The used-car market is full of forgettable compact sedans, but every so often a genuine sleeper surfaces — one with a powertrain story interesting enough to make enthusiasts stop scrolling. The second-generation Volvo S40 T5 is exactly that kind of find. Launched in the USA in 2004, it arrived on an all-new platform with a distinctive turbocharged five-cylinder engine, a striking interior anchored by Volvo’s signature waterfall-style floating center console, and a suite of safety technologies that punched well above its compact-car price point. Below, we’ll look back at the flagship model of the Volvo compact range, what made it special, and what you’ll pay for one today.
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