AS BIG beasts go, the all-wheel drive XC70 can be surprisingly light on its feet.
You don't expect a car of this bulk to reach 62mph from standing in eight seconds, but there's nothing sluggish about this cross-country estate.
If it's a year or two since you took a Volvo for a spin, you could be in for a pleasant surprise.
Of course unless you have been living in a cave for past decade, you'll know just how many years have passed since the Swedish manufacturer started to shrug off its reputation for box-like shapes and tank-like handling.
But the sheer longevity of those older models means there are still plenty of them on the road to perpetuate the myth that nothing has changed.
In reality, the process of renewal that started in the mid-1990s has continued apace, with a new generation of sizzling engines being fitted to a sophisticated and expanding line-up of impressive prestige saloons and estates.
It's still a man's world as far as sales are concerned - when it comes to the new mid-range saloon and large V70 estates, 90 per cent of buyers are men - but the trilby hats are long gone.
Nowadays it tends to be the well-heeled professionals and self-employed who are sliding into the gloriously comfortable leather seats of these big executive cruisers.
Safety is still a big consideration for Volvo buyers and there's an enviable solidity across the range that's guaranteed to make you feel in good hands.
Heavy doors click shut with minimal effort and even the thick moulded dashboards reek of quality.
But if in the past the sheer weight and bulk of Volvo's bigger offerings made them a little slow on the uptake, the new T5 petrol and D5 diesel engines give you enough power on tap in the S60 saloon, for example, to leap to 62mph in under seven seconds.
Innovations include cameras in the mirrors to eliminate blind spots and water repellent glass that forces rain on the side windows into small beads which are quickly blown away.
The revised T5 petrol unit is a 260bhp dual turbo married to a six-speed manual gearbox that makes light work of acceleration, while a new active chassis adjusts dampers individually for a sportier ride and better body control.
Interior design can still be a little rectangular for some tastes, but the controls surround you in the cockpit as you sink back in the soft leather upholstery.
If you're navigating by satellite, the small colour screen slides up from the dashboard on demand, while outside the lines incorporate a softer snout and sleeker lines without losing that Volvo identity.
At the top of the range, the huge XC90 sports utility vehicle is a muscular, sophisticated off-roader with a price tag from £46,000 to £65,000-plus.
But a surprise success has been the more modest XC70, which aims to combine off-road agility with on-road performance in the shape of a versatile cross-country estate.
Sales have shot up in the UK this year, and although it doesn't have a go-anywhere low-ratio box, the high ground clearance and strong pulling power has proved a popular combination.
The ordinary V70 remains a success story in its own right, topping the sales charts in Sweden and with some 8,000 hitting UK roads last year.
A string of awards reflect its domination of the large-estate market, where its closest rival in Britain, the Audi A6 Avant, sells fewer than half that number, with Mercedes, Saab and BMW trailing even further behind.
The smaller V50 Sportswagon boasts similar sales figures but appeals to a young audience - and a growing one, as smaller engines are rolled out for the range, bringing it within the pockets of more young families.
Similar patterns are reflected in the saloon sales, where the S40 and S60 share most family characteristics, equipment and spec with their estate stablemates.
Prices range from the low £20,000s to the high £30,000s depending on equipment levels, although Volvo is anxious to stress how much better spec you now get for your money, with like-for-like packages undercutting prestige rivals like BMW, Audi and Mercedes.
Nonetheless, despite the warm glow of effortlessly criss-crossing the country's motorway system at the wheel of the XC70 and feeling fresh and unruffled at journey's end, it's a mite annoying to see that all the extra options fitted to the test car bring the final price up to almost £35,000.
Intriguingly, the rear spoiler actually costs more than the first Volvo estate I owned - a £200 indestructible tank with 150,000 miles on the clock which served me loyally on the rare occasions I could afford to put any petrol in the tank.
Hm. Changed days indeed, but just one indication of how far Volvo has evolved in the past two decades.
FAST FACTS
Volvo XC70 2.5T AWD SE
Price: £29,463
Mechanical: 210bhp, 2,521cc, 5cyl petrol engine driving all four wheels via 5spd manual gearbox
Max speed: 130mph
0-62mph: 8.1 secs
Combined mpg: 27.7
Insurance group: 15
CO2 emissions: 244g/km
BiK rating: 34%
Warranty: 3yrs/ 60,000 miles; 3yrs paint; 8yrs anti-rust