Volvo

Volvo

Its reputation was built on safety above style, as personified by breezeblock areodynamics and happy-in-their-work crash-test dummies. But in an age of diver’s watches and mountaineer’s boots, Volvo has carved a new place for itself based on good-looking, kick-proof solidity. Call it premium chunkiness.

  • Volvo C30

    C30

    £13,937 - £21,767

    Fans of The Saint will recall that Volvo has some previous form in the area of impractical but cool small cars. Here’s another. Looks great, carries nowt.

     

  • Volvo C70

    C70

    £23,770 - £34,385

    If you want to look dishevelled and freezing cold, muss up your hair and sit in a freezer for bit. Makes more sense than buying a four-seater, hard-topped cabrio.

  • Volvo S40

    S40

    £13,252 - £23,445

    It’s a small saloon, OK? Anyway, here’s a good one: if you want to cut up your carrots very small, don’t ask the Grim Reaper for help – that’s just dicing with death! Geddit?

  • Volvo S60

    S60

    £19,200 - £26,245

    Volvo makes some of the world’s greatest estates, and you want a saloon? It’s got four doors and a big boot, but at your age you might forget what it looks like. 

  • Volvo S80

    S80

    £21,050 - £46,343

    Very impressive big saloon, but doomed to fall between the premium Germans and madcap choices like the Citroen C6. People might assume you are a Volvo executive.

  • Volvo V50

    V50

    £15,258 - £25,007

    A compact estate? Sounds like an estate agent trying to flog a flat to someone who’s looking for a Scottish castle. A decent car, but also available as a Ford Focus.

  • Volvo V70

    V70

    £22,050 - £37,810

    The purest incarnation of the brand – a superbly designed and built practical estate car, the desire for which is probably a secret guilty pleasure of anyone over 45. 

  • Volvo XC60

    XC60

    £23,494 - £34,765

    Volvo goes niche with its first mini-SUV, accompanied by the usual marketing fluff. Looks good, and is full of Swedish health and safety

  • Volvo XC70

    XC70

    £27,270 - £38,715

    A crossover with its wires crossed. Surprisingly good off-road (where it never goes) and surprisingly bad on tarmac. Horrible outside, beautiful within. Go figure.

  • Volvo XC90

    XC90

    £28,628 - £52,964

    Brilliant mix of SUV and MPV, a seven-seater that looks cool and offers terrific utility inside. Maybe all Volvos were, in some subliminal way, leading to this. A winner.

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