It's hard not to like Volvo's new EX30 compact crossover, its smallest SUV. And I did, in the main, while driving it for the first time on potholed UK roads.
This is a smart electric car with contemporary looks, a range of up to 296 miles, good performance and acceleration, a smart clutter-free interior, flexible space — including fold-down seats and a small front-trunk or 'frunk' — and some clever touches.
But it's also a flawed genius. Because for all my enjoyment, there remain some irritating niggles which I hope the Swedish car firm — owned by car giant Geely — will put right in the Chinese-built SUV.
Volvo has stripped out physical buttons and knobs, and put far too much emphasis on the single central upright iPad-style dashboard screen.
As a result, there is no driver information screen behind the steering wheel. So I had to divert my gaze from the road to the screen centre of the car to check the speed limit or keep an eye on the sat-nav map.
Tweaking the side mirrors is also via the screen. This is surprising from a car firm that has built its reputation on safety.
This key flaw aside, I enjoyed the EX30, priced from £33,795. I drove the 272hp rear-wheel drive model costing from £38,545 which accelerated from rest to 62mph in 5.3 seconds and has a range of 296 miles.
The more powerful 428hp twin motor version costs from £42,045 and accelerates from rest to 62mph in 3.6 seconds.
New cars lose value the second they leave the dealer's forecourt. But the degree of depreciation varies hugely between models.
A new report by magazine WhatCar? looking at cars under £50,000, based on three years' ownership and 36,000 miles, says the seven-seater Volkswagen Multivan is the best performer with the slowest depreciation, retaining 62 per cent of its value as it drops from £48,340 to £29,975 — a fall of £18,365.
It is followed by the Renault Scenic E-Tech, retaining 60.7 per cent of its value and the Honda Civic Type R (60.5 per cent).
Biggest depreciators are the Vauxhall Mokka Electric which retains 27.9 per cent of its value and DS3 E-Tense (28.5 per cent).
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