AMONG the 30 or so European brands available in Singapore, only two have an appreciable presence: Mercedes-Benz and BMW.

The others are 'invisible' nameplates. Unfortunately, Volvo is one of them.

Making up just over 1 per cent of the car population here, the Ford-owned Swedish marque is not exactly the first Continental car that comes to mind when you want to go, well, Continental.

A big pity, because Volvos are great value - as far as buying one goes. And the facelifted S40 is as good a reminder of that as any.

The sedan has an airiness of cabin that far exceeds its compact stature. The rear passenger row is not fantastically roomy, but front occupants enjoy decent head and elbow room. Its boot is also flat, wide and deep, giving it lots of usable space.

Exterior-wise, the car remains quite contemporary, despite being four years old. The revamped car is reminiscent of a tauter, sportier version of the S80 flagship.

It occupies a smallish footprint, and gives the impression of agility and manoeuvrability - an impression it lives up to rather well.

Most impressive, though, is how expensive the car's finishing feels. If you put aside your natural bias for the top German marques, you will notice how well-made the S40 is.

The car scores in the visual and tactile departments. It even smells expensive.

Its floating centre console is as chic as when the S40 was first unveiled in 2003.

Its multi-function steering is equally sumptuous. The quality of trim and fitting exceeds standards found in others in the segment, including Mercedes and BMW. And Volvo manages to do that with a characteristically minimalist approach.

You are never overwhelmed by the controls and gauges on the fascia. Instead, you get to enjoy the overall package, which is decidedly Scandinavian. You can almost picture the icy pine-forested Swedish landscape in winter at the helm of the S40.

Stowage in the cabin is still not very generous, but the pockets on the door panels are now not as tiny as before.

The car is cool and efficient on the go, and produces an inoffensive but colourless engine note. It rides better than many compacts, and your well-being is actually enhanced by the lovely interior.

It just about matches the performance of a BMW 323i, but costs $50,000 less. While the Beemer has a more palpable fun-to-drive factor, the Volvo is appreciated for its attention to detail. It is more fuel-efficient, too.

The facelifted S40 has a more striking face, with new headlamps and a lower air intake. Behind, its tail-lamps are slimmer, with LED-type brake lights.

Looks aside, the most obvious improvement is within the cabin. It is now equipped with a crisp premium hi-fi system that will rival the ones found in top-end limos. The upholstery is of a finer-grain leather.

A variant that packs a higher fun quotient is the 230bhp S40 T5, a 2.5-litre turbo going for $137,000.

It will be hard to find a European car that matches the T5's bang-for-buck proposition. Definitely, there isn't one that is as immaculately and stylishly put together as the S40.

VOLVO S40 2.4
Price: $119,000 with COE
Engine: 2,435cc 20-valve inline-5
Transmission: Five-speed Geartronic
Power: 170bhp at 6,000rpm
Torque: 230N at 4,400rpm
0-100kmh: 8.9 seconds
Top speed: 215kmh
Fuel consumption: 9.1 litres/100km (city-highway)
Agent: SM Motors