My sister-in-law was suspiciously complimentary as I pulled up at the wheel of the Volvo S60.

“You know, you look like The Saint in that car,” she said.

Clearly she was comparing the svelte lines of the ice-white, four-door saloon with the iconic Volvo P1800, driven by Roger Moore in the 1960s TV series, rather than my greying hair and moderately dishevelled appearance, with the persona of the sharp-suited thief Simon Templar.

The comparison of the sweeping lines of that distinctive 60s sports car with the sleek, coupé-like S60 and its steeply-raked rear screen, clearly points to the shape-shifting that has been masterminded by design director Peter Horbury.

But more significant than the flowing lines of the S60 is the seismic shift in its driving feel. Taut, responsive and totally predictable, the S60 feels entirely at ease on our tight, twisting country roads – for a very good reason.

Volvo realised that Britain’s B-roads were world famous for their bumpiness and camber changes, and that if a car rides well and handles well here, it can do so anywhere.

So the Swedish car makers dispatched its engineers here to carry out much of the suspension damper development.

To back up those improvements, the new S60 has a smaller steering wheel, stiffer steering column, faster steering ratio, stiffer steering bushes and the sportiest suspension Volvo has ever fitted.

While the S60 lacks the clinical precision of BMW’s 3 Series, it delivers its firmer ride without compromising Volvo’s legendary comfort.

With prices starting at about £22,500, the S60’s agility is backed up by a raft of technology, leading to the claim that the S60 is Volvo’s safest model yet.

Leading the way is a new safety system using a digital camera and radar that scans the road ahead. If it senses a pedestrian moving into the path of the car, and the driver fails to respond to warnings, the car brakes itself. Backing up that system is City Safety, which reduces, and can entirely avoid, low-speed impacts up to 19mph; then there is Driver Alert Control, which monitors the car between the lane markers and warns you if your driving pattern changes; Lane Departure Warning, which alerts you if the car runs across the lane markers without the indicator being used and, finally, the Blind Spot Information System, which helps detect vehicles in the rear blind spots on both sides of the car and flashes an orange warning in the door pillar beside the wing mirror.

Other features on the range include ‘active’ headlights that follow the road, seat-mounted side airbags, inflatable curtains and Volvo’s patented whiplash protection system. Inside, the cabin is simple, tasteful and uncluttered, with switchgear and instrumentation that is clear and easy to use.

The car is practical, with a sizeable boot, which is easier to access than the old model. The front passenger seat’s backrest also folds forward, and the rear seat splits and folds.

So it’s sensible, safe and just a little saintly.

Auto facts Volvo S60 D3 SE Geartronic

  • Insurance group: 29 (1-50)
  • Fuel consumption (Combined): 47.9mpg
  • Top speed: 134mph
  • Length: 462.8cm/182.2in
  • Width: 186.5cm/73.4in
  • Luggage capacity: 12 cu ft
  • Fuel tank capacity: 14.8 gallons/67.5 litres
  • CO2 emissions: 154g/km
  • Warranty: Three years/60,000 miles