The 2010 Volvo S40 is a fantastic way to enjoy the perks of owning a premium-brand automobile without having to pay a premium price. For less than $30,000, customers can pick up an S40 2.4i complete with a frugal yet peppy five-cylinder engine, sporty ride and handling and legendary Volvo safety. For a bit more cash, the S40 T5 R-Design ups the ante with a powerful turbocharged engine, the availability of all-wheel drive and a long list of luxury features. While not as sophisticated or adept as an Audi A3 or Lexus IS 250, the S40 nonetheless plays well in this field, offering a nice balance of performance, economy and affordability.
Used 2010 Volvo S40 Pricing
The Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price for any individual used vehicle can vary greatly according to mileage, condition, location, and other factors, but here's a general idea of what buyers are currently paying for used 2010 Volvo S40 models when purchasing from a dealership.
Original MSRP | KBB Fair Purchase Price (nat'l average) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
2.4i Sedan 4D | $28,300 | $6,454 | ||
T5 R-Design Sedan 4D | $32,000 | $7,422 |
For reference, the 2010 Volvo S40 originally had a starting sticker price of $28,300, with the range-topping S40 T5 R-Design Sedan 4D starting at $32,000.
Driving the Used 2010 Volvo S40
Despite the moderate size, the 2010 Volvo S40 is one serious automobile, well suited for both the highway and twisting back roads. Stable and solid on the road, the S40 T5’s steering yields sharp, reasonably quick responses. Quiet and refined, the T5 is a spirited performer, with its smooth-shifting five-speed Geartronic automatic transmission adeptly handling the engine’s power. The Geartronic manual shift mode is not as quick or as fun to drive as a manual transmission, which thankfully is now standard on both the base and AWD variants. Except for appropriate engine sounds when accelerating, little noise is heard. The T5’s suspension is noticeably stiffer than usual for Volvos, but discomfort occurs only on rougher bumps. On satisfactory surfaces, the ride is smooth enough. Though easy to load, the trunk’s size is modest.
Interior Comfort
Scandinavian in nature, the S40’s interior and dashboard qualify as no-frills. Volvo’s "ultra-slim" center console is a prominent feature shared with the C30 and S80. While the console looks neat, its stylistic slimness would make it difficult to upgrade to an aftermarket audio unit. The company promotes the S40’s "ergonomically designed" seats, and their comfort on long drives is undeniable. On the dashboard, temperature and fuel gauges are integrated into the speedometer, but are easy enough to read. Some controls on the vertical console aren’t quite as logical as they look, and glovebox space is meager. Compact outside, the S40 is quite roomy in the front-seat area, though it lacks good rear-seat headroom.
Exterior Styling
The 2010 Volvo S40’s design evolves from the more rounded shape that now defines Volvo cars. Few traces of the old squared-off profiles are left on today’s products from the Swedish-based automaker. What Volvo calls Intelligent Vehicle Architecture includes "extremely rigid" cross members for side-impact protection and a considerable amount of high-tensile steel in the structure. Manufactured in Belgium, the S40 bears a close resemblance to other Volvo models. Up front, at least, it’s a virtual twin to the V50 wagon.
Favorite Features
All-Wheel-Drive Availability Dynamic Sport Suspension
Even if required only occasionally, all-wheel drive enhances the Volvo’s feeling of security. Most of the time, you don’t even realize all-wheel drive is present.
Volvo’s suspension boosts handling capabilities without extracting a significant penalty in ride comfort.
Standard Features
Even in the base 2.4i trim, the S40 features automatic air conditioning, side-curtain airbags, front seat side-impact airbags, anti-lock brakes (ABS), five-speed manual transmission, an engine immobilizer, Dynamic Stability and Traction Control (DSTC), front and rear fog lamps, eight-way power driver’s seat, keyless remote entry, heated power mirrors, 17-inch alloy wheels, high-performance audio with six-disc CD changer and auxiliary audio input, a USB/iPod interface, Bluetooth hands-free phone connectivity and a tilt and telescoping steering wheel. Upgrading to the T5 R-Design adds a 2.5-liter turbocharged engine, R-Design body and trim kit, leather seating surfaces and an auto-dimming rearview mirror with compass, while the R-Design AWD adds a six-speed manual transmission.
Factory Options
Popular options are mostly bundled into packages. The Climate Package provides heated seats, headlamp washers, an air filtration system and rain-sensing wipers, while the Multimedia Package brings a 650-watt Dynaudio 12-speaker Surround Sound system with SIRIUS Satellite Radio. A power sunroof, power passenger seat and Keyless Drive are part of the Preferred Package, while hard drive-based navigation, leather seating surfaces (2.4i), Blind Spot Information System (BLIS) and Active Bending dual xenon headlamps serve as standalone options. A five-speed Geartronic automatic transmission is available on the 2.4i and T5 AWD.
Engine & Transmission
The standard 2.4-liter engine is adequate for the casual driver, but lacks the low-end punch needed for quick bursts of speed when passing or merging. If you can swing the extra cash, opt for the T5 R-Design – its turbocharged engine brings the little S40 to life. The T5’s optional five-speed Geartronic automatic is not as quick as Audi’s DSG manual-shift transmission, but it’s the only choice for those who require an automatic transmission. The six-speed manual in the T5 AWD, on the other hand, is a true joy and a must-have for the enthusiast driver. 2.4-liter in-line 5 2.5-liter in-line 5 turbocharged
168 horsepower @ 6000 rpm
170 lb.-ft. of torque @ 4400 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 21/29 (manual), 20/31 (automatic)
227 horsepower @ 5000 rpm
236 lb.-ft. of torque @ 1500-5000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 21/30 (FWD), 20/27 (manual, AWD), 19/28 (automatic, AWD)
KBB Vehicle Review and Rating Methodology
Our Expert Ratings come from hours of both driving and number crunching to make sure that you choose the best car for you. We comprehensively experience and analyze every new SUV, car, truck, or minivan for sale in the U.S. and compare it to its competitors. When all that dust settles, we have our ratings. We require new ratings every time an all-new vehicle or a new generation of an existing vehicle comes out. Additionally, we reassess those ratings when a new-generation vehicle receives a mid-cycle refresh — basically, sprucing up a car in the middle of its product cycle (typically, around the 2-3 years mark) with a minor facelift, often with updates to features and technology. Rather than pulling random numbers out of the air or off some meaningless checklist, KBB’s editors rank a vehicle to where it belongs in its class. Before any car earns its KBB rating, it must prove itself to be better (or worse) than the other cars it’s competing against as it tries to get you to spend your money buying or leasing. Our editors drive and live with a given vehicle. We ask all the right questions about the interior, the exterior, the engine and powertrain, the ride and handling, the features, the comfort, and of course, about the price. Does it serve the purpose for which it was built? (Whether that purpose is commuting efficiently to and from work in the city, keeping your family safe, making you feel like you’ve made it to the top — or that you’re on your way — or making you feel like you’ve finally found just the right partner for your lifestyle.) We take each vehicle we test through the mundane — parking, lane-changing, backing up, cargo space and loading — as well as the essential — acceleration, braking, handling, interior quiet and comfort, build quality, materials quality, reliability.
More About How We Rate Vehicles
FAQs
How many miles can you put on a Volvo S40? ›
Among the factors mentioned above, regular maintenance and driving style can make a huge difference. Overall, expect to see your Volvo vehicle last for over 200,000 miles if you give it proper care each year.
Is Kelley Blue Book or Nada more accurate? ›NADA values tend to lean higher because they assume cars are in good conditions. Insights can be gained from both values, but KBB looks at more factors.
Is Volvo S40 a good car? ›Volvo S40 Ratings Overview
The average rating is a 3.7 out of 5 stars. The Volvo S40 Reliability Rating is 3.5 out of 5.
“Excellent” condition means that the vehicle looks new and is in excellent mechanical condition. This vehicle has never had any paint or bodywork and does not need reconditioning. The engine compartment is clean and free of fluid leaks. This vehicle is free of rust.