If it looks like a Volvo, rides like a Volvo and feels like a Volvo, then, hey, it is a Volvo.

That came to mind during our test drive of the 2019Volvo XC40 T4. This particular Volvo had a sticker that was just shy of $38,000. In a world where you get less and pay more, that is a bargain for a luxury automobile.

At that price, we think this Volvo may be the most cost efficient vehicle in the lineup, thus far. That means it is the cheapest. But beside the word there is nothing cheap about the XC40.

It looked like a Volvo with the Thor’s hammer daytime running lights, the Iron Mark grille which was concaved on the XC40, a bunch of vibrant colors to attract the younger buyer, a color contrast roof on some models, that means two toned, large 18-inch wheels, obviously large clad covered wheel arches and an 8.3 inch ride height which bolstered a feeling of security.

Every time we got out of the test vehicle we were always a little startled by how far our foot went down before it touched the ground. We never felt like we had to step up to get into the XC40 but we had to step down a little to exit.

There was a semi-smart key. There was no push button or haptic lock or unlock on the doors but there was push button start stop. We had the T4 front-wheel-drive model.

That meant a smaller turbocharger than on the T5. It also meant the four-cylinder engine generated 187 horsepower and a healthy 221 pound-feet of torque. But the torque kicked in at 4,000 rpm. We wish that number was lower by say half to give the Volvo XC40 T4 a little more oomph. Still, this test vehicle did move smartly enough to get it or keep it out of harm’s way. It never seemed underpowered.

The XC40 had an eight-speed automatic transmission with manual shift capability and four drive modes: comfort, individual, dynamic and eco. We noted that in eco the stop start function could not be turned off. It could in the other drive modes.

The combination no doubt was an integral part in the XC40s fuel rating. It got 23 mpg in the city, 33 mpg on the highway and 27 mpg combined.

A designer once told us that luxury is conveyed in the interior of a vehicle. And Volvo has done that with the XC40 T4. The automaker didn’t scrimp on the crossover’s material or trim. Those were Volvo seats we sat in, the controls were the same as in other much more expensive Volvos and the layout was exactly the same. The XC40 T4 was a small luxury crossover.

Yes, there were areas where some creature comforts were missing but the basics were there. Only the driver’s seat was power, 8-way with lumbar support. But the fully automatic power windows all round remained. There were fixed LED headlights rather than adaptable. And there was no moonroof.

The XC40 T4 had automatic climate controls, the 9-inch infotainment screen that slid like an iPad, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster in front of the driver and standard driver aides like robust lane departure warning and lane keep assist, traffic sign recognition and Wi-Fi hotspot. And as with other Volvos there were a couple of ways that the XC40 alerted us to our speeding.

We were surprised that the 2019 XC40 did have a camera; it zoomed in on where we backed up. The front seats where heated but not cooled. The power liftgate was really surprising in this price range

There was an eight-speaker 250 watt audio system. It was good but we’d like a few more decibels on the volume dial. There was Apple CarPlay and Android Auto for streaming. Of course there was Bluetooth, voice controls and satellite radio.

It had a collision avoidance system and city safety which could detect vehicles, pedestrians, cyclists and large animals. We still don’t know exactly what run off the road protection and run off the road mitigation will do, and we don’t want to find out but the 2019 XC40 had both.

There was no wireless charging pad but there were three USB jacks, two in the front and one in the back as well as two 12V plugs one in the front and one in the rear.

The 2019 Volvo XC40 was a great crossover, with great equipment, great driving characteristics, great response to driver input, a great ride and they’ve managed to put it on the market chock full of equipment for a base price of $33,200.

Add the multimedia package which included the navigation system and the heated front seats and steering wheel, plus metallic paint, Four-C Active chassis and freight charges and we were looking at a $37,965 sticker.

Frank S. Washington is editor of AboutThatCar.com