LIKE a lot of other brands, and perhaps quite surprisingly, Volvo is now known primarily for its SUVs, with its XC60 and XC90 accounting for about two-thirds of its sales in Australia – a figure that is only going to increase now the all-new XC40 small SUV has arrived.

The new kid on the block might be late to the burgeoning segment, but Volvo has strong credentials with its well-established and highly regarded larger SUVs.

Yet this is unchartered territory for the Swedish brand, not only in entering a fiercely competitive class but in delivering its first vehicle based on a new global compact platform developed in conjunction with its parent company, China’s Geely Automobile, which plans to use it on a variety of models.

Ahead of launch, this had us wondering whether shortcuts were taken that put the XC40 at odds with its accomplished larger siblings, which could limit its potential.

And the radical design, well, it’s nothing like we’ve seen from Volvo before.