There are plenty of thoughtful touches to make life easier, a well laid out dash, and a good driving position with lots of adjustment and a commanding view of the road. Due to the V70’s long body, reversing manoeuvres may prove a little tricky, although rear visibility is reasonable.

The V70 is a vast improvement on the dull 850 design, offering a friendlier ambience, with soft-edged furnishings, warm materials and an inviting interior that is comfortable throughout. There is plenty of space for passengers and luggage, while the Volvo’s long design has ensured that ample legroom in the front does not have to mean a cramped ride for rear passengers.

The V70 happily sits at high speeds, as there is very little engine or wind noise due to Volvo’s effective sound dampening.