Volvo V40 Cross Country

A Class Apart

With looks that can make heads turn and a high comfort factor, 

the Volvo V40 Cross Country seems like a classy ride

V for vibrant. Yes, that’s precisely the term that I would like to use to describe Volvo’s latest creation — the V40 Cross Country. A bigger version of a hatchback, the V40 Cross Country brings forward an aggressive exterior design with comfort and safety features that are to be felt and experienced. To do that, we recently got our hands on this Swedish machine. 

If you talk about looks, this particular vehicle just breaks away from everything else existing within its segment. It’s an instant head turner, especially due to its front, which portrays a sloping sculpted bonnet, a honeycomb mesh grille, along with vertical fog lamps. A sharp line originates all the way from the front to the rear, thereby highlighting its side profile with a pair of black side view mirrors along with elegant 17 inch alloys. Unlike the front, the rear tail gate has a radical appearance, courtesy a contrasting rear bumper, skid plates and oval shaped tail lights. The interiors are equally classy, with a full-length sunroof, and a waterfall like center console that houses a 8 inch screen without navigation.

Performance

The car is high on the comfort factor, as there is ample of space in the front as well as the rear. In fact, three people can be easily accommodated at the back, which is a good thing. The V40’s engine is very responsive, with the automatic transmission handing out good shifts. The ride is brilliant and it seems Volvo has studied a lot about Indian road conditions, as the suspension is tuned in such a way that going over pot holes and broken road surfaces isn’t really an issue. The handling too is really impressive.

Verdict

All in all, we would say that the Volvo V40 Cross Country is a vibrant product with features that create quite a noise (40 decibels to be precise). It brings to you brilliant looks, comfort factor, driving enjoyment and most importantly, safety, which is one of its most important credentials.

Hyundai i20 vs Maruti Swift

Battle of hatches

One is more stylish, the other trustworthy... and what about the ride? 

We help you decide between the top two hatchbacks

Curious to know which hatch to go in for in the diesel segment? We’ve made things simpler for you by comparing the top two contenders in B+ hatchback segment — Maruti Swift and Hyundai i20. Here’s what we feel.

Exteriors

Swift has an aggressive look, thanks to its front fascia features — large headlamps, a prominent front grille and fog lamps. The side profile has body-coloured door handles and flared wheel arches, while the rear, with its short overhang, caters to new tail lamp clusters, a sportier tail gate and a large bumper. 

i20, on the other hand, follows Hyundai’s Fluidic Design Philosophy, which caters to a classic yet trendy look altogether. It looks elegant with a pointed nose catering to stretched-back headlamps, a plastic front grille and clear fog lamp clusters. Its sides are highlighted by a sharp line rising from the front, going all the way to its rear. The tailgate features stylish tail lamp clusters, and reflectors within the bumper.

Interiors

Both the cars have swish interiors. While Swift boasts of a chic centre console as its highlight, i20 has a more luxurious look. Also, it comes loaded with features like a start/stop button, panoramic sunroof (optional), and bluetooth connectivity.

Ride and handling

As for the on-road experience, there’s not much of a difference in both the hatches — the ride is smooth even on bumpy roads, the gear-shifts are jerk-free, and the handling is strong. Also, the cars are economical when it comes to fuel consumption. However, the engine noise and a bit of vibration are the areas where both  machines need some enhancements.

Verdict

Swift, being a Maruti product, has a brand image like no other, and has better resale value. It also requires low maintenance and gave us a good average of around 20kmpl. Hyundai i20, on the other hand, may not have as good a resale value, but is equally low-maintenance. We got an average of around 18kmpl from this hatch that’s high on comfort and comes with luxurious features, the kind you would otherwise find in high-end cars.