CRUEL teachers at school used to tell me that sitting on hot radiators on cold days would give me piles, but the heated seats in the Volvo S60 (with two heat settings) merely engender an enormous sense of wellbeing as I beat the frozen roads to work.

After 6,500 miles, at an average 43.2mpg, the S60 has not developed a single squeak, rattle or niggle to disturb the impression that this is an immaculately engineered car. Were I to secure a promotion (or two … or three) my company car shortlist would only feature the BMW 330d, Audi A4 2.5 TDi, Mercedes-Benz C270 CDI and the Volvo S60, and on current experience the Volvo would clinch the deal. Rarely can winter driving have been so cosseting or comfortable than in a car designed to take on the bitterness of northern Sweden.