2005 Volvo S40 Overview, Reviews, Ratings & Specs

2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005
Crash Test Rating
Source   NHTSA
MPG (up to)
19 -22 City / 27 -31 HWY
Source FuelEconomy.gov
Horsepower
168 -218
Seats
5
Front angle view.

Positive Owner Reviews

accountCircle Margaret B
Safe, comfortable and looks great.
I like the size and ease of driving. The headrest make it a little harder to see behind you. Seats wore out quickly.
accountCircle Bailey M
The one and only, My first car, the 2005 Volvo S40!
My car really doesn't have any problems. It runs great. Is good on gas. Always reliable. Can travel long miles. I have no issues with my car. I have only owned it for a year so far and it has been great. This is my first car. It has 140,000 miles but drives like its brand new.
accountCircle Tristan T
The smoothest ride of 2005
The leather interior and mix of automated seat controls with the smoothest manual shift column makes this the most comfortable car of its year. The sunroof is an added bonus, and the interior stereo system is of incredible quality. Not to mention the speed and control this vehicle is capable of, 0-30 in the blink of an eye.
accountCircle Karen M
It is a Volvo. Holds it value. Sporty looking and well apportioned.
It is a Volvo. Reliable, sporty, safe. Good looking. Turbo Charged. Comfortable to drive. Good resale value. No complaints.
accountCircle Max R
I promise you will have no regrets with the Volvo.
My vehicle had. No problems that I can remember, the Volvo is amazing for someone who is just learning how to drive, it will make you feel safe.
accountCircle Laura M
What a fun and safe little car!
Have has the usual wear and tear issues with the car, it is over 10 years old at this point. I ended up getting rear ended in this same make and model (the car was totaled) but I barely had any whiplash and there was no damage to the inside of the car whatsoever. I ended up buying the exact same year, make and model and have been driving it since 2014. Absolutely love it. Great get-up-and-go, very safe, and fun to drive.
accountCircle Kim G
It will go forever and look good.
It have great gas mileage, it is easy to park, it is easy to drive and it is safe. It is expensive to fix.
accountCircle Lisa P
Volvo- worth every dime you spend
I love my Volvo s40. It is an amazing running car that is very dependable. I have had no major repairs done to my car, only the regular maintenance done. It's a spunky little car that gets up and goes but very good on the wallet and gets great gas mileage.

Negative Owner Reviews

accountCircle Alexa S
Old Volvo falling apart but still driving
I bought my Volvo used last year. Since then it's had many problems. The interior wasn't in good condition but the side of the seat actually fell apart and the lights on the ceiling literally fell out of the ceiling. I had multiple issues with the car mechanics itself as well. It does have over four hundred thousand miles on it though so it's still driving which is good.
accountCircle Carolyn F
Seats are easy to adjust!
Overall it is a reliable car. The gas mileage is not the best, especially around town. The car feels safe and secure. The driver's seat is easy to adjust with many options. The car does only has a CD player, and no option for an aux. I had to buy an FM transmitter so I could manually connect my phone through the radio. The seats and comfortable and the trunk is large.
accountCircle Linda B
An old car but a working car.
The car is older so it requires more maintenance as oppose to a newer vehicle. The car itself has a lot of material problems, such as a constant issue of water somehow getting into the car and flooding only one side. The driver's seat has recently locked in place, thank goodness it was to my alignment. But the car still does its job by getting from place to place. The car itself is comfortable and during the summer I used it to drive back and forth between north jersey and Philadelphia 3 days a week, so it still is reliable,
accountCircle Lindsey G
Comfortable and reliable vehicle
The vehicle is reliable and I feel very comfortable in it on a day to day basis. The dashboard controls are extremely easy to master and use while driving. The air conditioning has great air flow throughout the car and the speakers are well performing. The car is overall easy to control, reliable, and comfortable on a daily basis.
accountCircle Freddy Gonzalez
Very reliable a little spencer on repair
I love my volvo even with140000 miles everything work like brand new regrets repair is a litle expensive but is worth the money I dont exchange for any other cars very reliable and confiable
accountCircle Jared R
Volvos are safe and reliable and are just getting started at 100,000 miles.
There have some issues; CD player never worked, the sunroof occasionally leaks and the headliner is peeling. Doesn't have some of the features I would prefer in a new car. I do love Volvos, they seem to run forever.
accountCircle Sarah Y
You'll only find with Volvo.
It is a Volvo, so it is safe. The front and back windshield views are narrower than a typical sedan. The waterfall style stereo is nice and stylish; however, the only way (without making anything custom) to play your music from your phone is to get an FM transmitter, since there is no Bluetooth , aux, or place for a tape adapter.

Volvo S40 Models

Models also known as Trim Levels, are used to identify a vehicle's level of equipment or special features.

car
2.4L Manual
168 HP 26-26 MPG 5 Seats
car
2.4L Manual w/Sunroof
168 HP 26-26 MPG 5 Seats
car
2.4L Auto
168 HP 26-26 MPG 5 Seats
car
2.4L Auto w/Sunroof
168 HP 26-26 MPG 5 Seats
car
2.5L Turbo Manual
218 HP 27-27 MPG 5 Seats
car
2.5L Turbo Manual w/Sunroof
218 HP 27-27 MPG 5 Seats
car
2.5L Turbo Auto
218 HP 26-26 MPG 5 Seats
car
2.5L Turbo Auto w/Sunroof
218 HP 26-26 MPG 5 Seats
car
2.5L Turbo AWD Manual
218 HP 23-23 MPG 5 Seats
car
2.5L Turbo AWD Manual w/Sunroof
218 HP 23-23 MPG 5 Seats
car
2.5L Turbo AWD Auto
218 HP 24-24 MPG 5 Seats
car
2.5L Turbo AWD Auto w/Sunroof
218 HP 24-24 MPG 5 Seats
Photos may not match model

2005 Volvo S40 Owner Reviews

4.18
28 Reviews
close Write Review
5 stars 46%
4 stars 29%
3 stars 21%
2 stars 4%
1 star 0%
accountCircle Jen C on February 10, 2021
Would definitely buy another Volvo...
A very solidly-built and reliable vehicle. Body style still looks current today even though car is 14 years old. Vehicle has required little more than basic scheduled maintenance, though major repairs, when needed, have been costly (likely due to being luxury import).
accountCircle Tristan T on January 26, 2021
The smoothest ride of 2005
The leather interior and mix of automated seat controls with the smoothest manual shift column makes this the most comfortable car of its year. The sunroof is an added bonus, and the interior stereo system is of incredible quality. Not to mention the speed and control this vehicle is capable of, 0-30 in the blink of an eye.
View All Reviews (28) chevronRightAlternative

Pros from Owners

likeFilled Hope A.

It is incredibly safe and sturdy, the surround sound is incredible, the sunroof is a lovely addition, and it is a very reliable car. The ac and heating work wonderfully, and it still looks nice after 15 years.

Cons from Owners

dislikeFilled Hope A.

The brightest/highlights do not always stay on (so you have to manually hold the lever), the radio occasionally does not connect to a station, the plastic components are prone to breakage after so many years.

Ranks #9 Luxury Small Cars by Owners

The 2005 Volvo S40 has an average owner rating of 4.18 out of 5 which ranks it #9 of 12 other Luxury Small Cars.

1
car
2005 Lexus IS
4.6
2
car
2005 INFINITI Q45
4.5
9
car
2005 Volvo S40
4.18

Ranks #1 Luxury Small Cars by Fuel Economy

The 2005 Volvo S40 has a combined MPG of 31 which ranks it #1 of 12 other Luxury Small Cars.

1
Tie
car
2005 Acura TSX
31 MPG
1
Tie
car
2005 Volvo S40
31 MPG
1
Tie
car
2005 Volvo V50
31 MPG

Safety & Reliability

NHTSA Logo
NHTSA Crash Test

Overall

Front

Rollover

Side

*National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
IIHS Logo
IIHS Crash Test

Moderate Overlap Front

Side

Roof Strength

Driver-side Overlap Front

Not Rated
*Insurance Institute for Highway Safety