2007 Volvo S40 2.4i

As the base model of Volvo's smallest sedan, the S40 2.4i is still a heck of  a car. Standard equipment is anything but standard, with an amazing list of state-of-the-art safety features, including front and side-curtain driver and passenger air bags, Volvo's patented whiplash protection system (WHIPS) and Dynamic Stability and Traction Control (DSTC), and an energy-absorbing interior with a tough passenger safety cage.
There are even overhead seatbelt reminded lights, in case you forget to buckle up. And while we're in the neighborhood we'll mention the anti-submarining seats, which aren't only super-comfortable, they're shaped to keep the occupant from sliding out from under the seatbelt in the event of a crash.
Standard features in the car's illuminations increase the safety factor. There are daytime running lights, illuminated side-marker lights/turn signal indicators, and an innovative rear fog light that helps to increase visibility to drivers approaching from behind. And get a load of the Intelligent Driver Information System (IDIS)! This new wonder monitors driver activity (steering wheel angles, turn-signal frequency, rate of acceleration) to determine the driver's stress level, and then it decreases the amount of information displayed so that the driver can put his full attention on the road.
The 2.4i also comes with cruise control, a pollen filter for the passenger cabin, nicely carpeted floor mats, and a single-disc CD player with remote audio controls in the leather-wrapped steering wheel. Heated side-view mirrors are also standard, so you never have to worry about hindering ice. They work with the rear defroster on a timer system, with the mirrors turning off after 6 minutes and the rear window after 12.
Several options packages are grouped by theme (Climate, Premium, and to let you add such niceties as heated leather seats, a 6-CD in-dash changer, Stand-alone options such as the Volvo Navigation System.
This stylish little commuter car handles fine, but don't expect it to handle like a sports-car; the suspension is rather stiff. And you heard that right: it's a commuter car and not a family car, thanks to a cramped backseat that won't keep the kids comfy on trips of any length.
The 168-horsepower, 2.4-liter, 5-cylinder engine is enough for this little buggy, but it's hard to be satisfied with it once you've driven the turbocharged T5 in the higher-priced trims. A 5-speed manual transmission is standard, but those who upgrade to the 5-speed Geartronic automatic can use its Auto-Stick function to shift manually as the mood or situation strikes.