Volvo Car South Africa has quietly added new entry-level derivatives to its V40 five-door hatchback range.
Whereas the local line-up previously kicked off with the T3 Kinetic (at R421 939), the introduction of the new T2 Kinetic (R399 892) sees the starting price fall back below the R400 000-mark.
The T2 model – which can also be had in Momentum (R429 392), Inscription (R452 092) and R-Design (R461 692) guise – employs the Swedish brand’s familiar turbocharged 2,0-litre petrol engine, but detuned to deliver 90 kW and 220 N.m. Mated to a six-speed automatic transmission as standard, Volvo says this unit is good for a 9,8-second sprint to three figures.
The standard equipment list for Kinetic models includes six speakers, dual-zone climate control, a leather steering wheel, a pair of 12-volt power outlets, alloy wheels, a frameless electro-chromatic rear-view mirror, daytime running lights, a roof spoiler and a tyre pressure monitoring system.
Also new to the range is an automatic version (manual V40 models are no longer offered locally) of the D2 Kinetic for R419 900. This variant uses a 2,0-litre turbodiesel sending 88 kW and 280 N.m to the front wheels, with this powertrain also offered in Momentum, Inscription and R-Design form (priced at R449 400, R472 100 and R481 700, respectively).