• Repeat victory for Volvo V40 as Co-op Insurance relaunches Safe Used Car Award
• V40 with Driver Support Pack tops the table for second consecutive year
• Premium five-door V40 also praised for its standard safety features
The Volvo V40 with optional Driver Support Pack has been named 'Safe Used Car' by Co-op Insurance for the second year in a row, as the award is relaunched for 2017.
Co-op Insurance created the inaugural Co-op Safe Used Car Award last year in partnership with vehicle safety experts Thatcham Research to demonstrate its commitment to campaigning for safer communities throughout the UK. The Volvo V40 with Driver Support Pack was the first car to be presented with the accolade, based on analysis of used family cars, all of which must have a five-star Euro NCAP safety score, CO2 emissions of 120g/km or lower and be freely available on the used car market for £15,000 or less.
Every V40 comes with Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) as standard, while the Driver Support Pack includes a range of advanced safety aids, including pedestrian and cyclist detection, adaptive cruise control and systems that warn you if you inadvertently start to leave your lane or if there's a vehicle in your blind spot.
While the Volvo V40 with the Driver Support Pack remains a non-mover as the overall winner, the V40 without this suite of safety features is also in the top 10 list of safest used cars.
Thanks to an impressive number of standard safety features, including the world-first application of a pedestrian airbag, every V40 offers crucial protection for its occupants – as well as those outside – in an accident. However, where the car really comes into its own is with its collision-avoidance technology.
The V40 became the safest car ever tested by Euro NCAP when it was tested in 2012, with superb scores across the board – including an unprecedented 100% for safety assist. Since then, the Volvo S90 and V90 have surpassed the best overall score of any model tested in 2016, making Euro NCAP's top-three best-ever-performing cars all Volvos.
James Hillon, Director of Product at Co-op Insurance, said: "We're pleased to announce that the Volvo V40 has topped the list as Co-op's Safest Used Family Car for a second year running, making it a safe choice for families looking to buy a second-hand vehicle. Volvo scored the highest in a series of track tests conducted by Thatcham Research and once again produced unprecedented results."
Bruce Greenwood, Used Car Programme Manager for Volvo Car UK, said: "To be presented with the Co-op Safe Used Car Award for the second year running – and to also have two cars in the top 10 – by one of the UK's largest insurance providers as well as experts in vehicle safety is a real testament to the Volvo V40. Even as standard, the V40 has class-leading safety features that focus on protecting the driver, passengers and pedestrians.
"Customers are recognising the benefits that come with buying a V40 through the Volvo Selekt Approved Used Car programme, because the scheme includes competitive prices, comprehensive warranty cover, roadside assistance and a full history check. Combined with the V40's outstanding safety and striking design, this has made the car an immensely popular second-hand buy since its introduction in 2012."
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Notes to editors
The Volvo V40's safety features explained:
CITY SAFETY
Included as standard on every Volvo V40 is City Safety, which senses potential collisions (it is active from 2 to 31mph) and can activate the brakes automatically should you not react in time.
THE DRIVER SUPPORT PACK INCLUDES ALL OF THE FOLLOWING FEATURES: PEDESTRIAN AND CYCLIST DETECTION
The ground-breaking Pedestrian and Cyclist Detection technology with full auto brake detects and automatically brakes for cyclists swerving out in front of the car. The advanced sensor system scans the area ahead of the car. If a cyclist heading in the same direction as the car suddenly swerves out in front of the car, as it approaches from behind, it will prompt you to act with a flashing warning light on the windscreen, along with an audible alarm. If you do not react to the warning, and a collision is imminent, the car immediately brakes with full braking force.
ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL WITH FULL AUTO BRAKE
When engaged, adaptive cruise control makes driving the V40 even more relaxing, using radar to maintain a set distance to the vehicle in front. As soon as a slower vehicle is detected, the car's speed will automatically adapt to match it, keeping you at a safe distance. The useful Queue Assist function (available on V40s with automatic transmission) can keep the gap even in queues with repeated starting and stopping.
LANE KEEPING AID
Forward-facing cameras on the V40 can help keep your car in the intended lane, gently steering the car back on course or alerting you through the steering wheel.
BLIND SPOT INFORMATION SYSTEM WITH CROSS TRAFFIC ALERT
The radar-based Blind Spot Information System (BLIS) informs you about other vehicles in the blind spots on both sides of the car, and also monitors and alerts you to rapidly approaching vehicles up to 70 metres behind the car. Cross Traffic Alert uses the radar sensors at the rear end of the car to alert you to crossing traffic from the sides, for example when reversing out of a parking space.
ROAD SIGN INFORMATION
The V40 can also help you stay informed by displaying road sign information within the V40's instrument display, including speed limit signs and 'no overtaking' warnings.
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Volvo Car Group in 2016
For the 2016 financial year, Volvo Car Group recorded an operating profit of 11,014 MSEK (6,620 MSEK in 2015). Revenue over the period amounted to 180,672 MSEK (164,043 MSEK). For the full year 2016, global sales reached a record 534,332 cars, an increase of 6.2 per cent versus 2015. The record sales and operating profit cleared the way for Volvo Car Group to continue investing in its global transformation plan.
About Volvo Car Group
Volvo has been in operation since 1927. Today, Volvo Cars is one of the most well-known and respected car brands in the world, with sales of 534,332 cars in 2016 in about 100 countries. Volvo Cars has been under the ownership of the Zhejiang Geely Holding (Geely Holding) of China since 2010. It formed part of the Swedish Volvo Group until 1999, when the company was bought by Ford Motor Company of the US. In 2010, Volvo Cars was acquired by Geely Holding.
As of December 2016, Volvo Cars had more than 31,000 employees worldwide. Volvo Cars’ head office, product development, marketing and administration functions are mainly located in Gothenburg, Sweden. Volvo Cars’ head office for China is located in Shanghai. The company’s main car production plants are located in Gothenburg (Sweden), Ghent (Belgium), Chengdu and Daqing (China), while engines are manufactured in Skövde (Sweden) and Zhangjiakou (China), and body components in Olofström (Sweden).
