Volvo V40 Cross Country gets new T5 Drive-E and AWD

As Volvo continue to roll out their new engine range, it’s the turn of the V40 Cross Country to get the T5 version of the Drive-E engine and AWD.

Volvo are on something of a roll at the moment, what with the impressive 2015 XC90 on the way and the very convincing range of Drive-E engines rolling out across their range.

And the Drive-E engines really are good; we had one in recently (review to come soon) and the new D4 in the S60 is quick, frugal, quiet and, really, on a par with the best diesels from BMW. And we don’t say that lightly.

We’ve yet to get behind the wheel of a Volvo with the new Drive-E T5 engine, but we should probably make the effort as Volvo rolls it out in to the (slightly) butch V40 – the V40 Cross Country.

In the V40 Cross Country, the new T5 Drive-E engine offers 245bhp and emissions cut from 194g/km in the old 2.5 litre T5 to a much more acceptable 149g/km (around 44mpg) – probably better than just about anything comparable.

Peter Mertens, Senior VP R&D at Volvo, said:

Volvo Cars is continuing to evolve the V40 Cross Country with this powertrain upgrade. The combination of the Drive-E T5 engine with AWD will give adventurous customers the power to explore, and all the control they need to be confident in all road conditions.

And he’s not wrong; with much improved refinement, economy, AWD and the new 8-speed auto ‘box, the Volvo V40 Cross Country T5 is rather appealing.