I HAVE just been sampling the Volvo S60 - the Swedish brand's offering in the big selling compact executive class.
When it made its debut last year, the S60 was the first model to appear since the take-over by Chinese giant Geely.
A handsome sports saloon, it retains Volvo's brand values of safety and comfort and comes in a choice of seven engines and four trim levels.
The S60 is among the first models in the Volvo range to benefit from the new Drive-E engines, which share the same 2.0-litre capacity but thanks to turbocharging technology can either emit less than 99g/km or produce over 300bhp depending which you go for.
With coupe-like lines and bold detailing, the Volvo S60 is a good-looking car. The rear lights are a nice feature, as is the square-edged exhaust.
The bolder R-Design model tops the line up and some muscular touches are added to the sleek design with 18-inch wheels, matt-silver mirrors and more aggressive detailing.
The cabin is very stylish and finished in light-coloured materials to add to the feeling of space and the new digital dials give it a modern feel. It provides all the comfort you expect from a Volvo although I found some of the switchgear a bit confusing.
The S60's direct steering is responsive and the car offers more than decent grip, while the brakes are excellent.
I found the ride disappointing and the car did not cope well with potholes or bumps or any kind of uneven surface. This led to jarring through the steering wheel and some shudders in the cabin.
On the motorway, the S60 seemed more relaxed and was an ideal companion for long-distance journeys.
The new 2.0-litre D4 Drive-E diesel engine featured in the test car is one of the most efficient in its class - with CO2 emissions of just 109g/km and a power output of 181bhp.
It can sprint to 60mph in just 7.4 seconds when it is coupled to the eight-speed Geartronic gearbox and is half a second quicker with the six-speed manual. Top speed is 143mph.
This engine is also very frugal with the claimed combined figure for the automatic being 67.3mpg and 74.3 for manual.
Volvo has always been a class leader when it comes to safety and the S60 is packed with gadgetry.
There's electronic stability control and a full complement of airbags, plus the City Safety feature. This aims to prevent low-speed collisions by applying the brakes automatically if the on-board computer senses an impact is imminent. You can also choose lane departure warning; blind spot warning, adaptive cruise control and driver alert warning.
Boot space is not as good as the opposition at just 339-litres but a standard split-fold rear bench and forward folding front passenger seat helps to improve practicality.
With its striking paintwork there is no denying that the S60 D4 R-Design is a looker but at £33,395 it is a little expensive and this car was fitted with a number of options which took the price up to £42,775.
Models further down the range, however, make more financial sense.