S40 1.6D DRIVe What Car? Green Car of the year

WHAT CAR? GREEN CAR AND SMALL FAMILY CAR OF THE YEAR

"Volvo's S40 DRIVe is one seriously appealing and eco-friendly car. It's low emissions don't come at the expense of quality, safety or driver enjoyment and it's great value, too. It's everything we look for in a Green car of the year"

Not our words but the words of What Car? Magazine*. Not content with the big prize, the S40 DRIVe with start/stop also technology also scooped the What Car? Small Family award.

WE WON BY A LOW CO2, FUEL EFFICIENT MILE

With as little as 104 grams of CO2 emitted per kilometre and up to 72.4 Miles per gallon**, this award winning car can drive you from Dover to Monaco on a single tank***

READ MORE ABOUT THE S40 DRIVe WITH START/STOP FROM WHAT CAR? JULY 2009 EDITION BELOW

Volvos' recent tweaks to it's DRIVe eco trims were always going to get the thumbs-up from us. It's new start/stop system and various aerodynamic and mechanical changes over the old DRIVe model cut the CO2 output to 104 g/km - a number many superminis with much smaller engines struggle to achieve. It also bumps the average fuel economy to a seriously impressive 72.4 mpg (based on combined cycle)

What about other pollutants? With NOx output of 0.164 g/km and barely any particulate emissions, you can still cruise around with a clear conscience.

Also, don't forget the S40's ultra-low CO2 emissions mean it contributes far less to climate change than rivals.

Think it won't be much fun to drive? You'd be wrong - the S40 will hold it's own on rural roads, yet it's also comfortable enough for the motorway. It's no slouch, either - the 1.6 litre diesel engine under the bonnet produces 109 PS, so it won't struggle getting up to speed.

Being a Volvo it's safe as houses. There's traction control and an electronic stability programme to keep you shiny side up, with a full quota of front, side and curtain airbags to help protect you if do have an accident. There is also ISOFIX points to keep the child seats safely in place, too.

There's enough room for four people to sit in comfort, and the boot will make most if your holiday gear without you needing to be Tetris champion.

The 1.6D DRIVe S model is relatively cheap to buy next to its eco-trim rivals, so it won't make quite such a dent in you're life savings - but there are other monetary benefits to the DRIVe version. You'll fork out only £35 a year for a tax disc because of it's low emissions., and it's low fuel consumption will mean you wont be paying for diesel quite so often, either. Its company car tax rates are temptingly low as well, no matter how big your monthly pay packet is.

However your look at it, the S40 DRIVe 1.6 a great choice - it's safe family transport that'll also help to keep the environment safe from harm.

CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE S40 AND DRIVe





* Steve Fowler, Editor in Chief, What Car?
** Based on a combined cycle
***Up to 828 miles achievable on a single tank based on official fuel consumption figures (combined cycle)

Volvos What Car? Awards
Volvo are proud to have received the S40 Green car of the year, Best small family car of the year, the XC60 Best SUV of the year and the V70 Best buy estate over £25,000 in 2009

XC60 AWARDED WHAT CAR? SUV OF THE YEAR 2009


'Volvo is renowned for two things — making some of the world’s most family-friendly cars, and some of the safest. The XC60 reinforces that reputation' praised Steve Fowler, What Car? Magazine group editor.

The Volvo XC60 crossover has been awarded the What Car? SUV of the Year at the magazine's prestigious 2009 Awards. Up against fierce competition in the SUV class, the XC60 2.4D SE impressed the What Car? judges with its comfort, durability, safety and class-leading refinement. The judges commented "The ride is smooth, so you glide over bumps in the road as though they were never there, and it feels secure and composed in a set of bends thanks to strong grip and impressive body control"

The XC60 doesn’t just stop itself, it’s the only SUV to bring the What Car? judges to a standstill too

V70 AWARDED BEST BUY ESTATE OVER £25,000

Most accommodating. That's a fair description of the V70. A marvel of contemporary luxury and utility, this car is proof that generosity never goes out of style.

It can hold everything you love, even tight corners. The wide stance and ridged body structure play a part, as does the sophisticated chassis, intuitively responsive steering, and the graceful aerodynamics.

All this, the What Car? award for Best Buy over £25,000 and now available with DRIVe technology.