First impressions on driving the car were very favorable. Although the car is only available with automatic transmission it moved briskly away from a standing start and the transmission shifted smoothly through the gears. Despite only being powered by a four-cylinder engine, the low-pressure turbocharger helps give the engine a greater amount of low-end torque that makes it feel like a V6. Fortunately, unlike turbochargers of days gone by, you can barely tell this engine is boosted as there is no whine, sudden surge of power or even a boost gauge.Handling of the S40 is acceptable. It is not in the class of a BMW sports sedan, but it is better than many compact cars. There was little body roll in corners and the car felt stable. The steering, however, proved a little disappointing. It was fine on the twisty roads but we found it had a dead on-center feel on straight roads. Apparently Volvo engineers modified the steering and suspension for the U.S. market making it softer to suit our tastes. Overall, the car is quiet with only a little tire noise coming through to the passenger compartment.
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