Volvo enters the compact crossover market with new XC40

The Mercedes GLA, the Audi Q2, the BMW X1. What's missing? Up until now, it's been Volvo, which has lacked a stylish compact crossover. Now, though, the Swedish brand has launched its new XC40, and it's set to take on the German brands at the premium compact SUV game.

Volvo calls the XC40 an 'urban SUV', and features a lot of the tech you'd find on the brand's bigger offerings – the XC60 and XC90. It takes its design from those cars too, featuring both Volvo's trademark upright grille and the styling 'Thor's Hammer' daytime running lights. Round the back, C-shaped rear lights are also a homage to the larger cars, but the car's overall shape is much sleeker.