Drives

Volvo V40 D3/suzuki Swift Sport/ Mitsubishi Pajero SWB GLS

I walked away from the hatchback life a long time ago, so it takes something really special to make me re-evaluate my Suv-loving ways. To be fair, the V40 started life as a station wagon, so technically this isn’t a hatch. Either way it’s still a far cry from the acres of practical space that my family is accustomed to.

A 500-km round trip from our home to Robertson and returning via cherry-picking in Ceres is a tall order for any test car. Gravel roads, over-tired children and 39˚ heat upped the ante, but the Volvo never missed a beat. The 110 kw/320 N.m twolitre diesel mill even made short work of the caravans and overly aggressive trucks between Robertson and Worcester.

But it was the internal climate control that really helped to slow the loss of humour. The advantage of a substantial luggage area partition is that the air- con doesn’t need to chill unoccupied volume. Volvo has offered automatic climate contol in the upper trim levels of its entry-level model for years now.

The first car I ever put into a wall (accidentally) was a V40 T4 and, fortunately, I wasn’t injured. That’s the beauty of a Volvo. You’re confident enough in the safety features that you’ll entrust your family to it. This model is no different. I usually shy away from other traffic when driving a “platkar” but I had an air of confidence.

My children colonised the backseat and my wife was very comfortable up front. Ride quality was supple enough so everyone enjoyed a decent nap, but was stiff enough to transform Michell’s Pass into a fun ride.

If I should ever downsize to a hatch, the V40 would be at the front of the queue. Adaptive cruise control, self-parking, responsive motor with the lower-pressure turbo… The only thing missing from the specification list is Apple Carplay and Android Auto, although Volvo’s homebaked Sensus Connect isn’t a terrible system.