VOLVO may be going full speed ahead with its programme to be a fully electric car company by 2030 but in the meantime it‘s still making some pretty good diesel models.

And one of the best of the bunch is the diesel version of the Swedish car maker's best selling model the XC60.

It might be powered by an oil burning engine but you would be hard pressed to know it from inside the cabin.

This 2.0-litre, 197bhp engine is one of the quietest I have come across in a long time and would certainly add weight to the arguments of diesel enthusiasts who are desperate to see production of these engines continue.

The XC60 - in diesel, petrol and hybrid forms - has recently undergone a number of changes to ensure it remains a best seller.

Cosmetically there are new look front and rear bumpers and concealed exhaust tailpipes to sharpen up the design as well as a new, more modern grille.

But perhaps more importunately the car now comes with Google Maps instead of Volvo's own navigation system because the Swedish car maker feels it's the best in the business for customers.

And with Google Maps comes Google Assistant, which is programmed to respond to a whole host of commands you give it, and not just about actions within the car.

It's also geared up to perform tasks in your home while you are on your way there, like switching on the lights as it gets dark.

But gadgetry apart the XC60 is genuinely a nice drive. And while it is large - and therefore offers plenty of interior space for five passengers - it never feels bulky from behind the wheel.

Unlike a lot of all-wheel-drive SUV models it's highly manoeuvrable and easy to park, helped by accurate parking sensors front and rear and a reversing camera.

And best of all it has a real feeling of solidity and quality, not to mention being packed with Volvo's enviable safety systems, the latest of which is a rear auto brake which stops the car automatically if it senses that you are about to reverse into something.

The cabin in Momentum spec models, like the one driven here, is premium quality with full leather upholstery, heated and electrically adjustable front seats, a heated steering wheel and heated windscreen.

And while the exterior in denim blue was a tad understated the interior in ivory was dramatic to say the least.

On the open road this 2.0-litre diesel pulls with gusto and is never ever lacking. And best of all when you need the the power and you drop your right foot it delivers in spades.

And despite its size and the extra weight of all-wheel-drive you will still get in the mid 40s when it comes to fuel consumption, helped by the mild hybrid system.