Volvo announces price of new V40 hatchback

Volvo has released further details its forthcoming C-segment V40 hatchback, which was unveiled at last month’s Geneva Motor Show.

For the past few years, Volvo has had three cars in this size bracket, all related to its former parent company Ford’s Focus model - the C30 three-door coupé, the S40 saloon and the V50 estate. But despite offering all this choice, Volvo hasn't been selling as many cars as it could have done because it hasn’t had a five-door hatchback. That's where the V40, which displaces the S40 and V50 but not the C30, comes in.

Prices will start at £19,754, making it pricier than mass-selling cars of the same size such as the Golf or the Focus, but competitive with premium-badged rivals such as the BMW 1-Series and the Audi A3. Volvo is emphasising that all V40s will be well equipped, with even the entry-level ES model being fitted with the company’s self-braking City Safe technology and a pedestrian airbag, claimed to be the world’s first.

Volvo is claiming very impressive emissions and fuel consumption figures for the 115 horsepower 1.6-litre D2 model - 94g/km of CO2 and 78.5 mpg – which should make the V40 attractive to company car users.