Ashley, Jason and Oliver relax around a log fire in the cigar lounge of their favourite five-star lodge. Sipping on their cognacs, there's finally a tinge of excitement in the air as they grow tired of boasting about their successful business ventures and the conversation switches to their new vehicles.

The three men are all thrilled that there's now a greater choice for those looking for a premium SUV-type crossover that's more suited to tar than dirt, but in a more compact and eco-friendly package than the excessive Q7, X5 and XC90 clan.

"Your BMW X3 3.0d makes a Ssangyong look pretty"

Another bragging session ensues, as Oliver opts to enlighten his peers about the snazzy features fitted to his new Volvo XC60 D5.

"It even comes standard with this City Safety gizmo, which works at speeds of up to 30km/h. It'll brake the car automatically if its laser detectors predict that I'm about to smash into the car in front. How cool is that?" Oliver exclaims with a smile.

"So have you tested it out yet?" Ashley asks with a smug grin. Oliver changes the subject by asserting that at least he drives a car that breaks the boring mould "and it just looks so futuristic parked next to your cars."

Ashley gets defensive: "My new Audi Q5 3.0 TDI is still by far the nicest looking car here. Why break the mould when you can have such smart, purposeful and well-proportioned lines like this."

Jason agrees, adding that the Volvo does look a little bloated at the back. "You're one to speak," Oliver butts in. "Your BMW X3 3.0d makes a Ssangyong look pretty."

Jason admits it is something of a relic from Bangle's reign of terror, "but you don't notice that from the inside," Jason adds. "Here it still looks really modern and well-finished, like any BMW should."

Oliver begs to differ, praising his Volvo's swoopy interior imbued with the ultimate in Swedish class. "It's also more family-friendly than your X3. More width, cushier back seats, which even fold up to form child seats ? bet you've never seen that in a car." The Volvo also has rear ventilation, like the Audi, but unlike the BMW.

Read more about the gadgets on each model on page two