THE award-winning Volvo V70 continues to dominate the premium large estate car market - and it's no surprise.
It's a car which mixes practicality and design with quality, comfort and desirability.
Inside, the V70 is well designed with crisp Scandinavian style and an ergonomically efficient fascia, plus real room for five - with the option of two extra rear-facing seats in the load area.
The V70's rear seats easily and conveniently fold down to create a vast, completely flat load bay that's enhanced by clever design features, such as head restraints that neatly fold away instead of needing to be removed, plus a pop-up shopping bag holder available to keep items in place during travel.
Add to this an outstanding safety, security and environmental package, and it's little wonder that the Volvo V70 has achieved such critical acclaim.
Updated this year, the original was styled under Volvo's then director of design, Peter Horbury, and is instantly recognisable as a Volvo with a V-shaped bonnet, low grille and prominent shoulder lines.
The rounded curves of its side profile are a particular highlight and disguise the square, practical design of the V70's rear.
There's a broad range of engines and the T5 Sport I tested was kitted out with the 2.4T petrol engine offering 260bhp. That's more than enough power for what is a pretty heavy motor.
There's stacks of room in the big load-lugger and Volvo has introduced some handy touches which include split folding rear seats, rear head restraints that fold away rather than needing to be removed, and a grocery bag holder to keep shopping in place.
Volvo has always been big on safety and the V70 is packed with the latest safety features including Side Impact Protection System, Whiplash Protection System, front dual-stage airbags, three-point safety belts with tensioners for all five occupants, and an Inflatable Curtain to protect against head injuries in a side impact.
The Volvo's large windows also make all-round vision good and to further improve the driver's visibility, water repellent glass is available on the door mirrors and the laminated side windows.
On the style front it still retains a squarish back end, which is typically Volvo, but the rest of the body styling is a mixture of S60 and S80 with sleek, go-faster lines.
The V70 is a big motor - 15ft 4in long - but unlike some other heavyweight load-luggers, which are big on the outside but lack interior space, the V70 is a real five seater with huge load space.
The flat boot floor and low loading point are ideal for those who lead an active lifestyle and need to carry sporting or leisure gear.
And the space is not confined to the boot. Leg, head and shoulder room are more than adequate for five adults. Seating is comfortable - standard fit all-leather - and a good driving position can easily be obtained.
A well designed fascia means that all switches for CD, radio, heating and other functions are easy to find and understand.
So what's it like on the road? The days of wallowing around corners in big estates are over. The V70, although a heavy machine, is very stable and nimble through bends but is most at home when cruising the motorway.
Its sprint time is tremendous - a blistering 6.8 seconds from standstill to 62 mph is faster than many hot hatches.
During the test week I managed to average 29 mpg in the V70 Sport which, considering its size, means it isn't the gas-guzzler I thought it would be.
FAST FACTS
Volvo V70 T5 Sport
Price: £29,628.
Mechanical: 260bhp, 2,401cc, 5-cyl petrol engine driving front wheels via five speed manual transmission
Max speed: 155 mph
0-62 mph: 6.8 sec
Combined mpg: 29.7 mpg
Insurance group: 16E
CO2 emissions: 226g/km
BiK Rating: 27%
Warranty: 3yrs/ 60,000 miles; 8yrs anti-rust; 3yrs paint