Ch-Ch-Changes: 2009 Volvo S40, V50

Volvo is having some challenges these days unloading its entry-level sedan and wagon. Heck, its entire lineup — even the well-reviewed and recently redesigned S80, V70 and C30 — is selling slowly.

What’s a safety-minded Swedish company to do? It seems it’s raising prices, consolidating options and introducing an entirely new trim naming convention for its cars, including the S40 and V50. No significant mechanical changes have been made from 2008. 

The 2009 S40 will come in three trim levels: 2.4i, T5 R-Design and T5 AWD R-Design.

The 2009 V50 will come in just two trim levels, deleting the front-wheel-drive T5 option and going with a 2.4i and T5 AWD R-Design only. The new Volvos will go on sale later this summer with the S40 and V50 on sale in early September.

Pricing, photos and content breakdown can be found below, along with an image gallery.

• 2009 S40 2.4i: $28,550
• 2008 S40 2.4i: $24,365
• 2008 S40 2.4i similarly equipped: $27,710
• 2009 S40 T5 R-Design: $32,350
• 2008 S40 T5: $28,515
• 2008 S40 T5 similarly equipped: $31,205
• 2009 S40 T5 AWD R-Design: $33,800
• 2008 S40 T5 AWD: $30,365
• 2008 S40 T5 AWD similarly equipped: $32,995
• 2009 destination: $825
• 2008 destination: $745

The base 2.4i model gets cool standard features added, like a moonroof and automatic transmission, but now it intrudes on the all-new Acura TSX’s pricepoint — the TSX is $400 more — which was recently redesigned, comes standard with leather and has a more powerful engine and identical mileage.

• 2009 Volvo V50 2.4i: $29,800
• 2008 Volvo V50 2.4i: $26,815
• 2008 Volvo V50 2.4i similarly equipped: $28,960
• 2009 Volvo V50 T5 AWD R-Design: $35,500
• 2008 Volvo V50 T5 AWD: $31,565
• 2008 Volvo V50 T5 AWD similarly equipped: $34,155

There aren’t a lot of small entry-level luxury wagons on the market, but an Audi A4 Avant with Quattro all-wheel drive starts at $33,025. Heck, you can get a well-equipped Audi A3 Quattro with an upgraded V-6 for $34,293. The base A3 starts at $25,668 with front-wheel drive, coming in below the V50 2.4i.

To check out available options and prices for the 2009 S40, go here. For the 2009 V50, go here.

Comments

[segfault]

That is just nuts. The S40 is nice, but I'm sure it's not nearly the car that the TSX is.

$30k for a base model that doesn't include leather? Does it at least have heated seats?

At any rate, they will end up having to put at least a $3000 incentive on the S40/V50 to get them out the door.

[J]

Close to 30K for an entry level Volvo? Why not just go for the IS instead?
Is Ford in that deep of a hole already?

[J]

"There aren’t a lot of small entry-level luxury wagons on the market"

hm...I seem to recall another Swedish automaker that has a small entry level luxury wagon which is priced just a few hundred above the V50.

[Tony]

What is so special about Volvos anyway?
To me it is just an overpriced junk. Take Accord against S40:
Bigger
Better
More efficient
More comfortable
More reliable
Cheaper

Still don't get those who goes after Volvo.

[Shawn]

Heck yeah!! I know I'm not the only one who really, really wanted to but an S40, and was just waiting for them to raise the price four grand.

[J]

Tony,

I guess it has to do with the urban legend that Volvo will replace the car if you make it flip over in a crash.

[gordo854]

in my opinion, probably one of the most attractive cars on the market now but 30 thousand....mehhh

[TJ7]

It's a chick car not matter how much you charge for it.

[Infosaur]

price hike might have to do with the declining dollar.

I was looking at a C30 but I want to know if it takes Premium.

Still if gas prices go down, I might look into some off-lease used ones.

When the hell did Volvo's get good looking anyway? (the first S80) Should have been a sign of the apocolypse right there!