Volvo V60 2018 first drive

Anyway, the V60 isn't 'aggressive' inside, either. Its doors open to an interior which, while smaller than the Volvo V90’s, feels just as light; there’s 15mm more glass height in the doors and the panoramic sunroof (£1200) is straight off the V90, too. This lets loads of light inside and saves Volvo a few quid by not creating a different one.

You could write what the overall theme is like from your bed, 1200 miles away. It’s a beautiful, minimalist interior made for Scandi-drama detectives to brood in while contemplating how they’ve allowed yet another flipping murder to happen on their patch. It’s clean, crisp and clear – an automotive lapping shoreline of big round stones and driftwood. Most of the infotainment is dealt with by the 9.3in portrait touchscreen – only Tesla does these better – complimented by some necessary buttons that a Tesla would benefit from.

Among this, there are V60-specific details, too. It’s more driver-orientated, they say, so dashboard trim doesn’t extend onto the doors, focusing the mind on the dash, where horizontal bits of wood and strong lines across it take some of the visual bulk out of it. I think that works, and it all feels great. Who does sweeter interiors at this price? I think nobody.

The front seats are big and can sit you lower than in the V90, while the steering wheel has masses of reach. Big digital dials can display a sat-nav map screen between them and comprehensive steering wheel buttons deal with what’s displayed there, including Pilot Assist (radar adaptive cruise control with lane-keeping assist). The central screen displays less immediate things. The transmission tunnel features a conventional gear selector (hybrid models get a diddy glass-effect selector) and oddments storage.

Rear passengers get loads of leg room (the V60's 2872mm wheelbase is 62mm longer than the 3 Series’, plus the transverse engine makes for compact packaging) and really good head room.

And while the rear window of the V90 is raked to take some of the visual bulk out of it, allowing style to win over substance, the V60’s is more upright and traditional. Hence the V60 has the biggest boot in the class, at 529/1441 litres. It should be: at 4.76m, the V60 is longer than the Mercedes-Benz C-Class (4.70m) and 3 Series (4.63m) and around 40mm wider, too. The boot has a flat floor, well-finished sides, luggage hooks in the floor, hooks on the window ledge, an elastic strap on the side and cut-outs right at the back for wide loads. Beyond the Nordic sense of cool, this is a traditional, old-school Volvo.

The V60 is a relaxed drive, then, overall. I’d be intrigued to try one on 18in wheels with 235/45 tyres rather than the 235/40 rubber of the 19in rims, but it rides pretty well as it is, steers with 2.4-turn between lock accuracy and exhibits more linear build-up of response than other big Volvos, making it easier and more chilled to steer on twisty roads.

Big Volvos have been getting progressively more comfortable while retaining better and better body control, and here it's the best setting yet: comfortable and controlled. You wouldn’t call the V60 engaging in the same way you would the 3 Series or Jaguar XE, yet at the same time it’s not boring, and there’s capability there if you really ask for it (which you won’t). Plus, it’s free of some of the harshness of ride, poor steering linearity and diesel clatter that afflicted, say, the Volvo XC90 at launch.