Story: DAVID WILKINS
Now there’s another reason for business users to take a look at Volvo’s low-CO2 V40 – cheaper insurance thanks to the City Safety braking technology fitted as standard across the V40 range.
City Safety is a collision avoidance system that automatically brakes the car if a driver fails to react to hazards such as stationary or slowing vehicles.
Testing at the insurance industry’s research centre at Thatcham showed that it was effective at reducing low-speed accidents, news that prompted the Association of British Insurers to reflect Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) systems in its insurance group assessment process. That should translate into lower ratings for the V40, although there are no specifics yet.
As well as lower premiums, fewer accidents should mean there’s less risk of injury to drivers and that cars should spend less time off the road.
While some other manufacturers have developed AEB systems, none has fitted the technology as widely as Volvo, which has made it standard on all its cars except the XC90, C30 and C70.
Volvo’s director of governmental affairs, Anders Eugensson said: “It is tremendous that our efforts are now reaping additional benefits for drivers: lower insurance ratings mean reduced premiums. Unlike our rivals, whose AEB technology is either an option or featured on models higher in the range, City Safety is standard on the V40 and, indeed, across most of the range and will be standard on all new and enhanced models.
“Our view is that you cannot put a price on safety and such technology should be incorporated on the entry level vehicle and not just the top-of-the-range versions or as costly options.”
The V40 was already making a strong case for itself with company buyers thanks to business-friendly specs – including Bluetooth as standard – and the very low CO2 rating of the entry-level D2 diesel model, which delivers 95g/km for a business car tax band of 13% and 78.5 mpg fuel economy.
Now lower business car insurance groups should make it an even more attractive company car rival for the new Audi A3, BMW 1-Series and Mercedes A-Class.
