VOLVO has a solid reputation built on reliability and safety and now economy and efficiency can be added to that list.

Admittedly in the past, the boxy shape wasn't the most aesthetically pleasing, but these days the Volvo is stylish, eye-catching, boasts dynamic handling and is packed with technology.

And there is no better model to demonstrate these plaudits than the best-selling V40 which accounts for about 40 per cent of Volvo sales.

The Cross Country model features bold, rugged styling traits such as a beefy front end, tinted glass, twin tailpipes, sweeping headlights, roof rails and the words Cross Country stretching across the tailgate to accentuate its ready-for action appearance.

The richly-equipped interior offers all the creature comforts you could wish for with the likes of an electrically-powered driver's seat, heated seats, sat nav, a multi-function steering wheel, a great audio system and plenty more besides.

This particular car had some optional extras which bumped the asking price up from £26,770 to £34,015. These included features such as a park assist system, 17-inch alloys and keyless entry and start-up.

A Driver Support Pack (£1,900) added collision warning with full auto brake, pedestrian and cyclist detection, adaptive cruise control and distance alert, lane keeping, driver alert control with active high beam, road sign information display and blind spot warning with cross traffic alert.

The V40 has a really premium feel about it and the handling lives up to high expectations too.

The 2.0-litre 190bhp diesel-driven engine certainly packs a punch and can sprint from 0-62mph in 7.7 seconds with a top speed of 130mph. But the real sit-up-and-listen figures are all about economy as according to Volvo the V40 can deliver combined fuel efficiency of 70.6mpg with carbon emissions of just 104g/km.

Yet despite the frugal nature of the car, it certainly doesn't lack fire-power. The steering was precise and the road-holding very assured which made light work of twisting country lanes. The all-round visibility was excellent and the raised suspension helps to iron out all the road creases along the way.

The six-speed manual gearbox is smooth and responsive and there is a constant supply of power on tap.

The V40 was equally as comfortable in and around busy city centres as it was moving alongside faster motorway traffic and all those safety devices are an added bonus too.

That said I did find it a little disconcerting when the main infotainment screen was saying the maximum speed was 60mph, yet the limit on the TFT driver's information display showed 70mph. This happened on several occasions and could easily cause some confusion.

Comfort levels were good and there is ample room in the back for two adults (three at a push). And when it comes to storage the V40 is very versatile with a boot capacity of 335 litres which can be increased to 1,032 litres with the 60:40 split-folding seats flat.