Country Spirit
It’s probably an open and well-known fact by now that the vast majority of Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs) don’t actually see any actual off-road action. Most are purchased purely for the looks and image alone, by people who see the need to appear rugged when in fact they won’t tackle anything tougher than a multi-storey carpark ramp.
Sitting under the bonnet of the T4 lies a new 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol four-pot that replaces the previous version’s 1.6-litre unit. Power has gone up by a mere 10bhp, from 180bhp to 190bhp, but there is a significant increase in torque, from 240Nm previously to 300Nm now.
The difference in feel is stark however. Mash the accelerator pedal and the V40 Cross Country rockets itself forward like a hyperactive rabbit. Volvo claims that the revised powerplant allows the car to go from 0-100km/h in 7.1 seconds (down from 8.5 seconds previously), but golly does this car feel quick. Just for comparison, a Mini Cooper S takes 6.7 seconds and a Volkswagen Golf GTI does it in 6.5 seconds, so this is a mere half a second away from hot hatch territory.
That’s pretty amazing for a car that’s virtually half an off-roader, and in fact the raised height does little to preclude this from being a pretty good driver’s car. Sure there are some issues with traction given that it is still only front wheel drive and there’s plenty of torque being sent its way, but the V40 acquits itself fairly well in the twisty sections of your favourite country (pun intended) road, with well-weighted steering control and a pretty solid chassis setup. It’s not exactly a fun hot hatch, but what it offers is plenty of stability and assurance, capable of taking anything on with aplomb.
The trade off however is the slightly hard suspension, which tends to crash over rougher bumps. It can get a tad uncomfortable after a while, but those who prefer a sportier drive will probably find it reasonably acceptable. Also, the dual-clutch transmission could be a wee bit smoother in its shifts, and overall refinement can be improved as well.
As mentioned in the introduction, the V40 Cross Country is not quite a proper off-roader. Rather, it exudes that rugged vibe while retaining all the practical abilities of a regular hatchback. The facelift does help keep it looking fresh and contemporary, although the V40 itself is already a fairly handsome looking thing anyway.
The real star though is the new T4 engine, which gives the V40 Cross Country some pretty impressive performance with its blistering acceleration. It’s almost good enough to make up for the somewhat harsh ride, and for a faux-roader, the V40 Cross Country does offer plenty to prove its credentials as a driver’s delight indeed.
Credits: Story by Benjamin Chia, Photos and Video by Benjamin Chia and Jonathan Tan
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