Safety kit on the V60 is comprehensive – impressive given it was launched in 2010. The V60 features pedestrian detection that brakes the car automatically if a person walks out in front the car’s direction of travel.

There’s also City Safety, Volvo’s Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) system. It automatically brakes if the driver fails to react when the vehicle in front slows down or stops or if the driver is driving too fast towards a stationary object.

The system can reduce or even avoid low-speed rear-end impacts at speeds of up to 18mph. Other standard safety features include rollover protection system, curtain airbags and side impact protection system. Lane departure warning, blind spot information and active xenon lights are also available on the V60. All that kit contributes to a five-star Euro NCAP score.

The Plug-In Hybrid variant of the V60 scores five stars for safety too, despite weighing 350kg more than its conventionally-engined counterpart.

The V60 comes with plenty of flexibility, even if it’s on the small side. It has a load capacity of 430 litres with rear seats in place and this expands to 1,241 when the seats are folded.

Unfortunately the boot is shallow making it smaller than the majority of rivals. Have a glance at the Octavia estate and you’ll see that it is miles ahead in the space race as it has a capacity of 580 litres (seats in place) and 1,620 litres of loadroom with the seats folded.

However, the sports wagon does have greater flexibility because the passenger seats fold flat to allow for loading and unloading of awkward items. The folding passenger seat comes as standard – a first in this sector.