I STILL love to drive a great car and if you choose the time of day - early morning or late evening are best - you'll often have cross country routes to yourself.

I recently drove up through the mountains of mid Wales in Volvo's latest and superb S60 saloon and the combination of reasonably quiet roads and a great car was intoxicating.

This latest S60 follows the design cues of the V60 estate and has a subtly impressive shape from every angle.

The family Volvo grille and headlamp treatment flows into strong lines down the sides and finishes with a shapely rear that is the view most likely to be seen by many drivers.

The new car is produced in the USA and Volvo has eschewed diesel power completely, in favour of petrol and petrol electric hybrids.

This is a bold move despite the unnecessary government antipathy towards diesels, when most of the car's luxury competitors have very good diesel offerings.

And it also flies in the face of the V60 estate, which is available with very good diesel power under the bonnet.

Also from next year like all Volvos, it will have a top speed limited to 112 miles an hour, because the safety conscious company is aiming that no-one will be killed or seriously injured in any of its cars after that time.

I drove the excellent launch model - the T5 R-Design - with no less than 250bhp from its turbocharged 2.0-litre power unit driving the front wheels through an eight-speed automatic gearbox.

This smooth and very quiet engine is a real powerhouse, propelling the S60 to 62 miles an hour in just 6.3 seconds and, until next year, on to a theoretical maximum of 145mph.

T5 models have previously been the top performers in the range but, while this one is fast, it is also effortless in everything it does and comes with a firm but comfortable ride.

Traction and balance are so good that I was only very occasionally aware it was front wheel drive and it belies its larger size when pushed through a series of bends, feeling eminently composed and safe.

The level of grip, on huge wheels and tyres, is absolutely superb on dry roads and there is very little roll.

Yet it's the way it cossets over most surfaces and the ease of driving that make it so relaxed to drive and to live with.

Projected residual values are excellent, which should make decently lower costs for leasing customers and those paying on PCP.

R-Design spec loads up with a wide array of kit, not least of which is the range of top safety devices we have come to expect from Volvo.

On top of more usual items it has a blind spot information system, with cross traffic alert and rear collision mitigation plus excellent traction control.

Also standard are lowered sports suspension, 19-inch alloys, heated part leather sports front seats, driver's head-up display, rear-view camera, front and rear parking sensors, a heated steering wheel and a 600W surround sound system.