Should you buy a Volvo V40 Hatchback?

As appealing as the V40 is, there’s no escaping that it’s now feeling its age, with an all-new replacement waiting in the wings to pick up its baton. If you’re shopping for this generation of V40 then it’s imperative to strike a good deal, otherwise we would advise waiting for the newcomer to arrive and decide whether you prefer the look of it.

Although SUVs have grown in popularity – Volvo’s own range contains three with the smaller XC40 joining the established XC60 and XC90 ranges most recently – premium-priced five-door hatches remain an important are for Volvo to concentrate upon. After all, with the Audi A3 Sportback, BMW 1 Series Sports Hatch and Mercedes-Benz A-Class Hatchback among others as rivals, there’s evidently space for the Swedish brand to gain a foothold.

Following most manufacturers’ conventions, Volvo has already begun to pare-back the number of V40 derivatives as production starts to draw to a close, with just two petrols and a pair of diesel engines to choose from.

Which to go for depends on your annual mileage, but for better – not high – performance we would recommend opting for the T3 (petrol) and D3 (diesel) over the lower-powered T2 and D2 versions. With most trim levels there’s also a choice between manual and smooth automatic gearboxes.

Momentum Edition models are somewhat lacking in standard equipment, while there’s an undeniably sporty appeal visually with the R-Design Edition versions, even if they are lacking in the speed to match the looks – hunt out a used T5 version if that’s your thing. Nevertheless they’re the sweetest spot of the range.

Fans of more luxurious fittings could be swayed by the plush Inscription Edition, while there’s further leftfield appeal by the more rugged-looking V40 Cross Country, presently only available in Edition guise. Remember with that version you’re paying extra for essentially superficial differences, not go-anywhere agility.

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