The Volvo range these days is nothing if not eclectic. From the frugal C30 DRIVe Coupe up to big exec saloon, all-road estates and the large XC90 SUV.But it's really in the mid-range that the Swedish brand throws in some real curve balls. What to make, for example, of the Volvo V60 T6?An all-wheel drive monster powered by a 300bhp 3.0-litre transverse straight-six V6 and a stonking 440NM (320lb-ft in old money) of torque. It sprints to 60mph in 5.9 seconds and tops out at a limited 155mph. It feels - and sounds - much, much faster.This is virtually a Q car - an utterly bonkers take on a standard car. There are others throughout history. The Vauxhall Vectra VXR, for example: a Vectra that could do 167mph. Lunacy. The Rover 75 V8: craziness. The Ford Mondeo ST220: stupid.But all cool. There's nothing quite like the thrill of overtaking a pimped-out hatch or coolly fast sports car in a lumpy volume model.Happily the V60 is not a lumpy saloon; it's an interesting estate model that may just be Volvo's best-looking car. It looks smooth, fluid, langourous - if a tad oddly-proportioned - but it's actually a wolf in sheep's clothing in T6 guise.It's incredibly free-revving at the top end and it feels like the needle would move through the rev range on the counter for a long, long time before it faltered. It pulls strongly even in sixth gear but the Geartronic automatic transmission is deadly fast on the dropdown to lower gears and the raspy exhaust note - complemented by the whoosh of a turbocharger - is truly thrilling.All that torque is available from a lowly 2,100rpm meaning the T6 pulls strongly from a stationary start and just keeps going, the autobox shifting quickly and smoothly for virtually uninterrupted acceleration.There is no discernable turbolag either; often noticeable in diesel turbocharged engines, but the usual advantage turbodiesels tend to have over petrol models - strong low- and mid-range pull - is also evident in the T6 petrol.All of that torque though, you think, will surely have me interfacing with a hedge before long. Not a bit of it, thanks to the V60 T6's electronically-controlled hydraulic clutch to distribute drive between the front and rear wheels, making the estate all-wheel drive and putting minds at rest in challenging driving conditions.Normally I'd love a manual box with an engine like this, but there isn't one available and I suspect the engine works best with the six-speed Geartronic, which holds on to gears longer than you'd expect for improved performance - particularly in S mode.Something that doesn't work quite so well is the ride quality, usually so good in Volvo cars. At lower speeds the car jitters around on the tarmac, though smaller wheels may address these issues.Fuel economy is not amazing, but a respectable 28mpg combined. You could drive this car steadily and economically and not feel the engine hankering for more; so the T6 would probably make a good cruiser on the motorway.As a result of the jumpy ride at lower speeds and urban fuel economy of 19.5mpg the V60 T6 is not a car you'd want to spend a lot of time driving aroud town in. Alongside that fuel economy, an asking price of over £36,000 and CO2 of 231g/km mean that the T6 is a stiff proposition in terms of buying and running costs.Head over to the manual D5 in the V60 and you can have 53.3mpg and CO2 emissions of 139g/km, which should have private and corporate buyers flooding for the diesel, which is still responsive and quick, but with none of the guilt.To put it into perspective it's the difference between £5,018 for the T6 and £2,263 for the manual D5 if you're a 40 per cent tax-payer running the V60 as a business car.Look farther afield, however, and the T6 is a bit of a bargain. Similar BMW Touring, Audi A6 Avant and Mercedes E-Class Estate models will add five grand for comparable performance.To be fair the V60 doesn't work quite so well as a load-lugger - interior space is smaller than any of the models mentioned above though there are clever, practical touches like a front passenger seat that folds down for increased load space.Needless to say there's huge infodumps of stuff on the car's safety kit, which is impressive. Blind-spot recognition, lane departure, radars with auto-braking technology, driver alert control, active light, anti-whiplash system - the V60 is loaded with it.None of the T6s are short of luxury kit either; the R-DESIGN model we took out wanted for nothing. In R-Design spec there are some fairly subtle styling tweaks and a lowered suspension, which firms up handling but weakens ride comfort, especially with big 18-inch Ixion alloy wheels.The interior is comfortable and good-looking; leather seats are extremely comfortable and adaptable in what seems like eight different dimensions. The centre stack looks rather complicated to me but is fairly easy to get used to, while blue-backlit displays are a tasteful, subtle addition.The star of the show is, though, the powertrain. Volvo thinks the T6 is the best engine the company has ever produced and it's hard to disagree. It matches the character of the S60 and V60 - smart-looking cars that should pose a great alternative to the German execs - extremely well. If it makes any difference to you it's built at Ford's Bridgend factory too.In the best tradition of Q cars it's a purchase that makes no sense whatsoever. But in terms of being an enormously enjoyable, stylish and capable car then who gives a hoot? The Swedes have a reputation for the sensible, dispassionate and vaguely puritanical. The V60 T6 blows all of that clean out of the water - it's one of the most enjoyable cars to drive on the road. Volvo V60 T6 Milestones Volvo V60 T6 AWD (304hp) R-Design Geartronic Price: £36,285Powertrain: Turbocharged 3.0-litre straight six with six-speed Geartronic automatic transmissionPower: 304PS (300bhp) at 5600rpm; torque 440NM between 2100-4200rpm; 0-60 in 5.9 seconds; top speed of 155mph (limited)Fuel economy and CO2: 28.5mpg and 237g/kmVED: £790 first year; £445 subequent yearsTowing: 1800kgCapacity: 526 litresFor: Good looks, refined interior; incredible performance; good alternative to usual suspects; attractive pricingAgainst: Steep running costs; poor ride at lower speeds; not the most practical estate
