First drive: Volvo S40 DRIVe 99g/km

DRIVe is Volvo's name for its range of low CO2 models, and the big news for the S40 range is that Volvo's aging small saloon now slips under the 100g/km C02 figure. This means zero road tax and low emmissions, which has to be a good thing with current increasing fuel prices. We took it for a drive to see what it's like.

Probably the biggest compliment we can give the S40 DRIVe is that it doesn't feel like a green car to drive. The first thing you notice is the revised, 99g/km 1.6-litre diesel engine's healthy 270Nm of torque that's available from just 1,750rpm. Luckily there's a gearshift indicator to control your right foot, as it feels far gutsier than you would expect.