the C30 model. Adaptive cruise control maintains a distance, up to a stop, from the car in front. And the trembling of the steering wheel will remind you of the involuntary intersection of marking lines. When maneuvering in reverse, the Volvo V40 Cross Country turns on the rear camera, it can be directed directly, or under the bumper to park tighter. Moreover, when reversing, the driver does not need to be afraid of traffic going across. In case of danger, the car will not only warn the driver, but also stop the car. In my opinion, driver care would be even more gentle if the large display in the center of the dash had a tactile screen. And so you have to turn the knob endlessly in search of the desired letter ... The presence of a tactile screen would also simplify the search for the necessary functions hidden under the icons of buttons scattered on the console and almost unreadable from the driver's seat.
But the Volvo V40 Cross Country is able to park itself, “finding” enough space for this in a row of cars parked at the sidewalk. Definitely, this Volvo model is closer than other production cars to the threshold beyond which human intervention in the management of machinery is not required. This machine is able to recognize road signs. During the test, more than once I caught myself thinking that the car would follow the rules of the road more strictly than I did. In some places, he was reinsured, displaying a speed limit of 20 km / h on the speedometer. And with all that, the Volvo V40 Cross Country is a driver's car, it drives fast, obediently, confidently. The rigid suspension does not add comfort to passengers, but makes it comfortable to drive, including during high-speed maneuvering. In harmony with the accelerating dynamics and braking dynamics. The brakes have good feedback. The same can be said about the steering.
But what I didn’t like was the noisy studded tires (I do not exclude that insufficient sound insulation may be partly to blame for the sounds penetrating into the cabin) and a very limited view back through the salon mirror. The entire space is covered by three large head restraints, guarding passive safety. The limited visibility is compensated by the electronics. It compensates successfully, but we have not yet got used to trusting it so unconditionally. I see no reason to consider the Volvo V40 Cross Country a crossover. The Cross Country inscription embossed in the overlay under the rear bumper does not convince me of this. Well, what kind of crossover is it with a clearance of 14 cm, albeit equipped with an assistant when descending a mountain? Yes, a good balanced road car with a driving accent. Expensive, compact, safe.
Everything around, except for people, becomes smarter and more functional. We are used to shifting our worries to technology, and engineers spend countless man-hours to make their devices and mechanisms more versatile and smarter. This trend is fully true in the world of cars: cars are overgrown with chips and gadgets, with the help of which the driver will soon have to turn only the radio volume knob in the cabin. The new crossover Volvo V40 Cross Country is just one of these - it promises to deliver anywhere with complete relaxation and almost on autopilot.
To do this, you just need to order a car in a configuration close to the maximum. With a starting price of 1,189,000 rubles for a front-wheel drive 180-horsepower car, our test device costs almost twice as much: 2,179,999. Although I calculated that almost 300 thousand options can be "painlessly" thrown out of this top-end car - so that the overall impression of it will hardly change. And the base V40 Cross Country with all-wheel drive and the same 213-horsepower engine as ours costs from 1,279,000 rubles. Not a bad offer, but how will the V40 Cross Country turn out in action?
Volvo V40 Cross Country attracts maximum attention on the road. From every second car, an interested look, once every two days, questions in the parking lot. Yes, and representatives of Volvo say that the novelty has caused quite a stir among customers, and a solid queue has already lined up behind it.
It is immediately evident that this car has a lot of original and beautiful details, both outside and inside. The artists did a good job of erasing the brand's retired image from the minds of buyers. Dual exhaust pipes, fast embossed sidewalls, a daring spoiler, an impudent hood, chrome roof rails. Why go on - look at the photos! The inside is also cool: the center console floats in the air (although this solution is not new), the interior is illuminated from all sides, and the tidy is almost more interactive than the notorious iPad. How about finding a neatly hidden CD drive slot? Here it is, at the junction of the gray and silver panels of the center console!
But there are also miscalculations, and they concern, first of all, the space in the cabin. The front seats are set a little high, and even with my height of 176 cm, the headroom with the chair lowered down is minimal. If you are a little taller and do not like to sit on the floor, then get ready to meet the top of your head with the eyeglass case and headlining located above the driver's door. Perhaps the problem can be partially solved by abandoning the luxurious panoramic roof for 33,000 rubles. Another miscalculation with the driver’s seat is the massive step of the “podium”, on which the front seat skids are installed. It is impossible to change the position by bending the left leg under it.
Layout problems continue to emerge when getting acquainted with the back row. The sofa itself is comfortable and equipped with a cool cup holder in the middle of the pillow, a comfortable armrest, as well as folding headrests. But in order to enjoy all this, you must first get there. This is where the difficulties begin: the rear door opening is narrow, and there is very little space for rear passengers. And when you get out of the car, beautiful silver door sills (an option for 14,900 rubles, by the way) will stain your trousers with pleasure.
A fully drawn chameleon tidy is available as part of the City package for 75,200 rubles. Such a solution is gradually becoming fashionable: it can be found, for example, in the Jaguar XJ executive limousine and on some cars of other brands. The “Painted Hearth” greatly untied the hands of the creators of Volvo: you can do almost everything with the instrument cluster that you do with your smartphone: first, change the subject by choosing from three available ones. Both the color scheme of devices and their style, as well as their relative position and display type will change. Want more contrast? Please rotate the corresponding menu item. And there is also no banal window of the on-board computer: you can refuse it completely or enter it in a couple of clicks into the existing instrument cluster with the display of certain data.
- Where to put your cell phone in the Volvo cabin? If not in the cup holder, then in a niche near the center console. But the latter, for the sake of design, is made floating, and the shelf is located behind it. Therefore, do not reach for the phone on the go. It's Volvo safety freaks - keep your hands open and use Bluetooth!
- Hidden in the glove compartment are USB slots and a 12-volt outlet. But for some reason they forgot to make a slot for the wire - another reason not to use a mobile phone while driving?
We continue to customize the V40 SS for ourselves. Attention is drawn to the cunningly hidden light bulbs of soft interior lighting. The lower and upper zones are adjusted separately - you can make it brighter or dimmer. And the mood-creating diode in the overhead console can be painted in any of the colors of the rainbow. After that, the fact that the memory of the electric seat has as many as three presets is no longer surprising. But the weighty remote control for music and climate is cool even after everything you've seen. True, for this beautiful option you have to pay a little extra.
Like everything in this car, the remote control is “designer”. The transmission selector handle also pulls on a work of art of a local scale (and at the same time resembles a high-tech joystick of a Toyota Prius). And look at the rearview mirror - it looks like an expensive thin-frame TV from the latest line of some fashion brand.
The T5 series engine here has five cylinders with a total volume of 2 liters, and the turbocharger provides a return of 213 “horses” and 300 Nm. It looks impressive, but our car also weighs a lot: 1509 kg, and this copy is also additionally packed with everything that is possible. Let's check if the crossover has enough power. Yes, for the eyes! It's hard to imagine why there is an option to choose a 249-horsepower 2.5-liter T5 with 350 Nm of thrust. Starting from a standstill is not impressive, but picking up on the move is more than convincing: this off-road vehicle shoots in a straight line no worse than hot hatches, and the passport 7.2 seconds to a hundred will not let you doubt it! The gearbox here is a quite nimble TF80-SD torque converter from Aisin. It has six gears and sports and manual modes are available. Both the one and the other are controlled only by the selector on the central tunnel - no stalk levers. It's just a little pity that the V40 Cross Country refuses to brake at all.
So what about corners? Here it is not all smooth sailing. In vain, the engineers did not consider it necessary to bring the electric booster (for an extra charge, it can have three feedback force settings) to the ideal: the steering wheel itself is quite elastic, sensitive and rather “short”, but the steering wheel becomes very empty in turns, and the driver’s connection with the steered wheels is lost. And it seems that the car is not the one to grumble on this topic, but against the background of excellent acceleration and braking dynamics, this miscalculation is still frustrating. And the suspension here is dense enough to provide good and understandable handling and very small rolls.
Although the chassis also fails in some ways: you expect an unequivocally greater overall energy intensity of the suspension from an all-terrain vehicle! In addition to this, the settings of the front and rear suspensions are slightly mismatched: to understand this, you need to speed through a pair of speed bumps. The front wheels take the load within reason, working out the unevenness. But when it comes to the rear, the body is rocked by an unexpected uppercut with a few damped wobbles in its wake. The rear is very tight! Therefore, in front of the “sunbeds” behind the wheel of the all-terrain V40 Cross Country, you will brake in the same way as lovers of understated cars.
But is everything so sad with bad roads? Off-road driving the Volvo V40 CC is, at first glance, almost an oxymoron. Well, what can be the geometry with 145 mm of ground clearance and a long front overhang? And the suspension travel, as it turned out at the very beginning of the tests outside the asphalt, is minimal. But not everything is so simple: firstly, the V40 CC is equipped with the latest, fifth generation Haldex all-wheel drive system, and secondly, the car boasts excellent rear geometry and even the presence of electronics that insure when descending a mountain. Let's check how it all works!
In the process of crawling even on light hills, the hanging of one of the rear wheels occurs immediately. Get to work, Haldex 5! But the car stands still and turns the wheel in the air. In order to go further, you need to turn on the sport mode of the stabilization system (though not with one touch - for this you have to dig into the on-board system) and turn up the speed - the electronic imitation of the differential lock will work instantly, and the clutch will instantly distribute the torque, after which the V40 confidently crawls out of the ambush. Full diagonal hanging is a little more trouble, but also does not completely immobilize the car.
Based on the results of a walk through the snow-covered gullies, the verdict became clear quite quickly: even a decently muddy road is unlikely to become a serious obstacle for the technologically advanced V40 CC drive, but it’s not worth sticking into ruts, slopes and other obstacles that require good geometry: a modest ground clearance and a front bumper, behind which an eye and an eye, will cool your ardor very quickly. At the same time, very modest suspension moves are fully compensated by the skills of a well-tuned latest generation all-wheel drive. The Haldex GenV clutch, like its predecessor unit, distributes torque proactively based on signals from a mass of sensors. The design differences boil down to the fact that the assembly has become lighter and more compact due to the use of a special valve in the clutch pack drive instead of a solenoid with a separate battery.
By paying for Volvo's auxiliary electronics, the driver gets a cool and useful upgrade to his V40 Cross Country. While we have not yet created a full-fledged autopilot, we can enjoy adaptive cruise controls, circular radars and other car parking assistants that also make life a lot easier. The radar in the grille (note the solid plastic area) is responsible for feeling the road in front of the car, and the camera at the top of the windshield monitors the markings and signs. All this fraternity of "electronics" carefully monitors the environment while driving, but if you prefer not to receive unnecessary advice, then all of them can be deactivated, since there are enough settings.
The camera recognizes road signs well, but you should not rely entirely on its work. In the city, she thinks that we are in Europe, and from somewhere she takes a limit of 50, skips some signs. But to be honest, it is a sin to scold electronics when you yourself do not always understand at what speed it is allowed to drive on our roads. But with Moscow markings, even sprinkled with snow and mud, the artificial eye copes well. The lane tracking system works adequately and at the same time unobtrusively: vibrations on the steering wheel are not annoying, although sometimes they are confused with bumps under the wheels.
Another interesting toy is the adaptive cruise control system. Its functionality allows you not only to keep behind the car in front on the track, but also to push in traffic jams at ultra-low speeds. The car itself slows down and accelerates, unless there is a complete stop - then you have to start off by lightly touching the gas pedal or pressing a button on the steering wheel, after which the V40 Cross Country will independently adjust the speed, taking into account the distance to the car in front. The radar works better than you expect, and is quite applicable in the conditions of the capital's hustle and bustle. There is only one but: the margin that Volvo leaves in front allows especially daring drivers "in Moscow" to climb in front of you. There is also a full automatic braking system, but it is better to test it in “laboratory” conditions, which we will definitely do in the near future.
Increased ground clearance by 40 mm.
A special "off-road" plastic body kit that gives the car an attractive appearance, thanks to which it has become more like a full-fledged SUV.
Enlarged bumpers.
Unique protective thresholds.
Chrome roof rails and panoramic roof.
Increased sizes. The length of the SUV is - 4380 mm, width - 1784 (including external mirrors - 2040 mm) and height - 1460 mm.
It is easy to guess that the updated crossover has become more impressive and "brutal", and also acquired special distinctive features. All these changes gave the car a more aggressive look. Looking at the V40 Cross Country, it seems that he is ready to storm the most difficult routes at any moment.
Interior
Salon V40 Cross Country is made very soundly and from the highest quality materials. The interior has not undergone significant changes, with the exception of two innovations. A copper insert appeared on the center console and the stitching of the upholstery of the seats changed. Apart from this, we can say that the interior is absolutely the same as that of the standard V40.
The elements on both consoles are very conveniently grouped, so that nothing interferes with access to any element. Passenger seats are very comfortable as they have several adjustment modes, which will make even people of impressive height feel comfortable. They are soft, thanks to which, even long trips will not become a torment. The rear seats are no less comfortable.
Two passengers will comfortably sit on the back sofa, but the three of us will already be cramped. The noise isolation of the car hides the hum of the engine and the howl of the air, and only a slight noise from the rolling of rubber in the area of the arches reminds of the movement of the cross country.
Externally, the Volvo 40 cross country looks like a real SUV, capable of storming broken rural roads and complete off-road, to a large extent this is facilitated by impressive bumpers and protective thresholds. Through the efforts of designers, the opinion about the model as a car for pensioners has changed, now it is hard not to notice it in the city stream.
Dual exhaust pipes, swift sidewalls, a panoramic roof that causes a spoiler and hood, chrome roof rails have updated the image of the car, now it looks youthful and daring.
The installed navigation devices are organically inscribed with the exterior of the car and are located very well. The radar is inscribed in the radiator grille, the camera that reads the markings and traffic signs is installed in the upper part of the windshield, and the reverse camera is almost impossible to get dirty in any weather.
The developers paid special attention to security. Here everything is thought out to the smallest detail. In addition to ultra-reliable safety belts, the car is equipped with seven airbags in the cabin and even one airbag outside (for pedestrians).
In the cabin, a large number of beautiful details and a center console immediately catches the eye, as if floating in the air. The materials used in the decoration are of very high quality and correspond to the class of the car.
Specifications
Considering the technical characteristics of the Volvo V40 Cross Country, it should be said that two different modifications will be delivered to Russia, which differ in the installed engine and drive type.
The front-wheel drive version is equipped with a five-cylinder T4 gasoline engine with a volume of 2 liters. The power unit was equipped with an automatic fuel injection system. Engine power is 180 "horses", which is achieved at 5 thousand revolutions. The torque is 300 Nm (at a torque of 2700 rpm). One hundred kilometers on the speedometer can be seen in 8.7 seconds of acceleration. The average fuel consumption is 7.5 liters per 100 km. On the highway, it will be 5.8 liters, and when driving on city roads, just over 10 liters. Emissions of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere is 174 g/km.
The AWD version will be delivered to Russia with the T5 engine. This is a five-cylinder turbine power unit that runs exclusively on gasoline. Its volume is also 2 liters, but at the same time its power is higher and amounts to 213 hp. It is reached at 6000 rpm. Torque corresponds to the front-wheel drive version. The T5 engine has the same fuel injection system as its "brother". But as you know, you have to pay for more power. The average fuel consumption of this version is slightly higher and amounts to 8.1 liters (11.3 liters on the city highway, and 6.3 liters on the country road).
The range of these cars will be limited to these versions. In the future, it is planned to deliver to our country modified versions with a T5 engine, with an increased volume of up to 2.5 liters and a power of about 250 hp. Such a car can accelerate to hundreds in just 6.4 seconds. Naturally, such modifications increase fuel consumption. On the urban highway, it will be 11.6 liters, and on the suburban 6.4 liters.
All three basic versions will be equipped with a 6-speed automatic transmission. The most powerful can be equipped with "mechanics" as an option.
The TF80-SD six-speed, torque converter gearbox is nimble, gear selection is effortless. The box can work both in sports and in manual mode. However, engine braking will not work when the gear is engaged. The car is equipped with an adaptive cruise control system, allowing you to independently stay in the stream not only on the highway, but also in city traffic jams at low speeds. Electronics itself slows down and accelerates up to a complete stop.
The distribution of torque is produced by the Haldex GenV clutch, which distributes the torque between the axles proportionally based on sensor signals. The assembly itself has become structurally lighter and a little more compact, the designers decided to install a clutch package instead of solenoids with batteries. A car stuffed with reliable electronics moves very confidently even on a muddy road, but even small ruts and slopes can become an insurmountable obstacle. Low ground clearance and a very long front overhang for a crossover made these obstacles simply insurmountable.
Car suspension
Volvo V40 Cross Country is equipped with fully independent suspension. The front of the car is equipped with McPherson struts and an anti-roll bar. The wheels were equipped with ventilated disc brakes. To ensure good handling, the car is equipped with an extensive range of various electronic systems. Among all, it is worth highlighting the City Safety automatic braking system, the automatic parking system, and the vehicle detection system with a potentially dangerous location.
The volvo v40 cross country suspension is very dense, which provides good handling and little roll. But it should be recognized that the total energy intensity of the suspension for an all-terrain vehicle is still insufficient. The decision regarding the settings of the front and rear suspensions of the car is also unclear, they are noticeably mismatched. The front suspension hard dampens vibrations when working out bumps, and the rear does this after a few damped vibrations. As it turned out, when testing on dirt roads, the cross country suspension travel itself is very small and insufficient in off-road conditions. Designers tried to correct some of the shortcomings of the suspension with the help of electronics. The crossover was equipped with the latest generation Haldex all-wheel drive system and electronics that insure when descending a mountain.
A small clearance (173 mm) and a long front of the car when driving through gullies lead to the instant hanging of one of the wheels. And here smart automation comes to the rescue, for which the transmission should be switched to sport mode and add engine speed.
The differential locks and the clutch that redistributed the torque will help the car continue moving. With a full (diagonal) hanging of the suspension, the electronics in this case are less effective, but still do not allow the complete immobilization of the crossover.
Steering with electric power steering when driving in a straight line is very elastic, moderately sensitive provides an ideal connection with the road. But when cornering, the steering wheel becomes noticeably empty, and the connection with the steered wheels disappears in proportion to the speed.
Disadvantages of the Volvo V40 Cross Country
The significant disadvantages of the car include a long front overhang, which does not allow to fully reveal the off-road qualities of this representative of Volvo.
At least a small clearance will not allow to declare itself in the crossover class, with a ground clearance of 173 mm it is very difficult to feel confident outside the asphalt.
Despite the large number of adjustments, it will not be easy for a tall person to get behind the wheel, the head will rest against the upholstery of the ceiling, this problem can only be solved by abandoning the panoramic roof.
The rear doorway causes no less complaints; getting to the rear seats is very problematic for people of solid build.
Advantages of the car
The owners of cross country note the elaborate appearance and interior design, the precise operation of the transmission and excellent driving performance on the roads, the design that meets modern requirements. High-quality interior trim pleases many owners of this car. The dashboard in the top versions is controlled like a smartphone, delighting the owners with its information content.
Price
The start of sales of the Volvo V40 Cross Country in our country is scheduled for March this year. According to official dealers, the version with front-wheel drive and a T4 engine in the basic configuration will cost 1,190,000 rubles. A model with all-wheel drive will cost more, and will cost customers 1,270 thousand rubles. The cost of the most powerful model is currently not disclosed.
conclusions
The Swedish automobile concern introduces new models to the market not as often as, for example, its Japanese counterparts. Perhaps for this reason, almost all cars of this brand receive the highest marks. Drawing a conclusion about the Volvo V40 Cross Country, it is worth highlighting its advantages:
A large number of different systems that provide excellent handling and comfort.
Everything related to safety is thought out to the smallest detail.
Refined appearance.
Convenient dashboard.
Small fuel consumption.
The only negative point is the fact that the car does not cope very well with its direct duties of an SUV. It is hardly possible to go on it to conquer unknown routes, despite its very brutal appearance. However, as practice shows, in most cases SUVs are not used for their intended purpose. If you are going to drive exclusively on city roads, then you should definitely buy the Volvo V40 Cross Country, because it does an excellent job of being an “urban SUV”.
Options and prices Volvo V40 Cross Country 2013 in Russia
| Equipment | Price, rub | Engine | Transmission | type of drive | Acceleration to 100 km/h, s |
Consumption city/highway, l |
Maximum speed, km/h |
| 2.0 T5 AWD automatic transmission Kinetic | 1 279 000 | gasoline 2.0l (213 hp) | machine | full | 7,2 | 11,3 / 6,3 | 220 |
| 2.0 T5 AWD automatic transmission Momentum | 1 339 000 | gasoline 2.0l (213 hp) | machine | full | 7,2 | 11,3 / 6,3 | 220 |
| 2.0 T5 AWD automatic transmission Summum | 1 449 000 | gasoline 2.0l (213 hp) | machine | full | 7,2 | 11,3 / 6,3 | 220 |
| T4 automatic transmission Kinetic | 1 189 000 | gasoline 2.0l (180 hp) | machine | front | 8,7 | 10,4 / 5,8 | 215 |
| T4 automatic transmission Momentum | 1 249 000 | gasoline 2.0l (180 hp) | machine | front | 8,7 | 10,4 / 5,8 | 215 |
| T4 automatic transmission Summum | 1 359 000 | gasoline 2.0l (180 hp) | machine | front | 8,7 | 10,4 / 5,8 | 215 |
| 2.5 T5 AWD automatic transmission Kinetic | 1 449 000 | gasoline 2.5l (249 hp) | machine | full | 6,4 | 11,6 / 6,4 | 235 |
| 2.5 T5 AWD automatic transmission Momentum | 1 509 000 | gasoline 2.5l (249 hp) | machine | full | 6,4 | 11,6 / 6,4 | 235 |
| 2.5 T5 AWD automatic transmission Summum | 1 619 000 | gasoline 2.5l (249 hp) | machine | full | 6,4 | 11,6 / 6,4 | 235 |
