Volvo V40 Cross Country hatchback (2016-2019)

The Volvo V40 Cross Country is a toughened-up version of the classy and handsome Volvo V40 hatchback, which competes with upmarket hatchbacks like the Audi A3, Mercedes A-Class, BMW 1 Series and Infiniti QX30. The V40 Cross Country’s raised ride height and chunky bodykit make it look like an SUV, but only the most powerful petrol version has four-wheel drive – and even then it's more of a road car with extra grip, rather than a genuine off-roader.

As a result of this niche status, there aren’t many direct rivals for the V40 Cross Country, but it might be worth considering if you’re looking at an Audi Q3 or BMW X1, not all versions of which have four-wheel drive, either.

The Cross Country is more expensive than the standard V40, partly because it only comes in mid and high-spec trims. If you’re looking at a well-specified V40, it’s worth checking out the Cross Country to see if you like its chunky looks and raised driving position.

The V40 Cross Country benefits from Volvo’s excellent interior design and quality, which makes it a nice car to sit in, particularly for a family hatchback - though it's starting to feel dated inside now. Volvo offers the Cross Country with a range of petrol and diesel engines, the most efficient of which is the D2 diesel, which returns an impressive 76.3mpg and emits 99g/km of CO2. The D2 also has a low Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) tax rate, making it an attractive proposition for company-car drivers. A recent update has lightly freshened the V40 Cross Country’s appearance to bring it in line with newer Volvos, but the dated interior and high price remain in place.

Although there are only two petrol engines available, one of these is the powerful T5, which gives the V40 Cross Country a 0-62mph time of just 6.1 seconds – faster than some hot hatchbacks and sports cars. The T5 model is quite expensive to buy, run and tax, though, and it doesn’t sell in huge numbers.

The V40 on which the Cross Country is based finished 47th out of the 75 cars ranked in our 2017 Driver Power owner satisfaction survey of cars currently on sale in the UK.

Meanwhile, in keeping with Volvo’s longstanding and hard-won reputation for safety, the V40 scored the full five stars in its Euro NCAP crash tests, with a near-perfect 98% adult occupant rating and a rare 100% award for safety-assistance technology. So V40 Cross Country drivers can rest assured that they’re almost as safe in their cars as it’s possible to be.