I'm a few weeks away from my V40 being delivered. I've owned a Volvo before but also had various other cars over the years so I came to make my decision not as a 'fan' but as a typical buyer.
Replacing my wife's rather tired Civic I test drove an new A3 and a new A class. Thought it might be interesting to share my experiences.
Audi A3 2.TDI (non-sport).
Usual Audi solidity. Very impressive engine, smooth, flexible and seriously punchy. You can feel the benefit of the lighter weight immediately with handling. The ride (on sensible wheels) was far better than other Audi's I've owned but the steering was twiddly light. The interior is rather low key but high quality. Would probably grow on you. I'd have needed a Sportback for boot size (which is getting pretty pricey) but the real killer for me was poor drivers seat comfort. Short seatback and no lumbar. No way I could have lived with it.
Mercedes A Class 200 CDI Sport (standard suspension)
Lots of showroom appeal, I liked the outside and the inside has some real flare, bit love it or loathe it especialy with all-black trim which made it rather claustrophobic (and terrible in the back). Again a nice engine, smooth and non-laggy but not quite as quick as the Audi. A nice steer, agile and quite sporty with a bit of steering feel. Ride quite chunky (the Sport suspension/big wheels must be borderline on UK roads) but two surprises; firstly lots of road/tyre noise (maybe because the engine is pretty quiet??) and secondly poor interior quality in places. Very nice steering wheel but awful illegible dials. Stitched leather door trim but the heater controls too low and decidedly flimsy and cheap. Seats were better than the Audi but biggest issue for me the narrow boot access. I carry bikes etc in the rear and this was really marginal because the lights intrude a great deal.
I did not drive a Giulietta (I've been bitten by Alfa's very badly in the past and never again) and the Golf Mk7 is not yet out-but I suspect will actually be the biggest challenger really. I did not consider the BMW 1 series-just not my thing. The A class is interestingly different, it will appeal to many and actually the pricing is not too bad either. In the end I went for the more attractive Volvo cabin, the great seats and decent load space/access but it was a tight call. I also expected to buy the D3 (on a par with the above for performance and economy) but the D2 so impressed me on a test drive I went for that.
Hope this is interesting
Bruce
Replacing my wife's rather tired Civic I test drove an new A3 and a new A class. Thought it might be interesting to share my experiences.
Audi A3 2.TDI (non-sport).
Usual Audi solidity. Very impressive engine, smooth, flexible and seriously punchy. You can feel the benefit of the lighter weight immediately with handling. The ride (on sensible wheels) was far better than other Audi's I've owned but the steering was twiddly light. The interior is rather low key but high quality. Would probably grow on you. I'd have needed a Sportback for boot size (which is getting pretty pricey) but the real killer for me was poor drivers seat comfort. Short seatback and no lumbar. No way I could have lived with it.
Mercedes A Class 200 CDI Sport (standard suspension)
Lots of showroom appeal, I liked the outside and the inside has some real flare, bit love it or loathe it especialy with all-black trim which made it rather claustrophobic (and terrible in the back). Again a nice engine, smooth and non-laggy but not quite as quick as the Audi. A nice steer, agile and quite sporty with a bit of steering feel. Ride quite chunky (the Sport suspension/big wheels must be borderline on UK roads) but two surprises; firstly lots of road/tyre noise (maybe because the engine is pretty quiet??) and secondly poor interior quality in places. Very nice steering wheel but awful illegible dials. Stitched leather door trim but the heater controls too low and decidedly flimsy and cheap. Seats were better than the Audi but biggest issue for me the narrow boot access. I carry bikes etc in the rear and this was really marginal because the lights intrude a great deal.
I did not drive a Giulietta (I've been bitten by Alfa's very badly in the past and never again) and the Golf Mk7 is not yet out-but I suspect will actually be the biggest challenger really. I did not consider the BMW 1 series-just not my thing. The A class is interestingly different, it will appeal to many and actually the pricing is not too bad either. In the end I went for the more attractive Volvo cabin, the great seats and decent load space/access but it was a tight call. I also expected to buy the D3 (on a par with the above for performance and economy) but the D2 so impressed me on a test drive I went for that.
Hope this is interesting
Bruce