Check your mirrors BMW, Mercedes and Land Rover - there's a new Volvo coming over the horizon and X5, M-Class and Discovery sales will be under threat.
It's been no secret that Volvo has been plotting an entirely new product range and the XC90 is the first model to appear on a fresh platform with a spacious, seven-seat cabin and dripping with new technology.
With prices ranging from £46,000-£54,000 the new model builds on the versatility of the first generation XC90 and is the safest Volvo ever built with the Swedish
company claiming the best safety package in the car industry.
The XC90 is a massive car for Volvo. It's a fuel efficient, economical and technically advanced competitor in the SUV sector, fitted with lightweight four cylinder, two litre
Drive-E engines.
You can pick from 2.0-litre petrol and diesel models and a petrol-electric plug-in hybrid. They may be smaller four-cylinder engines than on the previous model but performance has been improved.
For example the latest D5 fitted to the first generation XC90 produced 200hp and emitted 215g/m of CO2. The new Drive-E D5 produced 225hp and just 149g/km of CO2.
New from the ground up the XC90 is a milestone in the revival of Volvo. After all the XC90 has proved to be Volvo's most successful and profitable cars since launch back in 2002, so there can be no mistakes with this update.
It’s crammed with high-tech developments, all controlled through a nine-inch touchscreen that may seem easy to use to the Volvo boffins but unless you’re comfortable with a Tablet or an iPad you may be put off.
It’s certainly one of the best I have seen with the ability to swipe the screen sideways to reveal a multitude of options and you can make things easier by programming voice recognition instructions on some models.
The driver sits high up and if reversing isn’t your strength you’ll want to add all round reversing cameras to back-up the parking assist system because the XC90 is genuinely big with seven real seats.
Volvo is keen to claim this as the safest car on our roads and have rear seat airbags to back up their claims. You get the latest version of Volvo’s City Safety system, which can automatically apply the brakes if something happens in front or is approaching at speed from behind.
Active anti-whiplash head restraints and a lane departure warning system are also standard on every model, while the options list includes blind spot monitoring and a system that stop you pulling out into the path of another car at junctions.
Space is as good as anything in the sector. Up front it’s comfortable with armchair style seating, while the middle row offers tremendous leg room and sliding seats.
The back two seats would be good enough for short journeys for adults but are really aimed at carrying the kids. There’s still room for luggage with all the seat used but when you fold the back ones down it reveals an enormous space.
You get leather upholstery with the entry-level Momentum along with a Sat-Nav system and a brilliant 10-speaker sound system but you need to upgrade to the Inscription to gain a sportier look and plusher interior plus gearshift paddles.
Optional air suspension improves ride and handling but there’s not a lot wrong with the standard option. You get a very positive feel, minimal road noise and barely a whisper of wind interference.
You’ll certainly notice the new XC90 on the roads. Volvo always caught the eye, being the first to have sidelights permanently on. Now there’s unique touches, including the re-designed “Iron Mark” logo, a floating style grille and highly distinctive T-shaped “Thor hammer” headlights. They look stunning when coming to meet you.
Volvo has positioned the new model to compete head-on in the sector and the XC90 has all the right credentials to give BMW, Mercedes and Land Rover more than a few problems.
It will also be attractive to senior management as a company car due to excellent benefit in kind figures.
Your biggest problem may be getting your hands on a model with the first release sold out in just 47 hours and order books already bulging in dealerships.
If you can’t wait for the range-topping models get in quick now. There will be entry-level models in dealerships but you may have to wait a few months for the rest.
