There is no doubt that Volvo Cars are the worldwide leader in motoring safety and it is sending a strong signal about the dangers of speeding.

Next year it will limit the top speed on all its cars to around 110mph (180 kph) and their latest V60 model will be the last diesel the company will build.

The company’s Vision 2020, which aims for no one to be killed or seriously injured in a new Volvo by 2020, is one of the most ambitious safety visions in the automotive industry. But realising that technology alone will not get it all the way to zero, Volvo Cars is now broadening its scope to include a focus on driver behaviour.

Research by the company has identified three remaining concerns for safety that constitute so-called gaps in its ambition to completely end serious injuries and fatalities in its cars, with speeding a prominent one.

“Volvo is a leader in safety: we always have been and we always will be,” said Håkan Samuelsson, the company president and chief executive.

"Because of our research we know where the problem areas are when it comes to ending serious injuries and fatalities in our cars. And while a speed limitation is not a cure-all, it’s worth doing if we can even save one life.”

Apart from limiting top speeds, the company is also investigating how a combination of smart speed control and technology could automatically limit speeds around schools and hospitals in future.

The latest V60 has the dynamic R-Design along with a chunky Cross Country model to the V60 line-up. It fits perfectly into the line-up between the entry-level Momentum and range-topping Inscriptions.

Volvo believes the R-Design will prove the most popular of the range accounting for 40 per cent of sales. It is priced from £35,400.

There are two diesel engines (the last you will find in Volvo colours) and one petrol engine with more petrol and hybrid options due to be added later in the year.

With its more dynamic, sportier styling, the V60 R-Design has sports seats, sports pedals and alloys. There is a sports tuned suspension, a lowered ride height and the models with an automatic transmission have paddles for manual gear changing, should you require it.

There is a 12.3-inch driver’s information display, an excellent nine-inch Sensus touchscreen with navigation, part-leather sports seats, plus the option of upgrading to a premium 15-speaker Bowers and Wilkins sound system.

My test car had a 2.0-litre 250hp T5 petrol engine complete with an eight-speedautomatic gearbox. This comes in at almost £38,000 and this can easily go to £45,000 when you add the extras!

It will do 0-62mph in under seven seconds seconds and a top speed of 145mph. That will obviously be cut next year. Fuel economy will give you 35mpg with carbon emissions of 157g/km.

The acceleration is smooth and swift and there are four different driving modes Comfort, Eco, Dynamic and Individual.

The car is well balanced and is with Volvo cabins the noise level is pretty quiet even at faster speeds. The comfort levels are high with plenty of space for passengers.

The all-wheel-drive Cross Country version is pretty good with its additional ‘OffRoad’ driving mode around a challenging wooded course with boggy tracks, steep grass bank climbs and slippery ascents.

You could find paying around £50,000 for this model when you add your extras and with the 190hp D4 diesel engine will give you 130mph; and almost 50 mpg. Emissions are 143g/km.

The key to the V60’s appeal is the boot capacity which ranges from 529 to a whopping 1,441 litres with the split-folding rear seats dropped flat. A power-operated tailgate is fitted as standard and there’s a whole host of storage compartments scattered throughout the car.

Extras include an autonomous emergency braking – this works day or night and detects vehicles, pedestrians, cyclists and large animals up ahead.

The driver is alerted to the danger and, if necessary, the car will automaticallybrake to help prevent a collision. This is just one of the long list of safety features fitted as standard to every V60 model.

There is no doubt Volvo is one of the world’s best and safest cars.