Volvo introduced a facelift for the 2012 V40 and while it slightly improved the car's look, it greatly improved its fuel-efficiency and carbon footprint.

After divorcing Ford, Volvo tried to find its way into the market with financial help from Geely, a giant Chinese automaker and created a new alternative for the premium compact hatchback segment, namely the V40.

Volvo introduced the V40 in 1996 after signing an agreement with Mitsubishi, but after joining Ford Motor Company in 1999, it introduced a facelift for the entire range.

Volvo signed an agreement with Mitsubishi to produce cars together at the NEDCAR factory in the Netherlands, and the result was the S40/V40 lineup.