VOLVO'S XC70 is one of those rare cars that can answer all needs. A real car for all seasons.

As a sensible family vehicle it offers space and flexibility in abundance for regular motoring needs during the week but at the weekend it can take on a whole new persona, able to tackle the toughest of tasks often demanded of a true lifestyle vehicle.

With permanent all-wheel-drive drive and plenty of ground clearance it's ideal if your weekends involve activities like horse ridding, boating or even caravanning when there are times when you need to travel across fields or rough ground.

But just because it's a tough, go-anywhere type of vehicle it doesn't mean passengers have to rough it at all.

The third generation XC70 is tough on the outside but with a soft centre packed with all the creature comforts you need to keep the family happy.

As always with Volvo the front and rear seats offer a nice combination of comfort and support with plenty of flexibility. And coming from a cold climate country the electrically adjustable and heated front seats warm up particularly quickly.

The booster cushion, which is integrated in the rear seat, can be set at two heights, allowing children of different sizes to sit sufficiently high to see out through the windows yet at the same time get the most effective protection possible.

This is a long car which offers a sensible alternative to large and often bulky off-roaders. As such it needs to be spacious to compete and in that respect the XC70 really does deliver with impressive legroom and plenty of head room.

The interior of the XC70 is an example of Scandinavian design at its best with clean form and intelligent functionality.

In the luggage area there is some 575 litres of space with the rear seatbacks in the upright position and a hefty 815 with them lowered. Under the floor there is extra luggage space to extend its carrying capacity as well as hide valuables, although a roller blind-style cover does hide the whole of the luggage area.

This car also came with a dog guard folded up neatly out of the way, flat on the roof lining.

As always with Volvo it comes packed with a host of safety features including Collision Warning with Full Auto Brake. This system warns the driver of a possible impending collision with an internal alarm and vivid red light in the windscreen. At the same time it closes the brakes slightly ready for action.

If the driver doesn't brake after the warning the car does it for you, because figures show that in more than 50 per cent of rear impacts the driver fails to brake at all.

With a hefty 2.4-litre, five cylinder engine under the bonnet the XC70 has plenty of pulling power and sharp acceleration, particularly if you put the auto box into sport mode.

It's not the quietest diesel around when going through the gears though and on full acceleration can be quite noisey.

Once up to cruising speed, however, it is refined with a superbly comfortable and stable ride.

All-wheel-drive and an automatic gearbox are not the best combination for economy and my test car averaged around 37mpg over 300 miles of motoring, which is pretty close to the manufacturer's official figures.

The XC70 is a niche market car but one that gives all you would expect of it.

It's comfortable, safe, quick, spacious and a little thirsty. In fact it does exactly what it says on the tin.