According to marketing experts, sat-nav and climate control are the only items of additional equipment likely to boost the residual value (RV) of your car.

But some of the growing number of drivers who use their vehicle as a mobile office may well take the view that other extras are well worth the cost. With a comprehensive list of standard equipment that includes lumbar-adjust front seats, hill start assist, an electric parking brake, speed sensitive steering and rear parking sensors, the lowest-priced version of Volvo’s V60 range is well kitted out.

But the £5,500-worth of options that came with our test car seemed a little over the top.

The steering wheel paddle shifters for the automatic transmission, for instance, cost £150 but tend to be redundant most of the time as the gearbox manages its ratio changes very well.

However, the rest of the extra kit is making a big difference.

The transmission makes progress particularly smooth and convenience is rated highly with keyless drive and adaptive headlights that are impressively efficient and never blind oncoming traffic. Even if they do little to bolster RVs, enhancing features like this ought to prove attractive.

Maurice Glover