Feature rich Volvo V40 to set Indian roads on fire

In an age where technology and gadgets rule, this is one car that will be a treat for many. Volvo Auto India (VAI) has, with the launch of the V40 Cross Country here on Thursday, has upped the game in the premium C-segment.

The fuel efficiency is 16.81km to a litre and the ex-showroom Bangalore price is Rs 29.25 lakh. The car looks chunky and SUV-like. What really impresses is the number of features packed into the V40, which are imported as CBUs. This package should be able to give the likes of the BMW X1, Audi Q3 and the A and B class cars from Mercedes-Benz some competition.

With incomes of Bangaloreans rising, more people are buying such cars. “High-end cars come with a lot of power and safety features. That is why I buy them,” said Mohan Nagarajan, Chairman and MD, Sidvin Core-Tech. “The comfort is great and driving these on highways is too. One feels confident in these cars and they also last. They are not just about style.”

The V40’s two-litre turbo diesel mill, mated with a six-speed automatic transmission, produces 150hp and 350Nm of torque. But that’s just one of the good things. One can change the colour of the all-digital instrument display, a glass roof gives a great view, seven airbags (including for the knees), an infotainment system with eight speakers, intelligent driver information system, engine brake energy regeneration, keyless entry and other standard features.

Safety is high priority in the V40 and it features laser-assisted automatic braking, stability and traction control, headlights that turn (active bending technology), side impact protection, whiplash protection for the occupant’s back and park assist pilot among other things.

The hindrance for Volvo’s success, with any of their cars, could be general public perception. Indians, and Bangaloreans especially, think of Volvo as high-end bus-makers. But VAI is trying to change that. “It won’t happen overnight, it is a step-by-step process,” said Tomas Ernberg, MD, VAI.