IF you are part of a larger than life family with an active outdoor lifestyle but really need a car that deals with any demands put in its way then Volvo could have the dream vehicle for you.

The all-wheel-drive XC70 boasts versatility, good looks, great performance, excellent safety credentials other manufacturers can only dream of and state-of-the-art technology too.

There's room for all the family to travel in comfort and with an exceptionally generously-sized boot that can be increased further thanks to split-folding rear seats, transporting the family's bikes, surfboards or any other bulky item is no problem.

Safety may top many buyers' wish list but a vehicle still has to appeal and the XC70 does just that from the second you lay eyes on the smooth streamlining, 17-inch alloys, twin tail pipes, neat light clusters and smart roof rails.

And the quality of features is just as apparent once you take your seat - leather, of course - behind the multi-function steering wheel.

Creature comforts are plentiful and include cruise control, dual-zone air conditioning, automatic rain sensors, rear parking assist, a power-operated tailgate and a brilliant sound system which is compatible with all today's music devices.

Additional extras on the test model included a very efficient sat nav system, geartronic transmission and several other options which raised the asking price by more than £6,000 to £40,700.

In and around town the XC70 proved deceptively agile and manoeuvrability was remarkably good for a vehicle of its size. Parking in tighter spaces was made all the more easy thanks to the parking sensors and unobstructed all-round visibility.

But it's out on the faster, more open roads that the XC70 really excels. The automatic transmission is very responsive and the ride incredibly smooth and quiet - even on rougher, more testing road surfaces.

The 2.4-litre diesel-driven engine provided ample power and acceleration to cruise along with faster moving traffic.

If I had to pick one fault it would be the manually-adjustable seats - for £40,000-plus I would expect them to be fully electrically adjustable, but that's my only real criticism.

Of course, the XC70 has all the safety credentials and specifications that Volvo can throw at it. But, as well as the more recognisable functions such as anti-lock brakes and numerous airbags there is an array of more sophisticated features like collision warning with full auto brake and pedestrian detection, driver alert control, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning  and blind spot information system.