The entry-level V70 is the biggest seller in the Volvo range and, combined with the entry-level S80 model, is expected to take 60% of all Volvo sales.

The V70 is now available with a new 2.0-litre diesel engine, and Volvo hopes this will increase fleet appeal.

Volvo is expecting to sell 5,500 V70s this year, of which 30% will be 2.0D, with a 65% split between the 2.4D and D5 engines. The remaining 5% will be petrol.

Nick Connor, Volvo Car UK sales director, said: “We have been working with Volvo in Sweden to develop 2.0-litre diesel engines for the V70 as they are such an important benchmark for company car choice lists in the UK.”

Volvo is also targeting business customers that are concerned about fuel economy with the V70 managing a respectable test efficiency of 44.3mpg.

After having previously tested the more powerful D5 automatic, the 2.0-litre diesel in its manual guise is far better to drive.

Whereas the 183bhp D5 auto is oafish up through the gears, manual control lets the 2.0D feel a lot more urgent on the road despite its inferior 134bhp.

Our V70 featured a distinctive cream leather interior with wooden trim.

The materials used have a rugged quality and feel like they’re built to last a lifetime.

A neat little optional extra on the V70 is a blind spot elimination system which lights up on the A-pillars each time a car drifts past you on the motor way.

Safety is still a major buying point on the Volvo with anti-whiplash and side-impact protection systems standard across the range.

Fact file

Price £25,495
Engine 2.0-litre 134bhp diesel
Performance 0-62mph: 11.4 sec; top speed: 121mph
Transmission 6 sp man
Efficiency 47.9mpg; 157g/km CO2
CAP RV 3yr/30k 56%
Rivals BMW 520d Touring, Audi A6 2.0 TDI SE Avant