THE onset of winter and the dreaded tradition of the clocks going back an hour is always greeted with a sense of sadness.

Gone are the lighter evenings and it's time to turn on the central heating and dig around in the garage for that de-icer can.

But there is one bit of good news - I have been trying out Volvo's crossover XC60 model and when you are behind the wheel of that particular car, nothing really seems to faze you.

Thsi rugged, athletic model comes fitted with all-wheel-drive capabilities that will counteract anything Mother Nature has in mind and the comprehensive array of safety specifications will keep all occupants as safe as possible on their journeys.

But there is another side to Volvo these days apart from the ‘safe as houses' reputation. The cars are now packed with techno treats and certainly look very striking too.

The XC60, which will be rivalling the likes of the Range Rover Evoque and BMW X3, looks dynamic from any angle thanks to its bold, ready-for-action stance, chunky 18-inch alloy wheels, dark tinted windows, sweeping light clusters and distinctive grille with Volvo logo stretching across the centre.

Move inside and there is a whole host of on-board technology to be discovered.

One thing Volvo does particularly well is pack plenty of equipment into a car but keep the whole interior very clutter-free in appearance.

In addition, all the systems are very easy to operate with simple push buttons to adjust the air control direction, unlike some manufacturers where you are forced to navigate a complicated touchscreen menu simply to raise the temperature a notch.

Creature comforts include a pitch perfect Harmon Kardon sound system with CD player and DAB radio which is compatible with all modern media devices, dual zone air conditioning, sat nav, Bluetooth connectivity, leather heated seats - electrically adjustable on the driver's side, a rear parking camera and plenty more besides.

The car is incredibly spacious without feeling bulky and there is ample room for five adults to stretch out. The boot has a generous capacity of 495 litres, which can be increased to 1,455 litres with the rear seats dropped flat and there are numerous convenient storage compartments scattered throughout the cabin too.

Despite its larger-than-life size, the XC60 is deceptive agile and easy to manoeuvre which makes driving through busy town centres nice and simple.

The high seated driving position is also worthy of note on a car that will frequently be used on the school run with children and cars coming at you from all angles.

Out on faster roads and motorways, the XC60 is a delight to drive. The 2.4-litre diesel engine delivers a constant supply of power, and acceleration through the automatic six-speed Geartronic transmission is responsive and smooth. There are paddle shifts on the steering wheel if you want to take a little extra control and an S sports mode adds a little more zip to the driving dynamics along with a raspier engine note.

This car costing £36,690 (£45,060 with extras) could sprint from 0-62mph in 9.6 seconds and maxed out at 127mph. It can deliver combined fuel efficiency of 49.6mpg with carbon emissions of 149g/km.

The XC60's road-holding is excellent even at pace on slippery surfaces and there is very little road or engine noise to be heard within the cabin. Wind noise is noticeable at higher speeds, but it's not particularly loud.

Safety features are comprehensive on the car and in addition to all the more recognisable systems, the test car also featured a Driver Support Pack costing £1,900 which introduced collision warning with full auto brake, pedestrian and cyclist detection, adaptive cruise control with distance alert, queue assist, lane departure warning, driver alert control with high active beam, road sign information and blind spot information with cross traffic alert.