The Volvo estate is a stalwart of middle England. And these days, the Home Counties are looking crisper and more stylish than ever, courtesy of the latest V90. It refashions the Swedish staple in a very contemporary way, and continues the success of the fantastic second-generation XC90 SUV.

Up to now, we’ve only driven the mainstream front-wheel drive D4 in the UK. In the depths of winter, we’ve now had chance to drive the four-wheel drive D5 version, in fancy top-line Inscription trim. And despite the different badges, it’s a similar story of success.

That’s because both cars use the same 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel, paired with an eight-speed automatic. For the D5, it’s upped from 188bhp to 232bhp; what’s more, it’s also equipped with Volvo’s Powerpulse anti-lag technology.

This injects pressurised air into the exhaust manifold to make the turbo wake up faster. Effectively so, too. The D5 engine feels impressively linear and responsive, helping it gather speed with much less fuss. Whence which, it feels authentically Volvo: safe, refined, comfortable and effortless. The ride is comfortable too, with just a little un-Volvo-like patter from the 18-inch wheels.

It’s also better than Volvos of old through the corners – not particularly engaging, but perfectly accurate and composed. You can even alter the driving setups for weightier steering and sharper engine response, although we’d just leave it in comfort. We would, however, pick the optional rear air suspension, which helps the back end remain level when towing.

Or, when carrying heavy loads: the V90’s estate car rear can swallow awkward things almost two metres long, while the boot itself is wide, with a low lip. An electric tailgate is standard as well – and don’t forget, all-wheel drive traction will ensure you have grip even when fully and precariously laden.

Inscription spec means a light and airy interior, with super-comfortable seats and an excellent driving position. A portrait-style 9.0in touchscreen is the centrepiece of the dash, which is modern and logical and only occasionally confusing. Similarly the engine-start switch, which is actually a shiny toggle: you’ll get used to it.

The latest V90s are fitted with a brace of extra safety tech as well, including a system that detects large animals standing in the road and will do its best to either avoid or minimise the damage from them. Semi-autonomous Pilot Assist is also standard, although this isn’t quite the relaxing self-driving tech we’re looking forward to. It’s clever, but not quite there.

The rest of the V90 is, though. Naturally, the D4 alternative is cheaper, more economical and, for most people, more than man enough. But the extra response and traction of this D5 AWD model will still appeal to some, particularly in posh and likeable Inscription trim.

More importantly, the V90 itself proves Volvo is now a genuine alternative to the big German brands. A BMW 5 Series may remain the default, but the V90 is a very able alternative that we’d be happy to recommend alongside it. That’s how strong the big Volvo estate is: it may be a stalwart, but it’s easy to see why.

Volvo V90 D5 PowerPulse AWD Inscription

Price £44,055 (as tested £54,925)

Engine 4cyl in-line, 1969cc, diesel

Power 232bhp at 4000rpm

Torque 354lb ft at 1750-2250rpm

Gearbox 8spd automatic

​Kerbweight 2000kg (est)

​0-62mph 7.2sec

Top speed 145mph

Economy 57.6mpg (combined)

CO2/tax band 129g/km, 25%

Rivals Audi A6 Avant, BMW 5 Series Touring, Mercedes-Benz E-Class estate