There is a particular kind of car that earns its keep without ever asking for attention, and the 2014 Volvo XC60 T5 Luxury is exactly that. It is the family SUV that turns up, does the school run, swallows the weekend, and never makes a production out of any of it.

In silver it wears its years well. The XC60's shape has aged better than most of its contemporaries - upright and honest, with enough Scandinavian restraint in the detailing that it still looks current parked outside a Nunawading cafe rather than obviously of its decade.

Open a door and the Luxury badge starts making sense. Black leather, a driving position that is high without feeling perched, and that famously supportive Volvo seat that turns a two-hour drive down the coast into something you would happily do again on the way back. Visibility is generous, the controls are where your hand expects them, and nothing is trying to be clever at your expense.

The 2.0-litre turbo petrol is the sensible choice in this range - enough urgency to merge without drama, mild enough on fuel to make daily driving painless, and paired with a six-speed automatic that keeps the whole experience unhurried. It is a car tuned for calm rather than heroics, and it is better for it.

Practicality is the quiet headline. A properly square boot, rear seats that fold flat when the hardware store calls, and a footprint that still fits a suburban garage. This is a mid-size SUV that behaves like one instead of pretending to be something bigger.

Safety, as ever with this badge, is not an option box. Volvo built its reputation on it long before it became a selling point for everyone else, and that engineering instinct is baked into how the XC60 is put together.

At $12,800 it makes a fairly blunt argument: a genuine European SUV with leather, a strong safety pedigree and room for the whole family, for less than the deposit on some of its newer rivals.

Owning a Volvo means quietly believing you are the most sensible person at every set of traffic lights. The unsettling part is that you are probably right.

All prices displayed exclude government charges. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information provided, MM Carz recommends you confirm with one of our consultants to confirm specific specifications/features about the car. Please also note our vehicles may not always be on display, as they may be in for detailing - please contact us in advance to confirm availability before visiting our showroom.