The V40 is back in action. A couple of weeks after it had arrived, a problem with the keyless entry and start system had got to the point when it was potentially disruptive. Volvo took the car away and replaced the receiver that was not detecting the key.

One of the Volvo cars I tried last year had fully autonomous technology. It was a prototype
and those cars are still a few years away from sales. But technology that paves the way for those vehicles appears on this V40. The Volvo V40 is able to steer itself into a parking space. This Park Assist Pilot feature is part of the Xenium Pack (£2,000), which also includes a rear view camera for reversing, a panoramic sunroof and electrically adjustable front seats.

The car also comes with the driver support pack (£1,900), which includes a number of safety features. Cameras read speed limit road signs, and there is a blindspot warning, cross traffic alert and a lane-keeping aid, which alerts the driver if the car inadvertently drifts out of
the lane. As well as City Safety automonous emergency braking (standard on all V40s), the support pack includes adaptive cruise control with collision alert and full autonomous braking.

Simon Harris