Volvo V40

The difference between those Swedish meatballs in IKEA and the Swedish creation I’ve been driving is that here the only horses reside under the Volvo V40’s bonnet.

With a similar rhythmical thrum of a four-cylinder Subaru boxer engine above 1,700rpm the sumptuous, creamy delivery of the Swedish brand’s 177bhp, five-cylinder turbocharged D4 diesel engine is a characterful delight that should be acknowledged as a unique highlight in a class which is hard fought between BMW’s 1-Series, Mercedes’ A-Class and the Audi A3.

Treat the throttle pedal with a little enthusiastic abandon and only a lull of low-rev torque and an over-long gear-shift stand to interrupt the fun which, manifested in numbers which claim an 8.2 second sprint to 62mph and 137mph top speed.

Savour its fuel-sipping strengths by treating it with a little more care and Volvo claim that it’s capable of 65.7mpg while emitting an impressive 114g/km of CO2.

Suffice to say, I enjoyed the engine’s delivery so much that my test drive saw the V40 D4 SE average fuel economy in the mid-40s.

Evoking a desire to really drive is something that many of us might never have expected from a Volvo.

But then the Volvo V40 always aimed to bring something different to the party.

Introduced to the range on the back of the success of the attractive V60, the five-door hatchback is pebble-smooth where its processors were always just a little too square (literally and metaphorically).

With a slippery smooth face, Ice White colour and black detailing my test car soon earned the nickname “The Badger.”

In mid-range SE specification it sits above ES and below the SE Lux, R-Design and R-Design Lux in the V40 range and comes in at £25,045, similar money to a BMW 120d Sport boasting 180bhp, Audi A3 Sportback S-line 150bhp TDI or Mercedes A 200 CDI AMG Sport with 136bhp.

Enticing prospects from German brands dazzling with established brand kudos they might be, but the Volvo offers far greater passenger accommodation and a less familiar silhouette which is sure to appeal to those who want to stand out from the crowd.

Twin exhausts, 17 inch alloys, a rising shoulderline leading to distinctive broad haunches and a largely glass rear hatch all lend a style which is fresh and distinctly Volvo.

Inside a typically crisp and minimal cabin design — the automotive industry’s equivalent of an IKEA living room — offers no fuss comfort and functionality.

Volvo’s distinctive floating centre console leaves room for concealed storage in the space left behind it, a frameless rear view mirror and TFT instrument display that can be flicked through Elegant, Eco and red-lit sports displays all combine to deliver a genuine hit of stylish innovation.

Cruise control, keyless start, climate control and the most comfortable front seats in the business are among the standard fayre and my test car came with the £1,850 Driver Support Pack, adding: Collision Warning with Full Auto Brake, Pedestrian Detection, Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Departure Warning, Driver Alert Control plus Active High Beam and the Road Sign Information display as well as the Blind Spot Information System.

Volvo has become renowned for its innovative safety technology and much of it works well.  I liked the way the blind spot warning lights have been brought inside from their previous location on the mirror ends, making them easier to see.

But the collision warning proved a little over enthusiastic, unnecessarily flashing a bar of red light in front me on the dash as I manoeuvred around parked cars on occasion.

What was clear from my time with Volvo’s hatchback-cum-coupe-cum-estate was that it is a great tourer.

Staying true to the brand’s roots it feels at home at motorway speeds and offers impressive refinement while its 335-litre boot with a base with can be folded to create a useful load space divider make it a truly capable family car or executive chariot.

A more supple ride than that offered by its rivals also serves up more comfort.

The V40 is not as sporty as its German rivals out on the road. Even with that cracking D4 engine it prefers a more relaxed gait and needs an added moment to settle into a corner after the driver has tugged on its sizeable steering wheel.

The long-throw clutch pedal and shift of the six-speed manual gearbox of my test car also made a case for the V40 as a quick cruiser that cannot quite deliver the dynamic rewards of its key rivals.

But it is a truly accomplished premium offering that can succeed in Volvo’s quest of introducing its cars to a younger audience and the most practical car in its class.

Volvo V40 D4 SE

Engine: 1,984cc, 5-cyl, turbodiesel

Power: 177bhp

Fuel Consumption: 65.7mpg (combined)

Emissions: 114g/km CO2

Performance: 8.2 seconds (0-62mph) and 137mph

Price: £25,045

RATING: **** (out of five)