Volvo V40 Owner Reviews: MPG, Problems & Reliability

Tell us what you think about your car?

Is not bad but the front suspension is making a noise. Looking on the internet it seems to be a common problem for this model.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

I have owned my V40 since new and have so far covered 42,000 trouble free miles in it. I do a mix of motorway and town driving and average 51mpg which in comparison to other cars I have owned (even smaller ones!) stacks up very well. Pros: fuel economy, comfort, refined engine (once warmed up), free road tax (although this wouldn't apply if bought new now) excellent sound system, Scandinavian design quality, has been 100% reliable, safety rating, excellent customer service from myVolvo dealer, very good climate control. Cons: gearbox can be a bit notchy sometimes (mainly when the engine is cold), not the fastest acceleration from stop (although this I understand is electronically limited to increase economy), older passengers may find the rear doors don't open very wide.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

AWFUL This car has proved more unreliable than a Metro we owned in the 1980's. Electric windows failed Rear door locks failed Infotainment system crashes Interior creaks and rattles Engine has become very rough Fuel filler neck leaks Suspension faults Blue smoke from exhaust New DPF required Falling MPG (as low as 33mpg on one journey!) Squeaking brakes For the last 16 months the car has been back and forth to the dealers each fault requires several trips to resolve and often the faults are never sorted. Terrible support from Volvo who actually suggested our best bet is to terminate the PCP contract and give the car to the finance company. A stressful and expensive ownership experience. AVOID

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

No Red thumbs down

Tell us what you think about your car?

Love the car. Drives well, no tax and good MPG.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

No Problems

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

Surprisingly high performance car available for low purchase price. Not trendy, but solid performer. Great for long distances and commuting, but driving round town gets expensive in fuel, as mpg can drop badly, but longer runs are fine. Decent load capacity, although relatively low headroom limits ability to carry large items. Beginning to show it's age and mileage, but would seriously consider a younger version when it needs replaced.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

I have had my Volvo V40 for over three years and never experienced a problem. I love the look of it and how easy it is to keep. Great boot size for the pram and the two kids have plenty of space in the back. Couldn't be happier with it.

What's the one thing you like most about your car?

The style of the R-design. Love the double exhausts at the back.

If you could improve one thing, what would it be?

The back doors tilt downwards along the top, so have to be careful lifting the kids in and out as you could bang their heads quite easily.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

This car has been rubbish since the day we had it. Volvo and its dealers' customer service are non-existent. If anyone is thinking of buying a Volvo I would advise them to read as many reviews as possible as some of the are terrible. Luckily we can give this car back soon – they have never managed to repair it. It has had more patches than a patchwork quilt, including new fuel injectors and it still beaches black smoke and chokes you when you start it up. I wouldn't have another Volvo if they were giving them away.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

No Red thumbs down

Tell us what you think about your car?

After having a 1.6 D2 for 4 years and 85,000 miles which was economical, comfortable and (excepting a problem with blue smoke on start up) was trouble free, this replacement has been far more trouble. It is now booked in for its fourth unexpected dealer visit all due to varying ECU or engine sensor problems, it has always got to the dealer under its own steam, although once on limp mode, the dealer, to be fair, has been beyond criticism. In addition the stop/start has a mind of its own, sometimes switching off when changing from 1st to 2nd. I know I can turn it off, but what is the point of having it in that case; the 1.6 never did this. Also, the 2.0 is much less smooth running and thirstier, although still good, and the new gearbox is positively nasty to use in comparison to the light slick unit used in the 1.6 version. On a recent daler visit I was leant a D2 1.6, what joy. This new 2.0 diesel engine is a very poor effort, which is a shame because in other ways I still like the V40 but I doubt that I'll be having another, in fact if problems continue I shall be looking into rejecting it.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

No Red thumbs down

Tell us what you think about your car?

I love this car. There are some problems reported about V40 clutches and mine is no exception. I feel safe driving the car, though. You can drive it comfortably at high speeds on the motorway and it corners well. There's not the biggest rear space but I am 6 foot 5 and don't feel cramped in the car.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

I bought this after a protracted search for a replacement car. D2 is typical turbo, slow off the line but fine once the turbo kicks in. The interior is comfortable and easy on the eye, only had one problem with a rattly drivers door. The problem was vibration on the plastic panel cured by careful positioning of some duct tape to absorb the vibration. The car doesn't always cut out at lights when idling but this isn't a deal breaker. Infotainment is good with quick pairing to my phone and spotify or choice of using a pen drive in the USB port. Fuel economy is very good with 55mpg around town and 70+ on runs. I bought my own space saver tyre as I've never seen a repair kit fix a shredded tyre. A slight downer is the tyre noise. I have some thoughts on reducing that with closed cell foam. All in all glad I bought the V40.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

Stylish looking car, safety factor is very high, especially important in modern day driving mayhem. All great so far. It's fast enough but I've driven faster cars. Gets from A-B comfortably. Economic in cost, Previously I had a Volvo C30 for 7 years and that was reliable. The VEL for the C30 was £220. The VEL for the V40 is £110. Cheaper insurance for the V40. Comfortable interior with enough buttons and bells on console to amuse the driver. There's no "flappy paddle" gear change. I have the T2 with a 6 speed gearbox and petrol engine. Downside? Mainly boot space, as this is tight for a child buggy and shopping bags all at once. But as there is only two of us , plenty of rooms for our holiday cases. A major problem is the lack of a Spare tyre. Volvo give you this gunge stuff for punctures. And this inflation device. I immediately bought a spare tyre from garage, and thank goodness I did. We had a side wall tyre puncture and the gunge would not have been effective . Also to coincide with the tyre we bought the boot raised floor shelf. Although not strictly required it does fit very well, easy to fit and hides the spare, tools and spare wheel nuts. I recommend you get it. You still have to buy a new tyre. We paid £ 160 for space saver wheel, and floor. A new tyre alone costs £120. Cheaper than most but still a Good Michelin tyre and that type of tyre was fitted when we got the car. Two punctures and two new tyres would cost a lot more than the space saver tyre and boot floor. See my point. Overall great car for us. We are in the 55-65 age group. And this car provides us with styling, economy and the umph we require and like.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

Overpriced and underpowered. 16 months into a personal lease and had nothing but problems with the brakes and the dealership haven't a clue how to fix them, meaning when ever the car is left standing or it's cold, the brakes squeak and by Volvo's own admission, you shouldn't get any noise under braking. It's pretty poor form for a company that prides itself on safety. The ride isn't very smooth either, with gear changes particularly uncomfortable. If I could hand it back, I would. However, I won't have the opportunity to do so for another 8 months and even that's subject to my having paid off at least half of the cars value!

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

No Red thumbs down

Tell us what you think about your car?

We have now owned this V40 R-Design a couple of months now and without doubt the best car we have ever purchased! Personally I have driven the new C class/B class Mercedes/ New Mazda 3/ Alfa Guiletta.. and yes the Mercedes on first glance makes most say oooo that's nice! But live with it a couple of days and you start to notice the build quality inside is pretty flimsy once you start to tap and feel things.. The Volvo on the other hand is exceptionally well built and very comfortable making it feel safe and solid to stand the test of time. Ride quality plus road noise is just as good if not better than the Mercedes so don't take too much notice of car reviews from magazines. Bad points: well we already saw the size of the boot before we bought it but it's not as bad as I thought plus the buttons take around a week to get used to so that's that out of the way. All in all I suggest before you buy a golf/audi/merc/bmw etc take the volvo for a test drive and see what you think as my own personal opinion says you get more for your money over most cars....

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

I have tried all the usual suspects in this sector before by my V40 and found it to be far better value than any of the rest, the ride and handling are great put it into a corner and there it stay. performance is great from the five cylinders and economy is good and expect it to get better as the engine runs in. Would I recommend it to others then? bThat would be a big yes.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

Brilliant car with seats suitable for long journeys. Design is fantastic and you get looks as it is a very distinct shape and is relatively few in number. And what's also great is the exterior styling harking back to the old P1800 in places, notably the concave section toward the back of the rear doors. As for the functionality; handling lacks a little as it is massively power assisted and therefore takes a little while to get use to but once you do you understand why from a commuting and parking perspective, the gearbox is nice and smooth and the addition of a 6th cruising gear for lower fuel consumption is a godsend. The automatic start/stop is a breeze and is quick to get used to, fuel consumption is incredibly low for the 1.6 diesel as in lower than a Fiat 500 hence no road tax, brakes are astonishingly good, and boot space makes up more for its lack in cubic litres through its sheer versatility, in as much as its clear loading opening is almost a perfect square like its competitor the Golf, and the boot floor splits about the middle and can be used as a divider and has bag hooks to prevent luggage shooting about. Also on the back of the passenger headrest is a often left out item in most cars; a suit jacket hanger, and the glovebox can be chilled using recycled air from the air con in the cabin. I recommend going for the R-Design Lux model especially as you get all the extras, even if you go for the base size economical 1.6 diesel engine, as the sports chassis and handling responsiveness still make the car feel rapid, particularly in the corners. What you save in engine size you can comfortably set aside to spec it up a notch or two interior and exterior wise. As the 1.6 diesel is hardly slow and packs quite a bit of torque. In conclusion; if you want a distinct and very individual mid size professional hatchback for commuting and/or motorway cruising and don't wish to bore yourself out of your mind over mediocrity with the standard Vauxhall Vectra/Insignia or Ford Focus/Mondeo travelling salesman cars then this is definitely worth a look. New and used they have some great finance deals but don't afraid to be very choosy about spec and colour, get that combination right and it will even look significantly different from other V40s, as different specs can make for entirely different front and rear end shapes also. Use Volvo's car creator on their website to inform your decision on spec, even for a used one. As for colour; Solid White, Metallic Grey,Solid Red, Solid Black, and Metallic Dark Blue look very good and importantly look sleeker alongside their duller standard professional car counterparts. Metallic orange, light metallic blue or solid Rebel blue are colours that don't look anything like they do on the brochures and therefore will lose their value faster for very self evident reasons, namely they stand out for all the wrong reasons. Also a point of note; as this was the new design flagship when it was released it has the exact same interior as the V60/S60 except that the V40 despite being the smaller the V40 gets the better colour digital dash, whereas the V60/S60 gets a rather outdated looking monochrome affair.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

too early to predict but going by volvos history this should be no difference

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

It offers everything you would expect from Volvo and more. Comfortable, stylish, safe and economical. A pleasure to drive, too.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

This car looks fantastic, is really comfortable and handles great. however the D2 is a little sluggish. I would definately go for a bigger engine if i had another. The clutch is rubbish especially as the hill start assist is a little slow to react when pulling away quickly. the winter pack is well worth the extra. The interior is really nice. The seats are far better than in many rival cars. The MPG isn't as good as I hoped. I average 58mpg but i mainly do motorway driving. At 45 to 55 miles per hour its fantastic but go above that and it decreases rapidly. Also around town its pretty poor.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

Brilliantly comfortable and quiet car for general use. Superb seats. Appears very well made and nicely finished. Lots of grunt from 5 cylinder 2L diesel, plus good economy if carefully driven. Great motorway cruiser. Only real drawbacks are poor rear visibility (alleviated by sensors and rear vision camera) and relatively narrow hatchback opening.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

It's a nice looking, sporty looking car, that hops majestically across our nearby Brecon Beacons thanks to the Ford Focus underpinnings it bestows. Set drivers seat to low for my 6'5" tall frame and the seats take away my sciatica for awhile. Pedals have a meaningful strength and the gear shift is engaging. There's some bite too if you put your foot down. All works best at around 4,000 revs mark. The turbo sinks well with all whatever is going on, but bear in mind it's only 122psi. And a hearty well meaning 122psi at that with a little growl like rumble when nipping about beacons mountain roads. Ditched the fitted linear shodden Michelin Energy saver tyres for better Michelin Cross Climate+ and made for a much better ride. On the negative: Consumption only showing 32mpg?! Went into tortuous mode [reduced to 25mph] on the M4 motorway which wasn't the safest of Volvos moves!? Took it into Volvo who said it's a polite amber warning for spark plug renewal!? Not a Red warning?! An Amber warning!! Which in my mind due to the situation by the very definition of being in transit via the M4 makes it a danger to its occupants (me plus 1) no matter how safe the model is reputed to be! Will not be having a Volvo again after that caper!

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

No Red thumbs down

Tell us what you think about your car?

The good: The seats are amazingly comfortable, Looks, economy (only after recall on fuel filter), grippy, handling, excellent motorway cruiser. The bad: Infotainment is awful to use, new clutch and fly wheel required after 4000 miles, rattle in driver's door. Small rear seats, notchy gearbox, ride is unsettled on rough roads. service at 2 separate dealerships has been awful, slow to pick up off the line, build quality. Looked like a great buy, but have been disappointed. The interior isn't well laid out and has too many poorly thought out ideas that make this car annoying too much of the time. If you want to buy, spend time with the car before you do to make sure you can cope with its bugbears.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

No Red thumbs down

Tell us what you think about your car?

The car was like new when purchased at 3k miles. It is solid quality with a style and feels a larger vehicle than it is with more electronics than I could of imagined. The best headlights I have encountered (xenon) although the benefits of them moving as you turn may be marginal, the cleaning function is good for longer journeys. The dash buttons, voice control etc are intuitive after a learning experience of getting used to how they all work and after 5 months limited driving I am still on a learning for functions not yet fully used. Adaptive cruise control works excellently on motorways, braking and staying with moving traffic at a chosen distance with the sat Nav info on road speed limits displayed as you progress. Blis is good and a necessity with rear view vision limited, complimented with a rear view camera great for safe reversing although the lens needs regular cleaning to maintain clarity. L lane control nudges steering when wandering on A and M class roads. Parking sensors are a must as the extremities of the car are difficult to judge. One of the best stock sound systems I have come across, heated seats not a priority for me but the better half considers this the best part of the car and once used becomes a habit on cold days. Heated front windscreen and defrost function is as quick as it gets on a frosty morning unless you are into scraping windscreens. The premium leather and R design cabin details are all quality with the glass roof and shutter somewhat unecessary but nice on a sunny day, it does prevent birdlime etching roof paintwork. The most comfortable seats have an adjustment range that I have not encountered in previous vehicles, with dedicated keyfob seat memory taking care of the adjustment for her indoors and myself automatically The car is a cruiser, effortless in power (190BHP & no road tax, however new cars from 2017 subject to new more onerous road tax legislation) and getting there on long journeys however 1st and 2nd gear are undergeared, the engine torque makes the rest very usable at the lowest of speeds ( apparently 0-20W oil was developed for the engine to decrease friction and improve mileage) It has a somewhat cosseted feel and a certain detachment from the outside world most noted when town driving and care has to be taken due to poor visability although with the seat adjustment high and forward can partially compensate. Getting in and out of the car is not the easiest with the seats set low and long.. The Fuel economy is excellent for such a wieghty car ( 50MPG 50/50town/short commute, driving in hillbound location) but a lightness of touch on the accelarator is required. On flatlands with a long commute 75-+80MPG would be expected with careful driving. The sports suspension is taught as expected with 18" wheels jarring on bad roads (19" wheels would be somewhat painfull unless on the best of roads) The handling is good, stable at speed but when pushed into very tight corners at lower speeds understeer significantly. The boot space is less than I imagined and not good for hard cases however with soft luggage cases for our family of 4 is more than adequate for holiday's etc. The exterior bodywork paint finish (original) has been noticed as somewhat less than flat (to a degree I did research wet sanding but will give that a miss) with the merits of diamond cut laquered wheels and inevitable kerbing not the most practical of finishes Servicing has to be carried out once a year or 18k mls. (app. £250) to maintain warranty, only 8 years anti-perforation corrosion warranty (probably due to the Swedish road/corrosion conditions others manufacturers can be 12 years) The cost of some accessories is extreme, the most noted being mudflaps (+£100), cool box work's mediocrely( £100), Cool box boot power outlet loom (£45) rubber mats good with a well fitting high edge (£50), Tow bar too many £'s to be considered My foremost likes are a very safe stylish well, built 5 seat car with one of the most powerful/economical 2l diesel engines around, no road tax. Dislikes, a slight niggle getting in and out of the drivers seat, a slight engine stutter occasionally, the cost of accessories, the yearly servicing. requirement. Only fault so far rear windscreen water wash not spraying water,. I suspect it has not functioned from new and to be rectified under warranty/service. It gets 5 stars from me but may not be to everyones liking. if power, economy with tech are not needed

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

Overall this car is very good well built, which is reason I would recommend. However the bad part, you get a 2.0 turbo reading at 30 MPG but at 122BHP it's very under powered and you can feel this

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

Had this car new as a lease deal, problems started a couple of months with SRS airbag service sign coming up intermittently , the garage had it in and out repeatedly and struggled identifying fault, still working on it now, but thats my second time having Volvo, will never go back to it after the lease elapsed. can't wait!

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

No Red thumbs down

Tell us what you think about your car?

Great car for young people with one kid (max); for 2 kids, search for another car. The only thing wrong with this car is the boot, especially for long trips. The D2 is a refined engine and it's frugal, but a bit of a slacker when you want to drive a bit more sporty. The infotainment system is one of the best (top 3) I've seen. The interior is premium and very stylish - no bling, but not boring. Good dynamics on the roads.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

Cant go wrong with a volvo

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

Good all round car really, good mpg get 66mpg on motorway, easy car to oil change yourself with the oil filter located next to the sump. Nice driving experience smooth and responsive, although the gearbox is a bit clunky, but I can live with that.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

I love this car-the Road-Noise seems a bit excessive for a car of this class and is a bit annoying. Otherwise it is a lovely car to drive and very fuel efficient. The road noise is a put-off though.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

I owned a BMW before this V40 and honestly I far prefer the Volvo. It's more comfortable, more enjoyable to drive, and you get far more extras for your money.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

A really brilliant hatchback with class and performance. The manufacturer's Polestar performance upgrade has added genuinely impressive performance. The car has excellent dynamics and can be a 'hushed' small 'limo' when wanted and wafts along, or it can become a genuine performance hatchback, holding its own with GTIs, RSs, etc. The vehicle has been genuinely 100% reliable, with no problems whatsoever, and the local Volvo dealership has been great to deal with (servicing & Polestar upgrade). Another unusual feature (I'm in the road safety sector) is that no one ever has a bad comment to make about my V40, quite the opposite, it's regarded as a somewhat 'posh' car. I will buy another when I trade this one in.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

Like most people looking for a change of car the market is totally mind boggling, so many excellent choices each make offering different attributes. So why the V40. My main priorities are safety, comfort and economy. Their are definitely other makes and models that drive better, for example the fabulous Focus of which i have owned two, the golf smooth and refined but numb, the A3 very plush but overpriced. The V40 however is something a little different. With the 'R' design the aesthetics are very pleasing, the body contours, sports leather seats unbelievably cmfortable the digital dashboard the feel and touch of the various buttons ooze quality. However the most important aspect is the way it makes you feel and that is special and most importantly safe. The shape of the cabin cocoons you, the seats better then in my own living room, the heating system almost instant to the desired temperature, so many small bits that make a large jigsaw, nothing over the top but certainly not bargain basement. So why only four stars. The only downside is the ride on certain roads it can be a little choppy on the R design, not all the time but noticeable on uneven surfaces, The offset for this is that it corners beautifully. The D2 engine is good maybe not excellent as it is audible at certain revs but again not annoying once settled and warm, it certainly has very good low rev pull power when required. The V40 is a beautiful looking car, different but not in a very practical way. It stands out in a crowd of dull competitors as a safe all rounder I highly recommended.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

A pleasure to drive, quick smooth, brilliant

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

I have owned this car since January and yes they are an expensive purchase but it is a fantastic car and I love it. It is very well made too it just wreaks of quality and It looks great and it is lovely to drive and it is loaded with toys and it has the most incredible safety features. It is a petrol engine and is 152 bhp and it does 40-42 mpg normal running about and on a journey it will do 48+ mpg. Just to add I think the person who gave one star doesn't realise that with a smaller engine you do have to use your gearbox and revs their slating of it doesn't make sense.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up