Today I had to turn the keys to an '08 Volvo S40 2.4i loaner and a small part of me really didn't want to hand them back. After spending a full five days with super-subcompact full on sedan I've gained somewhat of a new respect and appreciation for Volvo.

When the car was originally assigned to me as a loaner while my car was in the shop I was pleasantly surprised, because in truth I was expecting some sort of pint-sized rental. A surprise it was; silver with black textile interior fully loaded with all the goodies including; XM satellite radio, iPod adaptor, sunroof, you name it it was there, and this was only the base 2.4i model. Looking from the outside the S40 is a fairly small car, and you'd almost take it as a joke that it has a full-on trunk and not a hatch-back style boot. Physical presence aside, once you get in the S40 you'll find a capacious interior that was more than able (not to mention willing) to accommodate this 6'5" Goliath. At first the car felt small but I think that was influenced mainly by my perception of the cars external size, because after a day or two I realized that this car is only marginally smaller than my S60 inside. And that trunk? While I don't have any cargo capacity figures in front of me, it looked to be fairly large and unexpectedly so, again when you consider the exterior dimensions and proportions. As in most cars with me as driver the rear seats were useless, well at least the one behind me. In sum this is a car I'd happily drive 24/7.

Volvo's have never had a reputation in recent years (well, ok, within my lifetime) for being entertaining cars to drive. Driving the newly refreshed S40 you'd think the attitudes of Volvo engineers have shifted to attempting to make their cars more fun behind the wheel. Short on steering feel but high on grip and more than fairly nimble the S40 was an absolute blast to hustle down B-roads. On a few occasions I was on roads where there were tight corners and as a test I'd just gas and steer instead of brake to get a feel for front end bite, and I was very impressed; The revised S40 bites hard in corners and exhibits tidy body control while the steering feels secure. As mentioned earlier the engine in the car I drove was the basic naturally aspirated 2.4i 5 cylinder, and while not unpleasantly noisy or anything of the like, it was far from explosive. On the other hand the power was fairly adequate for passing but definitely not for acceleration. At 24.6 miles-per-gallon, the 2.4i also doesn't get much better gas mileage than the 2.4T under the hood of my S60 that bangs out more horsepower and torque. A car with unexpected great handling but short on power characterizes the driving experience of the '08 S40.

Many times throughout my time with the new S40 I'd freak out in my head over the reality that I'd soon have to hand in the keys and return to my "lowly" S60, but then I'd remind myself to hit the off switch upstairs and just "enjoy the drive", and that was very easy to do in this car. Comfy seats with ultra cool fabric that won't bug you no matter what the barometer reads outside and a great sound system that offers plenty bass, the S40 was a great place to be. Add in the responsive and nimble handling and you have one desirable Volvo. No, it's not a Bimmer or an Audi, but that's part of the appeal with these cars. It's a car for those looking for European design and engineering without all the complexity with everyday affordability. Before I've said that my current Volvo will likely be my last but after driving this car I'm not so sure about that at all. While it appears to be that the S40 will be phased out after this generation there are still many other models with which the S40 shares a great deal of it's components with that will no doubt carry on it's legacy of being the fun, attractive and affordable Swede. Fun to drive Volvo's? Yes, it has been done.