The Volvo V40 Cross Country was one of the surprise packages of this year’s tests.

We much prefer the car with the Geartronic automatic gearbox rather than the notchy manual fitted to the last Cross Country we drove. It shifts gear smoothly and means making the most of the D4 engine’s punch is effortless.

It also means hill starts are straightforward. The handbrake needed a relatively firm pull to keep car and caravan steady, but the V40 breezed up the hill with no wheelspin, even though power only goes to the front wheels (despite the raised ride height and chunky styling, the Cross Country is no 4×4).

With the D4 engine’s delivering 295lb ft of torque, acceleration is quick and decisive. The sprint from 30-60mph with a Swift caravan in tow took just 9.8 seconds.

The Volvo is stable as well as quick. The Al-Ko ATC sensors recorded no instability when slowing from high speeds, and the car made the lane-change test seem easy. Even when the caravan began to move around, the Cross Country remained firmly in control.

The Volvo doesn’t finish further up the pecking order because of reservations over the lumpy ride in everyday driving. It’s also a rather small car for the money, with limited cabin space and luggage room, and the electrics are rather awkward to access.

However, we think it’s very impressive that a car of this size, weight and performance can return 65.7mpg on the combined cycle. What’s more, the D4 engine meets the latest Euro 6 emissions standard. So we’ve made this capable and efficient tow car winner of the 2015 Green Award.

2019
Category Winners
2019 Up to 1400kg

Škoda Octavia

Hatch 1.5 TSI 150PS SE L DSG

2019 1400-1549kg

Seat Ateca

2.0 TSI 190PS FR DSG

2019 1550-1699kg

Volkswagen Arteon

2.0 TDI 150PS Elegance DSG

2019 1700-1899kg

BMW 520d

Touring xDrive M Sport

2019 1900kg+

Land Rover Discovery

3.0 SDV6 HSE

2019 Best Budget 4x4

Dacia Duster

1.5 dCi Ambiance 4x4

2019 Best Plug-In Hybrid

Land Rover Range Rover Sport

P400e HSE Dynamic

2019 Best Ultralight Tow Car

Seat Arona

1.0 TSI 115 FR

2019 Fuel Economy Award

Ford Focus Estate

1.5 EcoBlue 120PS Titanium X

Previous Winners
2018
1700-1899kg

BMW 520d

Touring xDrive M Sport

2017
1900kg+

Land Rover Discovery

3.0 Td6 HSE*

2016
1400-1549kg

Skoda Superb Hatch

2.0 TDI 150PS SE Business

2015
1400-1549kg

Volkswagen Passat Estate

2.0 TDI BMT 150PS SE Business DSG

2014
1400-1549kg

Nissan Qashqai

1.6 dCi (130PS) Stop/Start System Acenta Premium

2013
Up to 1424kg

Skoda Octavia

2.0 TDI CR 150PS Elegance

2012
1725–1899kg

Jaguar XF

2.2D Premium Luxury

2011
1425-1574kg

Volkswagen Passat Estate

2.0 TDI 170 Bluemotion Sport

2010
1900kg+

Land Rover Discovery 4

3.0 TDV6 XS

2009
1900kg+

Volvo XC60

D5 SE Geartronic

2008
1575-1724kg

Ford Mondeo Estate

2.0 TDCi Titanium auto

2007
1575-1724kg

Volkswagen Passat Estate

2.0 TDI Sport 4Motion

ContinueWe use cookies to give you the best browsing experience and to provide you with relevant content and advertising.
By continuing to use our website you are accepting our use of cookies as described in our Cookie Policy.