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REVIEW: Volvo V40 CC T5

Cape Town - It's our job to give you access to the latest cars and motoring information, and with Volvo's refreshed V40 on test week, we thought we'd get under the skin of the Cross Country (CC) T5 model.  

The refreshed hatchback, launched in July 2016, features new LED headlights featuring Volvo’s signature ‘Thor’s Hammer’ light as standard on certain derivatives, and as a cost-effective option on others. 

More: Volvo's updated V40, we have prices and specs

A new grille sports vertical bars and new wheel designs along, with sporty options, are available. It looks the part and possess a Nordic design that's clean and fresh, especially in its luminous sand metallic hue and 18" Metallah wheels. 

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Inside, new floating centre stack decor panels are available while the familiar digital instrument cluster remains. 

What's it like to drive?

Our test unit, the T5, uses a 2.0-litre turbocharged engine with a claimed 180kW/350Nm, the CC also utilises all-wheel drive. An 8-speed automatic gearbox does duty and delivers shifts smoother than a Sandton blesser. 

The engine is languid low-down in the rev range but pulls strongly once you hit 3000r/min. The generous torque urges you to run at illegal speeds which are curbed by good brakes and a plethora of standard safety equipment including: ABS and EBD.

One thing to note is the standard fitment of a tracking system. 

The steering is not engaging enough and to be honest it shouldn't be. The V40 CC is the type of car that will live its life mostly in the city, but is equally at home on the gravel road.  

Spacious

The interior was made to feel more spacious by virtue of the optional (R8 500) panoramic roof. The plush leather seats are comfortable and cosseting with side bolsters that keep in you place when cornering. 

A 335 litre boot can expand to 1032 litres of space when the seats are folded down. The rear seats can be folded in a 60:40 split. 

Price

The list price is R526 900 for this model but our test unit is R590 250. Most that premium comes from the R20 000 Premium Pack which includes cornering LED headlights, heated front seats, satellite navigation, front parking sensors and a Harmon Kardon sound system. 

On the safety front, the Driver Support Pack (R32 000) offers blind spot information, cross traffic alert, active high beam, adaptive cruise control, pedestrian detection and a rear parking camera. 

Notable standard equipment:

LED headlights
Electric front seats
Leather seats
Dual-zone climate control
Rear-parking sensors
Cruise control

A photo posted by Wheels24 (@wheels24_sa) on

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