2013 Volvo V40 Cross Country - capable ruggedness and expressive elegance

The new Volvo V40 Cross Country brings a taste of adventure to the premium hatchback market. With distinctive body detailing, a higher driving position and available T5 all-wheel drive, Volvo's latest five-door combines everyday practicality with a more rugged appearance.

The idea follows a familiar path. Volvo introduced the V70 Cross Country in 1997, and now the Swedish manufacturer brings that adventurous character to its compact V40. Buyers can choose everything from an economical D2 diesel to a turbocharged T5 with 254 hp.

Volvo V40 Cross Country

Volvo V40 Cross Country Styling: A More Adventurous V40

The V40 Cross Country keeps the standard hatchback's flowing lines and adds a tougher collection of exterior details. The driver sits 40 mm, or approximately 1.6 inches, higher than in the regular V40, while contrasting trim gives the body a more purposeful look.

Volvo draws a distinction between its XC and Cross Country models. The XC range uses dedicated crossover body styles, while Cross Country versions add all-road character to the company's wagons and hatchbacks.

Key exterior features include:

A dark front bumper and honeycomb grille.
Upright LED daytime running lights.
Contrasting side sills and a rear bumper with an integrated skid plate.
Black mirror housings and gloss-black window surrounds.
Slim roof rails and available wheels up to 19 inches.

The result gives the V40 a different personality without losing its compact proportions. It aims to appeal to drivers who want premium hatchback styling with an outdoor influence.

Volvo V40 Cross Country

Volvo V40 Cross Country Interior: Copper Details and Personal Choice

Raw Copper provides the signature exterior launch color, and Volvo carries the theme into the cabin through contrasting stitching. Buyers can continue the look with a Copper Dawn center-stack inlay.

Volvo offers five leather upholstery versions, including combinations with Espresso Brown accents. Two-tone choices give customers further scope to create a lighter Scandinavian cabin, a darker interior or a sportier atmosphere.

LED interior lighting adds another distinctive touch. A temperature-related red-to-blue setting changes the cabin's lighting effect, while seven additional mood themes offer alternative colors. Front and rear reading lamps also provide dimming adjustment.

Useful Storage for Everyday Driving

The center console combines two cupholders with a 12-volt outlet and an adjustable armrest. Beneath the armrest, a compartment holds CDs and small items, with USB/iPod or AUX connectivity depending on the audio system.

The climate-control system supplies cool air to a glove compartment that accommodates two drink cans or bottles. Volvo also provides small-item storage around the cabin and dedicated, drained ice-scraper holders in both front doors.

Volvo V40 Cross Country

Cargo Space and Folding Seats Add Versatility

The Volvo V40 Cross Country interior accommodates five occupants and offers several ways to carry luggage, shopping or outdoor equipment. A 40/60 split rear backrest lets owners fold part of the rear seat while retaining passenger space.

A folding front passenger seat creates additional room for longer items. Buyers can also specify an extra cargo floor that offers several useful configurations:

Raise it to create a grocery-bag holder.
Fold it away to make more room for luggage.
Arrange a flat loading surface for longer objects.
Reverse it to protect the surface when carrying dirtier equipment.

Concealed storage between the upper and lower floors keeps smaller belongings out of sight. Available nets and cargo-organizer accessories add further ways to secure and separate luggage.

Pro-Tip: When comparing equipment packages, check for the extra cargo floor and folding passenger seat. These features can make a useful difference if you regularly carry long or awkwardly shaped items.

Volvo V40 Cross Country

Volvo V40 Cross Country Engines and Performance

The launch engine range gives buyers a choice of turbocharged gasoline and diesel power. Specifications vary by market, including alternative 2.0-liter T4 and T5 gasoline engines.

Engine	Configuration	Power	Maximum torque
T5	2.5-liter, five-cylinder turbo gasoline	254 hp	400 Nm, including overboost
T5, selected markets	2.0-liter, five-cylinder turbo gasoline	213 hp	300 Nm
T4	1.6-liter GTDi turbo gasoline	180 hp	270 Nm, including overboost
T4, selected markets	2.0-liter, five-cylinder turbo gasoline	180 hp	300 Nm
D4	2.0-liter, five-cylinder turbodiesel	177 hp	400 Nm
D3	2.0-liter, five-cylinder turbodiesel	150 hp	350 Nm
D2	1.6-liter turbodiesel	115 hp	285 Nm, including overboost

T5 Gasoline Engine: 254 hp and Available All-Wheel Drive

The 2.5-liter T5 heads the range with 254 hp and up to 400 Nm of torque, including a temporary 40 Nm overboost increase during acceleration. A six-speed automatic handles gear changes.

Volvo quotes a 0-100 km/h time of 6.1 seconds and combined fuel consumption of 7.8 L/100 km. The sprint covers approximately 0-62 mph.

The T5 also offers all-wheel drive for buyers who want additional traction. Hill Descent Control on the T5 AWD automatically regulates speed on steep downhill sections, while Hill Hold helps the driver move away on an incline.

T4 Gasoline Engine: Turbo Performance With Lower Consumption

The 1.6-liter T4 produces 180 hp and up to 270 Nm, including 30 Nm of overboost. Volvo quotes combined consumption of 5.5 L/100 km and CO2 emissions of 129 g/km.

Buyers can choose a six-speed manual or six-speed Powershift automatic with this engine. Powershift uses two clutches to prepare the next gear and deliver quick shifts.

The T5's six-speed automatic uses a different transmission design; the Powershift option belongs to the 1.6-liter T4 specification.

Volvo V40 Cross Country

Volvo V40 Cross Country Diesel Fuel Economy

For drivers who put fuel economy first, the D2 supplies the strongest headline figures. Its 1.6-liter diesel produces 115 hp and up to 285 Nm, including a temporary 15 Nm overboost increase.

With a six-speed manual transmission, the V40 Cross Country D2 achieves quoted combined consumption of 3.8 L/100 km and CO2 emissions of 99 g/km.

The larger diesels offer more power:

D3: The 2.0-liter engine delivers 150 hp and 350 Nm, with a six-speed manual or automatic.
D4 manual: The 177 hp diesel returns quoted consumption of 4.4 L/100 km and CO2 emissions of 117 g/km.
D4 automatic: Consumption rises to 5.2 L/100 km, with CO2 emissions of 137 g/km.

The D4 reaches 100 km/h in 8.3 seconds with the automatic or 8.6 seconds with the manual. All launch engines feature start-stop technology and braking energy regeneration.

Definition: EU Combined fuel-consumption figures come from the European test procedure used at launch. They provide a comparison between versions; they do not represent US EPA ratings or guarantee everyday fuel economy.

Volvo V40 Cross Country

Which Volvo V40 Cross Country Engine Should You Choose?

On the launch specifications, the D2 suits buyers who prioritize low fuel consumption, while the D3 and D4 offer stronger diesel performance. The T4 combines turbocharged gasoline power with lower quoted consumption than the flagship T5.

Choose the T5 AWD if acceleration and all-wheel-drive traction lead your shopping list. Check the local specification carefully, because Volvo offers different engines and equipment across markets.

Volvo V40 Cross Country

Volvo V40 Cross Country Production Starts in November 2012

Volvo plans to begin V40 Cross Country production at its Ghent plant in Belgium in November 2012. The company targets annual sales of approximately 17,000 cars, with Europe accounting for around half and China for roughly 30 percent.

With distinctive styling, flexible cargo arrangements and an engine range spanning economy-focused diesel power and turbocharged T5 performance, the new Volvo V40 Cross Country gives premium hatchback buyers another way to combine weekday driving with weekend adventure.