What's the going output for a decently powerful compact executive car these days? 190bhp seems a good estimate, being the figure boasted by the benchmark BMW 325i. Of course, more is always better and you could fork out over £26,000 for the Audi A4 3.0-litre, not such a big step from the £25,000 BMW but still a lot of lolly. Fortunately a credible alternative exists. Realising that in this corner of the market, power often has a direct correlation with sales, Volvo ditched the 200bhp 2.4-litre S60 model and ratcheted the pressure up with this 210bhp 2.5-litre turbocharged car. Priced aggressively from £22,810 with a recent package of upgrades in tow, it poses serious questions for its German rivals.

The 2.5-litre engine takes a big step forward in performance terms over its 2.4-litre predecessor. Although a 10bhp power hike sounds rather insignificant when dealing with this amount of horsepower, the 0-60 time has tumbled from 7.4 seconds to 6.8 seconds, putting the Volvo in the premier league of sprinters. The best part of the deal is that the emissions showing of 220g/km and the combined fuel economy figure of 30.7mpg remain unchanged. Although having your smorgasbord and eating it may seem appealing, Volvo have only tacked a couple of hundred pounds onto the price, keeping the S60 2.5T comparatively affordable.

Five versions are offered. Initially, there's the S entry-level version at £22,810, the sporty Sport at £24,660 and the more luxurious SE trim which weighs in at £25,310. Then you have the £27,110 SE Sport and the Range-topping SE Lux for £27,560. Of course, motoring purists will say that in likening a Volvo to a BMW, eggs are not being compared with eggs. Whereas the BMW offers rear wheel drive and a normally aspirated engine, the Swedish car resorts to turbocharging and deploys its power through the front wheels, suggesting that corners are being cut in an attempt to gain a cheap advantage.

Indeed, drive the cars at ten-tenths and you may come away with the impression that BMW builds a superior product. Unfortunately, driving in this manner on the public highway will also mean waving goodbye to your licence and few would plump for a BMW 318i as their ideal trackday weapon. In the areas that really matter, such as overtaking a caravan, pulling into traffic from a slip road or using the accelerator to avoid the usual mini roundabout maniac, the Volvo's additional urge over a comparatively priced BMW 3 Series will have most drivers plumping for the S60 every time.

"The 10bhp power hike elevates the Volvo to the premier league of sprinters"

This is a modern low pressure turbocharged engine with a 20-valve head. Pretty much all its urge is on offer from as low as 2,400rpm right up to 5,200rpm. Which means that you don't have to keep swapping down the gearbox in town, nor is it always necessary to change down a cog to overtake on the open road.

Like all S60 models, this 2.5T gets Volvo's STC Stability and Traction Control system, Plus there's the (sadly optional) DSTC active anti-skid programme: enter a corner too fast and it automatically cuts in, reducing the throttle and selectively applying the brakes. Of course, as you'd expect, this car is as safe and solid as ever - though the associated weight has not, for once, compromised its sporting pretensions. And don't bother asking about an estate: there won't be one.

The main focus of the last set of changes brought to the S60 package was that of boosting the car's sportiness, both actual and perceived. The Dynamic chassis was introduced across the Range with revised components, while Sport models get a Sport chassis and the SE Sport derivatives benefit from the active Four-C set-up. Outside, indicators are integrated into the larger mirrors, there's a low front spoiler and the grille has a wide chrome surround. Inside, there's more chrome and aluminium detailing with cruise control standard on all models.

Volvo has an unparalled reputation for safety and the S60 harbours yet another Volvo safety innovation that will doubtless find its way into many other rival cars. Blind Spot Information System (BLIS) acts much like an extra set of eyes and utilizes digital camera technology mounted in the door mirrors to monitor the areas 3m to each side and up to 9.5m behind the driver. If a vehicle enters this area, a symbol appears on the windscreen pillar near the rear view mirror to indicate that something's there when you take a quick look towards the mirror. Active at speeds above 10km/h, this system isn't the only safety benefit buyers of the latest S60 enjoy. Special water repellent glass is fitted to the mirrors and side windows. Water beads up on the glass and the airstream quickly clears it, leaving unimpeded visibility.

The Volvo S60 is a car that has gradually gained favour with a growing number of compact executive customers and it's even better in its latest form. It's not flashy and it doesn't need the big sell. The 2.5T models talk quietly but carry a big stick and give the establishment a severe headache. If power corrupts, consider me thoroughly corrupted.