Performance Review: Volvo V40 T4 1.6 Turbo - [2012]

Figures & Specs Summary:

Volvo V40 Performance Review.

Introduction:

This edition of the Volvo V40 T4 1.6 Turbo is the 6 speed / Manual version and was first brought out in 2012. This was at around the same time as the introduction of the 2012 Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse and the 2013 W-Motors Lykan HyperSport 3.7L Twin Turbo.This particular Volvo V40 has a 1596cc Turbo Petrol powerplant with 4 cylinders in a St formation.

Alternative Petrol St4's includes the 2019 Ariel Atom 4 2.0 Turbo

The V40 shares its Petrol St4 engine configuration with the likes of the 2019 Ariel Atom 4 2.0 Turbo and the 2013 Caterham 7 620 R 2.0 L Supercharged. If you're looking for other fast cars which share the V40's Front Wheel Drive, Hatchback combination then how about the 2022 Volkswagen-VW Golf R Performance 2.0 Turbo or the 2020 Toyota Avalon TRD 3.5 V6.

Power and Weight:

Weighing in at 1375 kgs (3031 lbs) this makes the Volvo V40 T4 1.6 Turbo in the same weight category as the 2022 Koenigsegg CC850 4.9 V12 Twin Turbo or the give or take 50kg.

The Volvo V40 shares the same bhp with the 2020 Audi A1 Sportback 40 TFSI S tronic S line (197 bhp)

In terms of power the 1596cc 16V St4 engine produces 177 bhp (131 kW) @ 5700 rpm similar to the 2020 Audi A1 Sportback 40 TFSI S tronic S line (197 bhp) or the 2020 Abarth 695 70th Anniversario 1.4 Turbo (177 bhp).

The Turbo St4 throws out 199 lb-ft (269.8 Nm) @ 1600 rpm placing it with cars of similar torque performance figures such as the 2020 Abarth 695 70th Anniversario 1.4 Turbo (184 lb-ft) or the 2020 Audi A1 A1 Sportback 35 TFSI S tronic S line (184 lb-ft).

Power to Weight:

If one combines the weight with power or torque performance for the Volvo V40 you can get a better idea of it's real world performance.

The 2007 Honda Civic 2.0i 16v VTEC Type R GT - FN2 (153.7 bhp per ton) has similar Bhp Per Ton stats as the Volvo V40.

The Volvo V40 has a Power to weight ratio of 128.7 bhp per ton and 144.7 lb-ft per ton. Bhp Per Ton figures of the 2012 V40 competing with the 2007 Honda Civic 2.0i 16v VTEC Type R GT - FN2 (153.7 bhp per ton) or the 2007 Mazda 6 MPS 2.3T (153.7 bhp per ton).

Power to Weight(cont.):

If you agree with the late great Carroll Shelby then arguably an even better indicator of potential performance, Torque. Use weight as well and you end up with - Torque per ton, with the Volvo V40 generating around 144.7 lb-ft per ton. If you're curious as to what other cars have as much torque to weight then look no further than the 1998 Porsche 911 Carrera 2 (169.6 lb-ft per ton) or the 2005 Ford Focus 2.5 ST-2 (169.5 lb-ft per ton).

Acceleration:

With a 0-60mph time of 7.50 secs or a 0-100km/h (0-62mph) of 7.7 secs, this made the Volvo V40 T4 1.6 Turbo as fast as the 2020 Audi A1 A1 Sportback 35 TFSI S tronic S line (7.50 secs) the 2019 Ford Focus ST 2.0 EcoBlue Wagon (7.50 secs) the 2017 Volkswagen-VW Golf GTD Variant 2.0 TDi DSG (7.50 secs) the or the 2017 Subaru Forester 2.0 XT Premium (7.50 secs). This Volvo V40 T4 1.6 Turbo is also faster than the 2013 BMW i3 0.6l Hybrid (7.60 secs) the 2011 Fiat Punto Evo Abarth 1.4 Turbo (7.60 secs) the 2011 Abarth 500C 1.4 Turbo (7.60 secs) the and the 2010 Peugeot 308 1.6 GTi (7.60 secs).

Quarter Mile time is a close race between the V40 and the 1980 Audi Quattro UR-Quattro

When talking about the performance of the Volvo V40 on the drag strip it can reach a quarter mile in an estimated 15.9 secs @ 86.0 mph. Similar performance down the quarter mile can be found with the the 1980 Audi Quattro UR-Quattro (15.85 secs), the 2005 Toyota Corolla TS Compressor 2.0L (15.85 secs), and the 2012 Mini Cooper John Cooper Works Roadster (15.85 secs).

Top Speed:

Modern performance cars are often artificially restricted to 155mph. The 2012 version of the Volvo V40 T4 1.6 Turbo has a maximum speed of 140mph.

Top Speed of the 2012 V40 equals the 2020 Lotus Elise Cup 250 1.8 Supercharged (151 mph)

If maxing out your car on the AutoBahn is your thing and you're wondering what's faster than the 2012 Volvo V40 T4 1.6 Turbo then how about the 2020 Lotus Elise Cup 250 1.8 Supercharged (151 mph), the 2013 Volkswagen-VW Polo R WRC 2.0 Turbo (151 mph), or the 2006 Volkswagen-VW Golf GTi Edition 30 DSG (151 mph).

Related Links:

2012 V40 Rivals List.

A Brief History of Volvo

Car Comparison