2001 Volvo S40 Volvo S40 2001 Volvo S40 A Sedan Sedan Sedan FWD Born, Holland, Netherlands Only a year after debuting them on U.S. shores, Volvo has updated the S40 and V40 for 2001. Both the sedan and wagon gain additional crash protection in the form of standard head-protection airbags, dual-stage front airbags and a new child seat-safety system. Under the hood, engine improvements have been made to increase power and lower emissions. There's also a new five-speed automatic transmission that takes the place of the previous four-speed. Other changes are found in the cabin, with new material colors, a redesigned center stack for better functionality, more durable front-seat materials and improved switchgear. Rounding out the S40 and V40's 2001 changes are restyled headlights, bumpers and fenders. Strong complement of safety features, affordable base price, non-boxy styling. No manual transmission, price of car can quickly escalate with optional equipment installed. Now in their second year, the S40 Sedan and V40 Wagon are Volvo's smallest and most affordable vehicles. Designed to appeal to younger buyers, the S40 and V40 offer impressive levels of safety equipment and an upscale image. For 2001, Volvo has given the S40 and V40 standard Inflatable Curtain (IC) head-protection airbags, a system found on other, more expensive Volvo models. The curtains, one on each side, are woven in one piece and hidden inside the roof lining. When deployed, they cover the upper part of the interior, from the A-pillar to the rear side C-pillar, thereby protecting the occupants in the front and rear seats. Additional crash protection comes from whiplash-reducing front seats, dual-stage front airbags, side airbags for front passengers and seatbelt pre-tensioners. Another safety addition for 2001 is ISO-FIX, a new child seat-safety system. The ISO-FIX system allows owners to safely and conveniently attach and detach a child or infant seat that is a perfect fit for the car. All S40/V40s are equipped with a turbocharged, 160-horsepower, 1.9-liter four-cylinder engine. Volvo has made minor improvements to the engine for 2001, resulting in increased torque, better fuel mileage and lower emissions. The only transmission available is a new five-speed automatic transmission. Inside, the S40 and V40 offer a remarkable combination of luxury and value. Comfortable and supportive front seats have that Swedish feel we've come to expect from Volvo's high-end cars, and the interior materials are of high quality for a sub-$40,000 vehicle. The 2001's center stack is updated to be more comfortable and functional. The stack is now more anatomically and ergonomically designed, bearing a much stronger resemblance to the designs found in the V70 and S80. The climate control unit is easier to use and the radio controls are more stylish. Other changes we're glad to see is the addition of a storage area on the center console and window switches relocated to the driver's door panel. On the road, Volvo has tuned the S40 and V40 to being fairly taut, though comfort ultimately takes precedence over performance. If you are looking for performance, Audi's A4 or BMW's 3 Series are better choices. Still, the MacPherson struts up front, the rear multilink rear suspension and the rack-and-pinion steering system bring a distinctly Teutonic flavor to these Swedish sedans and wagons. If you are in the market for an upscale compact sedan or wagon, Volvo's S40 or V40 should be considered, especially if safety is one of your high priorities. The main thing to watch out for is choosing optional equipment. A full load of options can bloom the price of these cars considerably. Audi A4 BMW 3-Series Subaru Legacy Volkswagen Passat 450,000 450,000 4Unlimited 8Unlimited NA NA NA 4 1.9 liters Inline 160 hp @ 5100 rpm 170 ft-lbs. @ 1800 rpm 177.8 in. 67.6 in. 56 in. 2767 lbs. 100.9 in. 38.7 in. 37.2 in. 54 in. 54.1 in. 51.7 in. 51.7 in. 41.4 in. 32.7 in. 13.2 cu.ft. Standard Standard Standard Standard Optional Not Available Optional Rating = Not Tested Rating = Not Tested Not Tested Not Tested Not Tested Not Tested 15.8 gal. 22 mpg / 32 mpg 348 mi. / 506 mi. Insurance costs can vary greatly for this vehicle, depending on such factors as driver age, driver gender, teenage drivers in the household, driving records, theft loss data for your particular geographic region, miles driven per year, and other widely variable factors. Additionally, some companies charge a premium for certain makes and models, while others do not. $22,090 $23,500 7.35% $575 N/A 1% of the Base MSRP S40 A SEDAN (5A): 1.9L I4 DOHC MPI 16-valve intercooled turbo engine with variable valve timing; driver's selectable multi-mode 5-speed electronic OD automatic transmission with lock-up converter; 520-amp battery; 100-amp alternator; front-wheel drive, 2.54 axle ratio; stainless steel exhaust with tailpipe finisher; front independent strut suspension with anti-roll bar, front coil springs, rear semi-independent multi-link suspension with anti-roll bar, rear coil springs; rack-and-pinion power steering; 4-wheel disc brakes with 4-wheel antilock braking system; 15.8 gal. capacity fuel tank; side impact bars; front and rear body-colored bumpers with black rub strip; black bodyside molding rocker panel extensions; clearcoat monotone paint; aero-composite halogen headlamps with daytime running lights and delay-off feature; driver's and passenger's power remote body-colored heated folding outside mirrors; 15" x 6" silver alloy wheels with P195/60VR15 BSW A/S tires; compact steel sparewheel; air conditioning with climate control, air filter, rear heat ducts; AM/FM stereo, seek-scan feature, cassette player, 6 speakers, amplifier, theft deterrent, power retractable antenna; cruise control; power door locks with 2-stage unlock, remote keyless-entry, child-safety rear door locks, power remote trunk release; 1 power accessory outlet, driver's foot rest; instrumentation display includes tachometer, water temperature gauge, in-dash clock, exterior temp, trip odometer; warning indicators include oil pressure, battery, low coolant, lights on, key in ignition, low fuel, low washer fluid, bulb failure, service interval; driver's and passenger's front airbags, driver's and front passenger's seat-mounted side airbags, overhead airbag; ignition disable, panic alarm, security system; tinted windows, power front and rear windows with driver's 1-touch down function; fixed-interval front windshield wipers, rear window defroster; seating capacity of 5, front bucket seats with fixedheadrests, center armrest with storage, driver's seat includes 8-way adjustment, lumbar support, passenger's seat includes 4-way adjustment; rear bench seat with adjustable headrests, center pass-thru armrest; height-adjustable front seatbelts with pretensioners; cloth seats, cloth door trim insert, full cloth headliner, full color-keyed carpet floor covering with carpeted floor mats, chrome interior accents; interior lights include dome light with fade, front and rear reading lights, illuminated entry; steering wheel with tilt adjustment; dual illuminated vanity mirrors; day/night rearview mirror; full floor console, locking glove box with light, front and rear cupholders, instrument panel bin, 2 seatback storage pockets, driver's and passenger's door bins, rear door bins; carpeted cargo floor, cargo tie downs, cargo light; chrome grille, black side window moldings, black front windshield molding, black rear window molding and black door handles. -- CD Changer Pre-Wiring $22 $27 -- Integrated Child Booster Seat $255 $300 -- Leather Upholstery $1,020 $1,200 -- Power Driver's Seat $382 $450 -- Power Glass Sunroof $1,020 $1,200 -- Wood Interior Package $127 $150 329 Paint: Silver Metallic $340 $400 332 Paint: Midnight Metallic $340 $400 339 Paint: Torch Red Metallic $340 $400 343 Paint: Atlantic Blue Metallic $340 $400 344 Paint: Desert Wind Metallic $340 $400 345 Paint: Peacock Green Metallic $340 $400 AUDIO Audio Package $680 $800 COLD Weather Package $722 $850 LEATH Leather/CD Package $1,615 $1,900 ROOF Sunroof/CD Package $595 $700 SPORT Sport Package $467 $550