Volvo S40 coming to the US?
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A few Volvo execs are supposelly pushing the brand to sell their new small S40 in the US.
Same people who are responsible for bringing us the V60 wagon next year.
“The V40 is a great small vehicle, and we would love to have it here”. Says Mr. Tassos Panas from Volvo US.
Sure. So do I.
But 1st they would have to homologate it. Which isn’t cheap. Although it is scheduled to get the new family of 4 cylinder engines next year. And the engines are US ready, since they will also be used in their other models.
So why no.
They are mostly scared of not selling it. Since everyone still thinks the US market doesn’t like hatchbacks.
It would mostly compete here with the Audi A3. Which sold less than 10 000 units in the US and Canada last year…
I don't think A3 sales in the last year are indicative of American's attitude toward hatchbacks, but were lacking because of the model's age and Audi's showing of the next A3. Focus and Golf hatchbacks are all over. Kia and Hyundai have both brought new 5-doors to the US. Premium hatchbacks might be a tough sell, but slap a little more SUV-like cladding on it and pit it against the new GLA, X1 and Q3.
I don't think A3 sales in the last year are indicative of American's attitude toward hatchbacks, but were lacking because of the model's age and Audi's showing of the next A3. Focus and Golf hatchbacks are all over. Kia and Hyundai have both brought new 5-doors to the US. Premium hatchbacks might be a tough sell, but slap a little more SUV-like cladding on it and pit it against the new GLA, X1 and Q3.
Small, but better looking than the S60.
Hatchbacks do sell well in the US. Focus, Mazda3 etc…
But the S40 would be quite expensive. Its only real competition here (At close to $30 000 or over) would the the A3.
Even Audi is bringing the A3 sedan due to poor sales of the hatch.
On a weird note, I noticed the A3 isn't even on the US Audi website anymore. Weird. They didn't even wait for the new one to come out. It's just not on sale here anymore (????)
A perfect replacement for any Saab owner/lover who is feeling abandoned. Also, I think American's are getting turned on to hatch backs as they abandon big SUVs (essentially giant hatchbacks) for more fuel efficient cars – the practicality of those big SUV rear openings are not lost on shoppers of smaller cars today.
It looks like they couldn't decide if they wanted to make it a station wagon or a hatchback, so they decided to split the difference. Bad decision.
To be fair, the A3 wasn't competitive with the A4 in terms of price and value for money. I'm sure the lease rates were almost identical. It should have been priced much closer to the GTI, which is what it is.
You can add the Prius and Mini to the list of successful US hatches, along with every crossover and SUV.
That's actually a V40.. there isn't a S40 version yet, but if they decide to make one, I'm sure it will come to the US. I don't understand why Volvo hasn't quickly rebadged the V40 Cross Country as the XC40 for the US, especially since they no longer offer anything below the S60.