On the road: The S60 will garner attention thanks to its purposeful body. Sleek and classy it will draw admiring glances from those previously inclined to spend their money on something German. The sporty exterior gives a hint of its capability and it’s definitely got the go to go with the show. Our 2.0 litre D4 diesel sounded a little clattery when stood outside, but once inside was no noisier than other such engines. Press the accelerator and there’s an impressive amount of power, more than enough to get you out of any situation you encounter. The accompanying eight-speed Geartronic box is smooth and accurate. The steering is incredibly light, which is great around town, but you have to be a little wary when on the motorway. The ride is firm, but fair, even in R-Design mode.

On the inside: Before you can get inside you have to try to avoid getting your fingers nicked in the door handle which has the nip of an untrained puppy. Once inside, however, you can lick your wounds in a comfortable and sophisticated cabin. The layout of the dials is simple but effective and while there are plenty of buttons to play with after a brief familiarisation it was pretty obvious which did what.

The seats are extremely comfortable and finding your ideal position is easy. Vision fore and aft is good too.

What do you get: The S60 really majors on safety. In addition to standard features, our car also had collision warning with auto brake, pedestrian and cyclist detection, adaptive cruise control and distance alert, a lane keeping aid, driver alert control, road sign information display and a blind spot information system. One word of warning, and no pun intended, it’s good intentions can get on your nerves every now and then.

Other features on our R-Design Lux model included electrically powered driver seat with memory, auto-dimming rear view mirror, active bending Xenon headlights, headlight cleaning system, rain sensor and rear park assist.

How practical is it: Four can be carried in comfort, with head and leg room aplenty, but carrying five means the one in the middle draws the short straw. The boot has 339 litres of space, which is not up there with the best, but will be enough for most requirements. A large parcel I collected had to be stowed in the rear, however, because fittings on the underside of the boot roof prevented it from sliding in neatly.

Running costs: Well priced compared with its rivals, the S60 with the D4 engine is also a frugal unit, returning a shade over 67mpg on the combined cycle. CO2 emissions are 109g/km.

Verdict: A viable alternative to the norm, majoring on safety.

Alternatives: BMW 3 Series, Audi A4