This is the 2004 Volvo S40 2.0D SE—a car that answers the question, “What if we made a family saloon that feels like it could survive a meteor strike?” It’s Swedish, so of course it’s safe, solid, and about as discreet as a plain-clothes policeman. Under the bonnet is a 2.0-litre turbo diesel producing a useful 134 bhp, which is plenty to haul you, your family, and several weeks’ worth of IKEA flat-packs. Official fuel economy? Around 47 mpg combined, which means it’ll cruise the motorway all day without stopping to drink every few miles. Insurance group? Group 24, which isn’t bad for something this solidly built. ULEZ? Unfortunately, no—it’s Euro 3 diesel, so if you live inside London’s low-emission zone, the Mayor will expect his pound of flesh. Mileage? Irrelevant here—what matters is care, and this one has been pampered more than most people’s children. The service history reads like a novel: 2,135, 3,727, 7,092, 11,366, 14,494, 22,893, 32,524, 41,100, 47,180, 52,107, 63,853, 74,497, 104,386 miles—and to top it all off, we’ll service it again before it leaves us. Being the SE trim, you get leather seats, climate control, alloy wheels, cruise control, electric windows all round, and a sound system that makes long journeys more than bearable. It’s comfortable, predictable in all the right ways, and built with the kind of quality that means it’ll still feel solid when cars half its age are falling apart. The Volvo S40 isn’t trying to be flashy—it’s trying to be good. And it succeeds.