Volvo : 440

Model Introduction

The Volvo 440, launched in 1988, was a front-wheel-drive family hatchback developed from the 480 coupé and built at Born in the Netherlands. Styled in-house under Peter van Kuilenburg, it featured the angular design language of the era and offered a roomy, practical cabin with Volvo’s trademark focus on safety. Engines were largely Renault-sourced, ranging from economical 1.4-litre units to turbocharged versions that gave the 440 unexpected pace. Together with the saloon-bodied 460, it broadened Volvo’s appeal in the compact family car market, remaining in production until 1996 when it was replaced by the S40 and V40.