The Volvo V40, now with added Thor

Volvo has been rather busy. Following the new S90 and V90 comes this, the brand spanking new V40.

Only, it’s not that new: it won’t take the keenest of eyes or most substantial of anoraks to spot this is a visual update as opposed to a new model.

But then the current Volvo V40 is really rather good, and it’s been with us a little over three years, so it’s not in need of replacement just yet.

The key additions, then, are limited to new headlights - incorporating the ‘Thor’s hammer’ look used by the larger, 90-suffixed models - and a bunch of new colour and wheel options. There are plenty of posh trim options inside, too.

A bunch of turbocharged petrol and diesel engines will be offered, with the greenest putting out just 89g/km of CO2, enough, as it stands, for exemption from car tax. A high-performance V40 Polestar, meanwhile, is something we continue to keep our fingers crossed for.

Into tech? You can now control several of the car's features via your smartphone or watch, allowing you to pre-heat the interior or send your calendar appointments - and their locations - straight to the sat nav.

Importantly, though, the stuff that makes the V40 so appealing - its subtle, non-aggressive styling, its quirky yet ergonomic interior - remain. Can it keep you out of an Audi A3 or BMW 1-Series, though?