Volvo’s S40 Turns 30 Years Old in 2025

Volvo is marking 30 years since the launch of the acclaimed S40, which was its first proper attempt at building a compact executive sedan. 

S40

Image: Volvo

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Debuting at the 1995 Frankfurt Motor Show, the S40 took Volvo’s trademark focus on safety and comfort and packed it into a smaller, more affordable package. At the time, it was a big move for Volvo since the brand was mostly known for big family wagons like the 850, but the S40 was aimed at a different market of people who wanted a more manageable size without giving up on quality. Under the bonnet, it offered a mix of petrol and diesel engines, but the standout was the T4. That version came with a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder making 147 kW and 300 N.m. It wasn’t just quick for a Volvo, it was quick, full stop. Zero to 100 km/h in 7.3 seconds put it ahead of many hot hatches of the era. It proved itself in motorsport, particularly in the BTCC, where Richard Rydell took the title in 1998. It also competed in touring car series in Australia, Sweden and Norway.

Related: Volvo’s Electric EX30 Cross Country Confirmed for SA Roads

Styling came from the late Peter Horbury, who gave the S40 a clean, no-nonsense look that still holds up surprisingly well today. It was unmistakably a Volvo but had a more refined, modern edge compared to the boxy shapes of the past. But what really made the S40 stand out was its safety. It was the first car to earn a four-star rating from Euro NCAP, at a time when most rivals managed two or three. Volvo loaded it with side-impact protection, multiple airbags, and a reinforced structure. That reputation carried through to the second-gen model, which scored a full five stars in 2004.

Image: Volvo

The S40 was eventually dropped in 2012, but Volvo claim its spirit lives on in models like the XC40 and the electric C40 Recharge. As Felipe Yagi, Volvo Car South Africa’s marketing boss, puts it, “The S40 brought a new dimension to the Volvo line-up… Today, the 40 badge continues to represent that same balance of practicality and refinement, now reimagined for a new generation.

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The post Volvo’s S40 Turns 30 Years Old in 2025 appeared first on CAR Magazine.


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