A Swedish ride on wild side

It is interesting that Ford no longer uses this engine.

Volvo, though, doesn’t have the deep pockets to replace it.

Having said that, the V60 Cross Country also comes with a lusty turbo-diesel unit, which is good for 140kW, more torque than the 2.5litre petrol and will return better economy figures too. That would be my choice of engine because, even if you’re not concerned with the R533 000-plus purchase price tag of the V60 Cross Country in petrol guise, you should be a bit worried about urban fuel consumption which is difficult to bring below 13 litres per 100km.

Standing next to the car, about to get in, and then plopping down into the excellent leather seats in an airy, designer-executed cabin, any concerns flow out of the window.

The strong nature of the powerplant – which will push the car to 100km/h in just over 7 seconds – plus its sharp handling (for a crossover), means the driving experience is well above average.

And, all the time you are behind the wheel, the strongest statement you are making is: I am not like the rest of you.

For many car buyers, that is enough of a reason to sign on the dotted line.