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  MODEST IN SIZE, BIG ON SPECS: Volvo's V40 hatch, parked in the sculptured gardens of Verona's Byblos Art Hotel, is the smallest Volvo in years but is packed with features. Images: LES STEPHENSON
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  KINKY TAIL: The 2012 Volvo V40's hatch door carries a distinctive horizontal notch which adds to its rear-shoulder strength.
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  BROAD SHOULDERS: The suggestion of a powerful machine is emphasised on the Volvo V40 with extra-wide rear wings over serious rubber.
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  SUMMER IN ITALY: Long days and superb mountain roads around Verona in the north of the country meant plenty of time to enjoy Volvo's trend-setting V40 hatch.
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  SIZE IS EVERYTHING: The Volvo V40 is only 4.4m long but has an ideal combination of passenger space and a chassis short enough for agile handling.
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  SUPER PEOPLE-FRIENDLY: The V40 has a huge list of options, among them a pedestrian crash cushion hidden under the bonnet and the ability to identify a human outline, calculate the car's trajectory and speed and, if necessary, apply emergency braking.
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  WELCOME ABOARD: The V40's "parent" was the sporty Volvo C30 two-door coupe (still in production) but for most people four doors just makes so much more sense.
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  NO-FEET NEEDED: The panel to the left on the V40's grill is part of the radar-based cruise control that will slow, accelerate or even fully brake the car in a traffic stream.
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  FAMILIAR FEATURE The "flying bridge" centre console now familiar across the range has been retained but the level of information available through the fascia screen is genuinely amazing.
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  ONE-TOUCH WINDOWS: Power windows, locking and external mirrors are standard on the V40.
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  INSTANT IDENTITY: The pronounced bulge/notch on the V40's tail, echoed in shape by the tail light clusters, is a defining feature of the new Volvo.
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