XC60 T6 R-Design Geartronic (Sweden, 2011)

First introduced in 2008, the new XC60 for 2012 will be available with five engines, four of which have been updated this year. The top of the range 3.0l, turbocharged six-cylinder T6 now makes 304hp, which is up four horsepower over last year. The 3.2l, naturally aspirated six-cylinder is up 243hp, which is three horsepower better. The diesel, five-cylinder D5 gets a 10hp boost, to 215hp, and Volvo claims that it also gets 8% better fuel economy over last year. Finally, Volvo is offering a brand new 2.0l, turbocharged four-cylinder in the XC60 for 2012. It makes 240hp.

As ever, the XC60 comes with a host of safety equipment including systems to detect traffic jams and pedestrians that brakes the car automatically if needed. It also has a system that intervenes when the car senses that it is about to roll over.