Can a more powerful and efficient new engine help the Volvo V40 Cross Country overcome its shortcomings? In essence this is the same Volvo V40 as before with off-road styling tweaks, but it now comes equipped with a new and more efficient Drive-E 2.0-litre diesel engine and an upgraded infotainment system.The D4 moves from five to four cylinders, but despite the loss of a pot, Volvo has been able to squeeze out more power. It now manages a heady 187bhp combined with 295lb ft, all channelled via a standard six-speed manual, or, in the case of our test car, an eight-speed automatic gearbox. It’s an efficient combination, too, metering out fuel at a claimed 65.7mpg combined and emitting just 112g/km of CO2 (the manual manages an even more impressive 70.6mpg and 104g/km).Good news for company car drivers, then? Sadly not, because at £28,770 it’s more expensive than rivals such as the Audi A3 Sportback and Volkswagen Golf SV, while our options-heavy test car was a whopping £37,295. That means despite an 18 per cent tax banding, a higher rate company user would pay £2685 a year.Back in 1997, Volvo was the creator of the off-road estate car genre with its XC70. The idea was to take a standard road car and beef it up with a sprinkling of mud-plugging ability.However, with the V40 D4 Cross Country there’s not much genuine green-lane talent. It’s front-wheel drive (four-wheel drive only being available on T4 and T5 petrol versions), and apart from a ride height that’s been raised by 40mm, basically all that’s changed from the standard hatchback is the addition of some shiny roof rails and a dash of black plastic on the lower bumpers and sills. From a distance it requires a knowing eye to tell them apart.The upgraded infotainment system now includes cloud-based features that offer music streaming as well as the ability to pay parking charges or download local area information, such as recommended restaurants. If you receive a text message on the move the car will narrate it to you, and an excellent Harman Kardon premium audio system has also been added to the options list.from Autocar RSS Feed http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-review/volvo/v40/first-drives/volvo-v40-cross-country-d4-review
via AGYA
