I OPENED the boot of the swish S40 in which my family were to go on holiday and my heart sank.
The boot was big - but would it cope with the Richards' vacation luggage - given that my wife always overpacks for us and our two children.
As I started loading I mentally told myself "no chance." However, to my surprise, and with a little bit of a sweat, it did eventually cope with everything, thankfully.
Believe me, that is no mean feat. And the most impressive thing was that the car behaved as effortlessly with its heavy load as when it was empty.
But then, this was a Volvo. The company thinks big and I've yet to be disappointed by any of its vehicles I have test-driven.
And although the S40 is far from the largest in its stable, it is very big on style, looks and quality.
We effortlessly ate up the miles on the M5 to Somerset and when we did meet traffic queues, we sat in comfort, cooled to perfection by its air conditioning, while others around us grew increasingly hot and flustered.
Boasting a four-door bodyshell in a growing premium compact class currently dominated by three-door alternatives, it is aimed to appeal to a new set of younger customers.
"Premium car buyers might opt for a smaller model, but they won't accept compromises," says Hans-Olov Olsson, president of the Volvo Car Corporation. "Thankfully, with the new Volvo S40, they won't have to."
And I can vouch for that, they won't.
The all new Volvo S40 presented its designers with a challenge - how to capture all the premium values of a contemporary Volvo in a more compact package.
Their response was to craft a dramatic and dynamic shape which looks every inch a Volvo with classic, simple and elegant Scandanavian design.
The new model is 48mm shorter than its predecessor, but is both taller and wider. This gives it a haunched, athletic stance which looks good.
Uniquely in this class, the S40 offers a choice of two transversely mounted five cylinder engines, the most potent of which, the 2.5-litre T5, boasts a mighty 220bhp.
These compact, low friction engines are marvellous, they are quiet, refined and have low fuel consumption and exhaust emissions.
In addition, the torsional rigidity of the new model is nearly 70 per cent greater than that of its predecessor, which helps maximise the performance of the new multi-link rear suspension.
The interior has also been given a great new look. The cabin is constructed of several visual "layers" which focus attention on an ultra-thin central instrument stack.
The stack - it reminded me of something out of Star Trek - is a world first and appears to be free floating in space.
In addition, this is one vehicle which claims to accommodate up to five adults comfortably, and can actually do so.
For extra boot space, the rear seats fold/split to leave a flat versatile space and the front passenger seat also folds forward to take long load items.
A passion for premium quality lies at the heart of the Volvo brand, which is reflected in the choice of trim materials and the outstanding build quality.
The standard specification is also impressive, including Volvo's unique Intelligent Driver Information System that reduces the risk of driver distraction by delaying the delivery of non-essential information in high stress situations.
FAST FACTS
Volvo S40 2.5 T5
Price: £23,763
Mechanical: 220bhp, 2,521cc, 5cyl petrol engine driving front wheels via 6-spd manual gearbox
Max speed: 149mph
0-62mph: 6.8 secs
Combined mpg: 32.5
Insurance group: 15
CO2 emissions: 208g/km
BiK rating: 27%
Warranty: 3yrs/ 60,000 miles; 3yrs paint; 8yrs anti-rust