The 2015 Volvo V60 is a sleek- looking compact wagon dubbed as a “sport wagon” or a “lifestyle” vehicle. Forget about a boxy-looking profile, the V60 is a tightly styled, aggressive, aerodynamic five- door with premium fit and finish inside and out.

Available in a number of configurations – our test car was the V60 T6 R-Design- a high performance, fully optioned version. The R-Design features a 3.0L turbocharged straight-six cylinder (transversely mounted) engine producing 325 horsepower and 354 lb-ft of torque – making it Volvo’s most powerful production wagon to date.

Other unique feature include a 15 mm lower ride height, with sport tuned suspension shocks, stiffer bushings and a front strut brace. High performance tires and 19 inch alloys complete the package.

The V60 R- Design also features paddle shifters with “Quick shift technology offering 30% quicker shifts from the six- speed auto transmission. The six- speed also has a sport mode option and transmits power via a Haldex controlled All- Wheel Drive unit with instant traction.

Interior wise, the Volvo features a crisp, well- designed easy on the eye dash and control panels. Nice graphics and simple controls are much easier to figure out and use than the fiddly, tiresome and overcomplicated touch features now found in many cars. The classic Volvo “floating console” is still present and looks ever so cool. It features the climate control system and incorporates a delightful hand diagram of a seated human that shows and controls direct airflow- so much simpler to use. The console also houses the well laid –out infotainment system. Ergonomics are good, with major functions controlled from the driver’s seat, via the Thin-Film Transistor (TFT) screen that displays entirely virtual gauges in a crisp, clear representation.

I have always remarked on how comfortable Volvo Seats are and nothing has changed on this front. The seats are firm -yet provide a soft and yielding embrace. Legroom and head room in front is good; however it is a little tighter for rear seat passengers due to the arcing coupe-like rear roofline. Cargo capacity for the V60 is 43.8 cubic feet accessed via the hatchback.

Safety has always been a priority with Volvo’. Thankfully no more tank-sized front bumpers! Instead there is sophisticated new technology such as Volvo IntelliSafe suite offering featuring such safety aids as “City Safety”, which prevents or mitigates slow moving collisions with smart automatic braking. Meanwhile the Pedestrian & Cyclist Detection system can automatically stop the car at certain speeds if it detects a person stepping out or a car swerves suddenly into your path. Other electronic active-safety systems include: adaptive cruise control, a rear-view monitor, and the blind-spot information system (BLIS). Depending on the V60 model chosen, some feature are either standard or optional.

On the road, the V60 R-Design with its Polestar-tuned, turbocharged inline-6 that produces 325hp and a respectful 354lb-ft of torque. Combined with the sport suspension and all-wheel drive – the R-Design offers fast acceleration, and quick responses via the six speed transmission. The V60 does indeed handle like a pedigree sports sedan- the chassis feels stiff and tight and the steering is well calibrated for delightful control and feel.

The ride is a little firm as it should be for good cornering and minimum body roll, but will not have you passengers complaining.

Overall the V60 feels refined, confident and poised at whatever you throw at it. Fuel economy is around the 8.0 km/l city / 12.0 km/l hwy mark.

There is nothing to really fault with the V60. It can end up being expensive for a small wagon once you tick options boxes and opt for higher spec models, but the high quality, excellent engine and world class safety technology ensures this is one of the safest cars on the road.

Prices start at $39,800 for the front-wheel-drive V60 T5, rise to $41,800 for the T5 AWD, and top out at $50,950 for the top-of-the-line, all-wheel-drive V60 R-Design model. Options can take the total to $54,850 for a fully featured R-Design with Platinum package. Highly recommended if only a premium European brand will do.

2015 Volvo V60 T6 R-Design. Price as tested $54,850.