Looks stunning in a lovely rebel blue

FOR the second week in a row I found myself in a blue coloured car. The Renault Grand Megane was a nice shade of blue, but this week’s motor, the Volvo V40R, came in an extremely attractive

‘rebel blue.’

Now I always associated red with the Cork rebels, but you never know nowadays.

Volvo, like most car companies, have had their financial difficulties in recent years, but thankfully their future now seems to be secure under Chinese ownership.

I read recently that Swedish culture has been narrowed down to four stereotypes: ABBA, Volvo, blondes and Ikea. Blondes are supposed to have more fun; I love ABBA’s songs; I have had my arm twisted a few times to go to Ikea and we all know that Volvo cars are so safe and solid as they are built like tanks.

So, no need to go to Sweden, the winters are milder here.

Volvo has always had a great reputation for safety and the V40 is officially the safest car ever tested by the Euro NCAP. It achieved a 5-star rating and it also got the highest score ever recorded by the crash test regime. There are so many airbags for your body, your knees and a side impact protection system. Hopefully you will never need to use all the airbags, but it’s good to know that they are there if required.

Volvo were the first to introduce

‘City Safety’ where the brakes are applied if somebody walks out in front of your in slow moving traffic. I have tested this system in past, but it only works if you don’t hit the brakes. And naturally if somebody steps out in front of you in a city street, the first reaction is to hit the brakes.

Externally the car looks stunning thanks to that lovely rebel blue which helps to show off the car’s beautiful lines. Last year we got the new V40, now the R-design gives us a glossy black grille and unique LED lights. Inside there is a new black interior with sculpted front seats in Nubuck textile. All very comfortable.

On the dash the controls are contained in neat centre console. You don’t get keyless entry, but there is stop-start technology which emits low emissions of only 94g/kh.

Plenty of power in the 1.6 diesel engine, which gives you 115 brake horse power. And when you want to park there is fine old fashioned style hand brake plus the side mirrors fold in when you zap the alarm.

The rear window in this hatchback is small enough, but there is still plenty of room to see through when reversing. At the back you get a two-tone look with a shiny black complimenting the rebel blue on the hatch door. There is plenty of room for five adults and the front seats have a bucket effect. The boot size is average, but you do get a

‘mini’ spare wheel underneath.

When you are driving you will definitely be impressed with the windscreen washer in the VolvoV40; it is the only car I have seen with three water jets to wash your screen. Very impressive.

Prices start at

?¬30,905, while the test model I drove will cost you

?¬30,865. So try and locate that old ABBA CD and take a test drive. And if you happen to be passing Ikea do drop in, I find their restaurant prices very reasonable.