Volvo S40

In the early 1990s, Volvo struggled to offer an effective entry-level car following the end of the 240 model and the rise of larger luxury models. To address this, a partnership was formed with Mitsubishi to develop a new small car, resulting in a compact, front-wheel-drive platform. These new models began production in 1995 at a joint venture factory in the Netherlands.

In the United States, the first-generation S40 compact wagon was not available for sale until the 2000 model year. The S40 and its platform sibling, the V40, represented the beginning of modern Volvo model naming: S for sedan, V for "versatile" (station wagon), XC for Cross Country, and numbers indicating size; 40/50 for compact, 60/70 for mid-size, and 80/90 for large.

The new small Volvos were powered by the now-common "white block" aluminum Volvo inline engines in their four-cylinder variants. All U.S. models came equipped with a 1.9L "2.0T" light-pressure turbo engine paired with either a 4-speed AW50-42 automatic transmission or, from 2001 onward, a 5-speed AW55-5X automatic transmission. Although the S40 was generally reliable, some suspension issues were observed in the 2000 models; these issues could often be resolved with front-end replacements using parts from 2001 and later. If you're considering purchasing suspension parts for an early S40, it's advisable to check the existing parts using the chassis number.

Here are some details about the first-generation S40:

• Produced in a four-door sedan body style at the Netherlands factory

• Sold in the U.S. from the 2000 to 2004 model years

• U.S. models came equipped with a turbocharged 2.0L inline 4-cylinder gasoline engine with Siemens engine management

• Facelifted in 2000

• Featured a "VVT" (Variable Valve Timing) camshaft timing system in the 4-cylinder gasoline engines

• Achieved over 100 hp per liter in the 2.0L and 1.9L engines.