Three months after first climbing behind the wheel of the Volvo V40, I will be sad to see it leave the Fleet News fleet.

Apart from its eye-catching good looks, I have been most impressed by its City Safety technology.

At first the intermittent beeping and flashing of lights warning of potential hazards tested my patience, but it was not long before it won me over.

At low speeds, the autonomous braking system uses a sensor positioned at the top of the windscreen to monitor an area 10 metres ahead of the car for vehicles which might present a threat of collision.

If a collision is likely, City Safety first pre-charges the brakes and makes the Emergency Brake Assist system more sensitive so that, if the driver should notice the risk, the car is ready to respond more quickly to their braking action.

However, if the driver still takes no action and a collision becomes imminent, City Safety independently applies the brakes very hard.

The system can become frustrating when it picks up on parked vehicles which pose no threat at all when, for example, driving on a housing estate.

But after having a vehicle suddenly brake in front of me, those minor irritations were put in perspective.

The City Safety system cut in and applied the brakes and, while I reacted only a split second afterwards, any potential collision was avoided.

It’s true that the V40 D2 SE Nav’s P11D price of £22,740 may be slightly higher than some of its rivals, but what price safety?

And, with CO2 emissions of 94g/km and fuel efficiency figures of 74.3mpg, even if I only managed a high of 56.5mpg, a 13% BIK tax band will only enhance its appeal.