The Volvo DRIVe (pronounced dry-vee) is the Swedish car maker’s green range with all models claiming market-leading CO2 emissions and fuel economy.

On the press launch Peter Ewerstand, director of Volvo Cars’ CO2 targets, stressed the cars’ green credentials are based upon the models being driven at an average of 20.5mph over a distance of 7.44 miles with 0-31mph covered in 30 seconds.

Ewerstand also revealed driving with air-conditioning off will increase fuel economy by 10 per cent and driving erratically can cause a 20 per cent decrease.

It wasn’t exactly real world driving so getting close to the claimed figures was a tough target but all the models we tested were impressive considering the heat wave and heavy traffic in Stockholm where we were testing them.

Volvo C30 DRIVe
Range price: £15,495 - £18,754

For the DRIVe range, the C30 family hatchback is fitted with a 1.6-litre diesel engine which develops 109bhp and 177lb/ft of pulling power. Volvo has fitted the C30 with stop-start technology which cuts the engine when in neutral while stationary.

It’s claimed that in an area with built-up traffic the stop-start system can reduce fuel consumption by up to eight per cent.

Combine this with brake energy regeneration and a second battery to run features such as air-conditioning and you have a car which emits just 104g/km of carbon dioxide.

This puts the C30 in tax band B with an annual VED bill of just £35. Volvo also claims the C30 will average a staggering 72.4mpg, the same as the new Prius and way ahead of its rivals including:

• Ford Focus Econetic – 65.6mpg
• Vauxhall Astra Ecoflex – 62.8mpg

However, the stop-start technology is only designed to work between temperatures of 5-30C – and in Sweden where there was a heat wave, we continually found ourselves outside the range meaning the stop-start didn’t regularly work. With air conditioning on, the C30 was hitting 43mpg in Stockholm’s busy city traffic which is still an impressive performance.

The car’s driving dynamics don’t match its green credentials. The C30 has a hard ride and the engine isn’t the most refined. Performance takes second stage to running costs with 0-62mph taking 11.3 seconds and a top speed of 118mph not exactly breathtaking. This isn’t a car to go as quickly from A to B as possible, in but one to get the most miles per gallon possible.

The stop-start system on the C30 is a £250 option, reducing emissions from 119g/km and getting an extra 10mpg so it pays for itself within a very short period.

Starting at £15,745, it’s also respectably priced when compared to hybrid models such as the £18,370 Toyota Prius. 

Volvo V70 DRIVe
Range price: £22,105 - £24,105

The V70 is arguably the most ambitious model in the DRIVe range with Volvo fitting the large family estate with the same 1.6-litre diesel engine as with the C30.

It doesn’t get the stop start system yet, and despite being 4.8 metres long and weighing more than 1.5 tons it emits just 129g/km – placing it in tax band D with an annual bill of £120.

Volvo claims it will average 57.6mpg and after driving the wagon on clear roads with air conditioning on, we easily managed to get 56.5mpg.

The V70 will accelerate from 0-62mph in 12.8 seconds and reach a top speed of 118mph. Performance-wise it does its job because the V70 isn’t the sort of car people drive to floor. The car’s steering could do with a bit more feel and there is plenty of body roll through the corners, but the suspension is soft and comfortable.

Volvo XC60 DRIVe
Range price: £24,995 - £30,245

Volvo has converted the 2.4-litre diesel XC60 from all-wheel drive to front-wheel drive, reducing emissions from 199g/km to 159g/km and putting the crossover into tax band G for an annual bill of £150.

With 175bhp the XC60 is no slouch, accelerating from 0-62mph in 9.8 seconds and capable of 127mph. Volvo has optimised the car’s ratios so that engine revs are lower in sixth gear at 62mph, helping to improve fuel economy when cruising on main roads.

We took the XC60 on a run which included plenty of open roads and some stop start traffic, achieving 43.5mpg – slightly off the claimed target of 47mpg.

Unless you really need all-wheel drive then the front-wheel drive XC60 is the best model to go for. It handles in a very similar vein to the AWD model and fuel economy is much better.

The Volvo DRIVe range also includes the following models:

Volvo S40 DRIVe – 1.6-litre diesel, 72.4mpg and 104g/km
Volvo V50 DRIVe – 1.6-litre diesel, 72.4mpg and 104g/km
Volvo S80 DRIVe – 1.6-litre diesel, 57.5mpg and 129g/km
Volvo XC70 DRIVe – 2.4-litre diesel, 47.1mpg and 159g/km

Overall verdict

In terms of fuel economy on small models, no conventional diesel can get near Volvo’s new DRIVe range at the moment.

As drivers’ cars, they don’t match their rivals but it’s unlikely people will be driving these models on the limit.

The Swedish car maker has always been known for its amazing safety and reliability record and now it can add green to its credentials too.