It wouldn’t be a big surprise if Volvo V60 Polestar safety was one of its best attributes, and it is. In fact when EuroNCAP tested the Volvo V60 it awarded it the full five stars when it tested the car back in 2012, with a score of 94 percent for adult protection, 82 percent for child protection and 100 percent for safety assist.

That’s because all V60 models, Polestar included, come with a host of airbags (including one for the driver’s knees) and the firm’s Intellisafe package. In that you’ll find such highlights as City Safety and Collision Warning with full Auto Brake to slow the car to a halt in the event of a low speed bump. It’ll even detect pedestrians and cyclists with its forward facing camera and sound a warning to alert you to their presence.

Electronic stability control, re-tuned on the Polestar model, keeps things in check should your right foot get too much for the conditions under the tyres, while the Blindspot Information System with Cross Traffic Alert which helps with reversing out of car park spaces.

The firm also recently set a goal that by 2020 no-one should die or be seriously injured behind the wheel of one of its cars, and is continually taking steps to add new safety technology to achieve this.

It’s a big blue (or silver, white or black) Swedish estate, so Volvo V60 Polestar practicality is very good – even if it’s more lifestyle than out-and-out load-lugger.

Behind that slimline centre console there’s a small storage area that seems more afterthought than essential, though according to many Volvo owners actually proves particularly practical for oddiment storage. The rest of the cabin offers decent storage too, while the rear seats offer occupants plenty of leg and headroom.

Back to the boot though, there’s 430 litres of space available with the seats in place – which really isn’t anything to write home about. Still it’s enough to carry a couple of Labradors, very fast in the Polestar’s case, and if you drop the rear seats flat it’ll increase to 1,241 litres.

When you consider the performance available, there’s few fast estates that truly rival the Volvo.