Volvo’s compact SUV, the XC40, is now available with all new 3-cylinder petrol engine as the company keeps to its promise of eliminating diesel engines from its entire range. Now there is a trade-off here, eliminate diesel and you prevent toxins from being released into the atmosphere. That sounds good to us. Petrol engines do not emit harmful toxins, what we get instead is an increase in C02 emissions. Or in other words global warming.

During 2018, the UK experienced one the hottest most sustained periods of warm weather since records began. It was scorchio hot. Some would say adopting a pure petrol lineup is a small price to pay because. C02 contributes to global warming and we get gradually hotter weather that will kill people just as much as those pesky diesel toxins do.

And when temperatures do rise we British no longer have to spend our summer holidays vacating in Spain, no our ‘lads’ can freely urinate in public and eat real British Tomato Ketchup with proper British fish and British chips, and not that tastier infinitely superior Spanish cuisine.

OK, so we’re going sideways with this, let us get back to the news, after all, we’re an award-winning, top-quality outlet… right?

The T3 petrol is Volvo’s first ever 3-cylinder engine, the 1.5-litre unit shovels out 156bhp and 265Nm of torque.  Initially, Volvo will offer the T3 petrol with a six-speed manual, an 8-speed automatic will be offered at a later date.

Volvo claims a combined fuel economy of 45.6mpg and CO2 emissions of 144g/km. Having driven 3-cylinder engines that’s just about achievable but petrol engines do not give as much flexibility with fuel economy as do diesel engines.

In addition, small capacity engines with turbocharging do not offer the lazy flexibility that more cylinders offer. What you have is a car that constantly feels on the edge of exploding. Maybe such a small engine isn’t suited to an SUV.

If you want more power then the XC40 does come with the 2.0-litre, 4.-cylinder, 190bhp T4 petrol engine and the more powerful 247bhp variant, the T5.

Volvo still offers a diesel engine… for now. The 150hp, 4-cylinder D3 is available in both manual and automatic options,  with the choice of front or all-wheel drive.

Both the petrol and diesel 4-cylinder lumps get optional all-wheel drive and an automatic transmission.

The XC40 range also now offers a full range of equipment grades, 38 different combinations of engines, equipment grades and transmissions and model specs: Momentum, R-Design and Inscription, each with an optional ‘Pro’ upgrade.

UK prices for the XC40 range start from £27,610 for the T3 Momentum manual to £37,620 for the T5 Inscription Pro automatic.