V40 suitable for a family of four?

[Acer]

Originally Posted by anton differing

For me, this describes it exactly. We are fine with a V40, because our daughters have long flown and we can fold down the rear seats for extra carrying space. We bought the V40 because we no longer needed to take 4 people + camping gear around Europe. It was a deliberate downsizing exercise - well sort of, because the old Astra caravan (4288mm long) could swallow an astounding amount of stuff, much more than the substantially longer V40. But any hatchback (and we tried all the usual suspects - Merc A-Class, Golf), if bigger, is not THAT much bigger.

But if you don't intend to ever camp in Europe or indeed anywhere else then I would have thought the V40 is more than adequate for four people. We sat in one this weekend and it is surprisingly spacious. The boot is not massive and the roof is low but you could always buy a Volvo roof box for times when more space is required. We only do 6k miles a year and live in the city.

[anton differing]

Originally Posted by Acer

But if you don't intend to ever camp in Europe or indeed anywhere else then I would have thought the V40 is more than adequate for four people. We sat in one this weekend and it is surprisingly spacious. The boot is not massive and the roof is low but you could always buy a Volvo roof box for times when more space is required. We only do 6k miles a year and live in the city.

I guess it depends on how much stuff you want to carry with those four people. If it's not a lot, then I agree, perfectly adequate for 4 people. However, the original query said "family" and that, to me, tends to imply a substantial quantity of stuff over and above the family members themselves.

I guess the only way to find out is to take that other quantity of stuff, add 1 family, and see whether they fit.

[H20 VOLVO]

Originally Posted by anton differing

I guess it depends on how much stuff you want to carry with those four people. If it's not a lot, then I agree, perfectly adequate for 4 people. However, the original query said "family" and that, to me, tends to imply a substantial quantity of stuff over and above the family members themselves.

I guess the only way to find out is to take that other quantity of stuff, add 1 family, and see whether they fit.

Yeah. It's simple for me, if you are a 1 car family of 4, then a V40 is a tad too small, far better with a V60 which is still compact enough, but offers more usable boot space. Shop around and you'll probably get one for similar money anyway.

If it's to be used as 2nd smaller car, then it's' fine.

Whilst a roof box would help solve this, you're laying out circa. £500 and having to store something all year round, when the £500 might help pay towards a V60. And when you want to pop to the beach for the day etc. it's a faf having to fit it each time (i have one, so i know!).

[Acer]

Originally Posted by H20 VOLVO

Yeah. It's simple for me, if you are a 1 car family of 4, then a V40 is a tad too small, far better with a V60 which is still compact enough, but offers more usable boot space. Shop around and you'll probably get one for similar money anyway.

If it's to be used as 2nd smaller car, then it's' fine.

Whilst a roof box would help solve this, you're laying out circa. £500 and having to store something all year round, when the £500 might help pay towards a V60. And when you want to pop to the beach for the day etc. it's a faf having to fit it each time (i have one, so i know!).

The V40 is a much nicer looking car than the V60 .Also what so most people put in their boots? Most of the time it is just shopping and items from shops. A V60 won't take masses of stuff either and large items would still need to be delivered.

[H20 VOLVO]

Originally Posted by Acer

The V40 is a much nicer looking car than the V60 .Also what so most people put in their boots? Most of the time it is just shopping and items from shops. A V60 won't take masses of stuff either and large items would still need to be delivered.

Pre-2016 they are a very similar car from the front and inside. The V60 has more usable boot space for sure - my father-in-law has one, and whilst it's not like my last V70, it is more usable than a V40. Especially if you get a V40 with the split-level floor.

I think you've probably got all the information you need from this thread now anyway! Only you will know what you need from it. Only thing I would say, is to go for a petrol model if only doing 6k and living in the city - a diesel would be pointless really. Also, a panoramic roof makes it lower inside, but it doesn't bother me too much, and i'm 6ft 3".

Good luck and enjoy it mate!

[Acer]

Originally Posted by H20 VOLVO

Pre-2016 they are a very similar car from the front and inside. The V60 has more usable boot space for sure - my father-in-law has one, and whilst it's not like my last V70, it is more usable than a V40. Especially if you get a V40 with the split-level floor.

I think you've probably got all the information you need from this thread now anyway! Only you will know what you need from it. Only thing I would say, is to go for a petrol model if only doing 6k and living in the city - a diesel would be pointless really. Also, a panoramic roof makes it lower inside, but it doesn't bother me too much, and i'm 6ft 3".

Good luck and enjoy it mate!

Cheers . Something else I have found out is that the boot, without the split floor and spare tyre, is 402 litres. That is bigger vs a VW Golf and Ford Focus. Also only slightly smaller than an Audi Q3 and RR Evoque. In reviews they always quote the dimensions including the split floor. Based on this I would say avoidance of the spare tyre is a must. It is the difference between a very practical and not so practical storage space.

[steadvex]

for its size the V40 is the safest car on the road, and only now are other makes coming up to comparable safety on a car that was released in 2012, to me that says something.

what car have you got now to compare?

[Acer]

Originally Posted by steadvex

for its size the V40 is the safest car on the road, and only now are other makes coming up to comparable safety on a car that was released in 2012, to me that says something.

what car have you got now to compare?

An XC90!

[steadvex]

Originally Posted by Acer

An XC90!

I've had customers trade in a XC90 for a V40, none have regretted it, lower running costs and the updated interior seem to make up for it, one bought a roof box , but in reality they just don't take as much crap when they go away now, their own words!

Much more enjoyable to drive, might miss the height and inside space of the vehicle? I feel the seats are better in the XC90, but again, user preference

Drive an Audi A1 for a week, it will make the v40 boot seem like an infinitely vast cavern

Lots of people have much smaller cars with a family of 5!

The panoramic roof tranforms the car Imo, the back is a very nice place to be with it, infact i feel it opens up the whole interior, was honestly shocked how different it felt

[Acer]

Originally Posted by steadvex

I've had customers trade in a XC90 for a V40, none have regretted it, lower running costs and the updated interior seem to make up for it, one bought a roof box , but in reality they just don't take as much crap when they go away now, their own words!

Much more enjoyable to drive, might miss the height and inside space of the vehicle? I feel the seats are better in the XC90, but again, user preference

Drive an Audi A1 for a week, it will make the v40 boot seem like an infinitely vast cavern

Lots of people have much smaller cars with a family of 5!

The panoramic roof tranforms the car Imo, the back is a very nice place to be with it, infact i feel it opens up the whole interior, was honestly shocked how different it felt

Thanks Steadvex, exactly my thoughts. I cannot fathom why people think they need so much space. If you have three older kids then fair enough. It is not a small car, it is just the smallest modern Volvo (slightly vs the V60).