This won its segment in the Irish Car of the Year – underlining how good a job they have done on it. The V40 is Volvo’s attempt at challenging BMW’s and Mercedes’ in their smaller cars. It could potentially be their most important car in the last 20 years. It does have a hint of an estate about it because it’s basically a 5-door hatchback with estate capabilities. There are acres of space in the cabin, which is comfortable and refined. With enough room to carry five passengers, leg and head room is not a problem. The boot is also large - probably one of the biggest in class. The moulded steering wheel, comfortable leather seats and floating centre console make it one of the nicest cabins in the segment. To drive, the V40 is quite refined. It handles well, the steering feels nicely weighted and the gear change is positive and precise. There is a decent range of petrol and diesel engines to choose from too.