Reviewed by Tim Barnes-Clay, Motoring Journalist – tweeting @carwriteups 

Volvo has never had the same appeal as its German cousins. It has at no time looked as aggressive as Audi, nor as brutal as BMW or as mean as Mercedes-Benz. But that’s a good thing.

The Swedish marque does things its own way and that’s at the very heart of why many British drivers opt for Volvo – even though they could, for the same wedge, afford something a little naughtier.

Take the V60 D3; it’s very much a thinking man’s estate car. And that’s not to say that Teutonic motors don’t attract clever people. It offers some of the most restful, supportive and sumptuous seats on the automotive market. Chairs you can imagine a college professor sinking into before lighting his pipe and mulling over the day’s events. It’s the kind of vehicle he’ll then cruise back home in while listening to Classic FM.

The V60 is by no means lacklustre, though; it can still satisfy your pleasure sensors. Let’s face it, Scandinavian design is generally pleasing. Step inside, and the easy-to-use controls, contribute to an ‘in-command’ driving experience. The overall effect is warm and tranquil, like being in a Swedish house on a cold night.

The Volvo looks particularly fetching in sporty R-Design guise, as tested here in £33,345 Lux Geartronic form. This is the trim level that adds suspension upgrades as well as design touches.

On the move, the car has bags of power and torque and its automatic transmission is smooth. Indeed, it feels quicker (0-62mph in 9.1 seconds / max speed 130mph) than the stats show, and, perhaps more importantly, it returns an official combined mpg of 70.6. Economical, or what?