Volvo V40 hatchback launching in India in April 2015

Swedish car manufacturer is turning up the heat in India and has planned a couple of vital launches for the next year. Like we reported earlier this week, the all-new Volvo XC90, termed as the safest SUV in the world, will be introduced by July 2015 (Also read: Volvo XC90 launching in July 2015). But, before that Volvo India is bringing the Volvo V40 hatchback in our country, which is a more affordable version of the Volvo V40 Cross Country that was introduced in India back in June 2013.

The basic construction and underpinning of the Volvo V40 Cross Country and Volvo V40 hatchback is the same, but the two cars have some difference in terms of exterior styling. The Cross Country is more like a crossover and has a more robust design and an aggressive stance due to its sump guards, side body cladding, roof-rails and larger wheels, which is not carried over by the Volvo V40 hatchback.

The hatch has different front and rear bumpers without the sump guard and distinct horizontal Day-time Running Lights. Overall, the forthcoming Volvo V40 hatchback appears sleeker and more elegant. The interior design will be similar to the Volvo V40 Cross Country, but with fewer features, comparatively. The split rear seats can be folded to accommodate larger luggage.

Currently, Volvo India is looking at introducing the new Volvo V40 hatchback in the front wheel drive D3 variant, with a transversely mounted 2.0-litre turbocharged diesel engine capable of 152PS of power and 360Nm of torque, with an ARAI certified fuel-efficiency figure of 16.8kmpl. The car maker is contemplating to bring a lower spec D2 version to ensure aggressive pricing.

The Volvo V40 will give competition to the luxury hatchbacks such as the BMW 1 Series and Mercedes-Benz B-Class, but is more spacious than the two. As the Volvo V40 Cross Country retails at Rs 32.5 lakh, we can expect the Volvo V40 hatchback to be priced between Rs 22 lakh to Rs 25 lakh, when it is launched in India in April 2015.