ESTATE cars have long been a staple for Volvo, serving sensible drivers looking for load-gobbling luxury.

A couple of friends of mine are still driving around today in boxy old ultra-reliable diesel-engined Volvos that are now decades old and appear to have the lifespan of a giant turtle.

But 2016 will mark the year when Volvo produced its best-ever estate car and quite possibly the best car of the year.

The V90 - brother of the S90 saloon - is a perfect family and business machine, as long as you’re comfortable with your sticky-fingered offspring being allowed inside among the leather seating.

From the comfortable driver's seat, the interior is refreshingly uncluttered. As organised as an accountant's desk, all of the audio and climate controls are integrated into the stylish Sensus touch screen infotainment system. The portrait touchscreen system dominates but it’s a cinch to use and it only takes a few minutes to get familiar with its layout.

It drives like a grown-up car, with sure-footed handling that gives the impression it would remain perfectly composed right up to the limit. The ride is ideal for A-roads and the motorway, but the estate doesn't feel out of place on a twisty B-road thanks to the responses through the large steering wheel. And in city environments the lightness of the steering makes for a relaxed experience.

The V90 wouldn't be a Volvo estate without a list of safety features as long as a Bank Holiday queue in Ikea, and as usual the model has all bases covered. A multitude of airbags, intelligent emergency braking, collision warning, even large animal detection.... they all come as standard.

The model's trump card is that it manages to be sensible and appealing in equal measure. It might be as practical as a pair of plain pyjamas, but this is not a car that will mark you out as safe, sensible and boring. Inside it’s simply vast; up front you can relax in acres of space, while the rear row is extremely generous.

The diesel unit in the D4 provides impressive acceleration with 0-62mph despatched in only 8.5 seconds, and it remains refined even when pressed. Better still though is its cruising comfort, with a claimed 62.8mpg combined available. I achieved a disappointing (yet impressive) average of 52mpg through a mix of town, country and motorway driving.

The driving mode selector allows you to choose an eco setting for softer throttle response, while dynamic mode sharpens the steering, engine and gearbox and the comfort mode does just what it says on the screen.

The Volvo On Call app allows the driver to control a range of functions from a mobile device, including the ability to remotely heat or cool the cabin before they get in. The car can also be turned into a WiFi hotspot, while smartphone integration is available.

This focus on advanced technology extends to every part of the car. The D5 diesel engine, for example, benefits from PowerPulse, an ingenious Volvo-designed system that uses compressed air to boost responsiveness at low revs. There’s also the standard-fit Pilot Assist, the semi-autonomous drive technology that takes care of the steering, acceleration and braking at up to 80 mph, helping to make long motorway journeys less stressful and tiring.

The S90 and V90, priced from £32,555 for the S90 and £34,555 for the V90, are available in two trim levels, Momentum and Inscription. Both come with an eight-speed automatic gearbox, but whereas the D4 is linked to front-wheel drive the D5 comes with all-wheel drive to harness the engine's power.

The blend of superb styling, efficient engines, excellent handling, state-of-the-art connectivity and impressive refinement make the V90 a world-beater.