Volvo UK has announced that its new premium hatchback, the V40, will go on sale with prices starting from £19,745 on-the-road.
The V40 will be launched with a range of petrol and diesel engines, with the D2 version of the car emitting just 94g/km of CO2 - entering it into the lowest vehicle tax bracket. The 1.6-litre diesel also manages 78.5mpg on the combined cycle, aided by a six-speed manual gearbox and an automatic stop-start function.
Three trim levels available - ES, SE and SE LUX - and they all come with Bluetooth as standard, as well as a host of safety features, including a pedestrian airbag. City Safety (an automatic emergency braking system) and Volvo's Pedestrian Detection system are also included in the package.
Along with its new safety innovations, the base-model ES trim comes with 16-inch alloy wheels, Dynamic Stability and Traction Control, climate control, and a five-inch colour display for its audio unit as standard.
For models fitted with satnav, the new system features voice activation, a seven-inch colour screen and a DVD player. Volvo will also provide two annual updates of its full European maps at no extra cost.
The new V40 also benefits company car users as, according to Volvo, the D2 powerplant offers the best Benefit In Kind (BIK) figures of all premium five-door hatchbacks, including those from BMW and Audi. Tax for the D2 are at £43 and £85 for 20% and 40% tax payers respectively.
Volvo is accepting customer orders now, with deliveries expected to begin in September.
James Giddings - 16 Apr 2012