How's this for size?

6:32pm Sunday 16th November 2008

Volvo XC60 D5 AWD SE Lux, £29,750. Range starts at £24,750.

Better late than never. That’s Volvo’s philosophy, and it seems to be paying off.

It’s only a few years ago that the Swedes cocked a snook at the 4x4 market and carried on turning out near-bombproof saloons, estates and the like. But since it joined the Ford empire, and gained huge backing, it has moved into new territories with great success.

The XC90 is highly acclaimed and stands comparison with Audi Q7, Land Rover Discovery and Mercedes-Benz M-Class, no less.

So, it’s with a great expectancy that we welcome Volvo’s latest 4x4, the smaller XC60. Smaller? Well, just a little more compact than the XC90, but it’s still formidable. It’s not often that we concentrate on dimensions here, but in this case it might be justified. The XC90 is a monster of a 4x4 which measures 4.798m long. Not as big as the Audi Q7 (5.086m) but just about the same as the BMW X5.

So, you might have expected the Volvo XC60 to be quite a bit smaller. Well, it’s 4.628m, just 160mm shorter. It doesn’t sound much but it makes it easier to handle in town and parking is very nearly a cinch. It’s cheaper (from £24,750 compared to £31,495 for the XC90) and it does broaden the appeal somewhat.

The new model takes Volvo into new territory, competing against some of the most fashionable cars on the road: Nissan Qashqai, Honda CR-V, Land Rover Freelander and Toyota RAV4 among others.

They will take some shifting, especially Qashqai which has built up a massive following in a very short space of time, but Volvo are confident that their values of safety, Swedish style and driving dynamics will prove popular.

Describing the XC60 as the XC90’s baby brother is acceptable. The familiar Volvo cues are all there, only this time with a more modern and stylish twist. Boasting elements from the XC90 and the more recently-updated XC70, the XC60 projects a softer image.

It’s fair to say that, what with the high cost of motoring and the desire of many to present a less conspicuous side to their consumption activities, the XC60 could easily be seen as the more acceptable face of the premium SUV stereotype.

Volvo is wise to the fact that many have admired the XC90 but thought it offered too much of everything. Well now there’s no excuse. And to further sweeten the deal, the car comes with a wealth of standard and optional safety kit – way beyond that of a conventional family car.

One of the most eyecatching features is a safety device that sums up Volvo’s ethos. Mindful that the majority of shunts take place at a crawl, Volvo has devised a ‘City Safety’ system that monitors the car in front and will brake the XC to a halt if your speed is under 18mph...and the other car is getting closer.

Over that speed and the car will do its best to slow you down enough so as to minimise the damage to you, the car in front and its occupants.

I tested the device on the vehicle’s launch in Edinburgh and it works fantastically. One area where it will work well is on roundabouts. You know the situation, where the car ahead brakes as you look to your right and before you know it you’ve lost your no-claims bonus. Factor in the usual slew of traction aids, a special ESP-like system to keep whatever you’re towing in check, plus a lane-keep assistant to gently remind you if you wander, and it’s clear that Volvo is in no mood to relinquish its hard-fought safety reputation anytime soon.

Volvo is also keen to add value to the SUV sector with its XC60. Far from being yet another predictable car, the XC’s interior is full of character and practical touches.

Again, it mirrors the V70 and XC70 with its measured use of naturally-treated wood finishes and alternative metal trims. Seat upholstery designs are surprisingly bold, while the car’s fascia is subtly angled towards the driver, BMW-style, in a nod to its agile nature.

Volvo is keen to create a positive first impression with the XC60 when it comes to performance, and as such there’s a pair of willing five-cylinder diesel engines and a performance-orientated six-cylinder petrol unit.

The latter possesses, as you would expect, something of a niche appeal. It’s hard to fault its performance – quick, responsive, refined – but if you’re watching the pennies, the diesel units will always come first.

In the case of the high-spec D5 unit, and when mated to the optional auto gearbox, progress is smooth and brisk. In 183bhp form, the motor proves capable of keeping up with city traffic and happily cruises at motorway speeds.

That’s the thing about Volvo’s XC60: it’s such an easy car to drive, and no doubt destined to be a painless car to own. The car’s cabin is light, airy and spacious, while the boot is wide, flat and accommodating. Fold down the rear seats and you have a huge boot.

Available in three trim levels and boasting generous equipment plus a raft of options, Volvo may have been beaten to the post, but the late arrival of the X60 can be excused on the grounds that it’s a first-rate proposition.