FOR the past few years, the only Volvos to sell here in decent numbers are SUVs such as the XC60 and XC90.

The Swedish car-maker wants to change all of that with the second generation of its relatively affordable mid-sized prestige sedan, the S60, which is aimed at the BMW 3-Series and Mercedes-Benz C-class, but Volvo has placed more emphasis on comfort and safety, as you may expect.

Three engines will be available by the start of 2011, but until the turbo four-cylinder petrol unit arrives the choice is between a 151kW/420Nm five-cylinder turbo diesel and a 224kW/440Nm six-cylinder turbo petrol.

Both engines feed their power through a constant all-wheel-drive system.

The S60 is also choc-full of safety gear, becoming the first car with Volvo’s new pedestrian detection and avoidance radar and camera system that automatically brakes for wayward pedestrians.