Their exterior design features a sporty, low hood that sweeps back in a wedge profile to a relatively high trunk. The side windows are fairly large, making the S40 appear bigger than it actually is. Volvo designers refined the basic look last year with better-integrated bumpers, dual headlights, clear-lens taillights, and re-shaped front fenders. Headlamp washers and wipers indicate this is an upscale car, and perform the useful function of wiping that dirty white film away on snow days.

The wagon part of the V40 is nicely integrated into the body, so it does not look like it has been grafted onto the sedan's trunk (as with some station wagon models from other manufacturers).