Volvo XC60 (2017-present)

Volvo XC60 prices from £16,995   Finance from £300 per month

When there's a car that combines Volvo's stellar safety reputation with Swedish style, a family-focused interior and a high-tech, minimalist dashboard, then why would you opt for anything else?

That's why you'll see convoys of Volvo XC60s during the school run, whose owners have dismissed the strong alternatives, which include the BMW X3, Audi Q5 and Range Rover Velar.

Inside, every XC60 is clad in leather and aluminum, but it's the minimalistic interior that gives the car its sense of luxury and calm. At the cente of the dashboard, a large touchscreen controls the high-tech optional extras, including the partially autonomous pilot assist, which can steer you automatically around motorway bends.

It also features some of the most comfortable seats around, and was the safest car that the independent Euro NCAP organisation crash-tested in 2017.

Also in the XC60’s favour is a simple but effective engine range for buyers to choose from, which includes a petrol-electric hybrid option that offers hot hatch-like performance along with unbelievable official fuel economy figures - only really possible if you make sure to charge up the batteries religiously - plus a pair of more traditional diesels and a petrol variant.

The driving dynamics might not perhaps match the X3 or Jaguar F-Pace, but it handles well enough for the vast majority of SUV buyers, with stable and consistent steering, and good control of body roll. The ride quality can also be on the firm side - despite all versions coming with drive modes that include a Comfort option - especially in sportier R-Design versions. However, there is an optional air suspension system that makes the XC60 a lot more amenable to British road surfaces, which we would recommend paying a little extra for.

The nine-inch touchscreen media system in the centre console controls virtually everything, from a media and connectivity perspective, eliminating the need for a load of buttons on the dashboard. So the climate control can be controlled with just a few taps, as can the sat-nav, the mobile phone connection (Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are included), DAB radio and a range of cloud-based apps, including Spotify, which does away with the need for the smartphone. In addition, there’s a wi-fi hotspot onboard, for passengers using up to six devices, and voice control.

For a company obsessed with safety, however, forcing the driver to prod the touchscreen constantly seems odd, proving very distracting and taking the driver's attention from the road even for simple tasks such as changing the cabin temperature. Simple physical rotary controls would be much quicker and safer to use while driving.

Versions with 'Pro' packages also have access to Volvo On Call, a service that enables owners to control some of the car’s functions remotely using a smartphone (or smartwatch) and can automatically contact the emergency services in the event of a crash.

Plus, the XC60 has Volvo’s full complement of safety equipment, including City Safety, its autonomous emergency braking system and the option of Pilot Assist, a semi-autonomous drive function that can keep the car a fixed distance from the car in front, at a fixed speed and within the lines of the lane. It's a hugely helpful feature when driving on motorways, but handing a large part of the car’s control over to this new technology does take a little getting used to.

Style, technology, comfort and safety – plus the eco credentials of the T8, provided you regularly charge the batteries – combine to make the XC60 an attractive proposition for buyers. It's also a combination that should ensure the success of the previous generation continues, with midsize SUV owners beating a steady path to dealerships.