Volvo's family-friendly SUV still puts it up to the competitors, writes Michael McAleer, Motoring Editor
While we always aim to give you the most up to date motoring news before you make that all-important purchase, sometimes it's worth revisiting some seemingly old reliables amid the mêlée of new cars.
So, with the most minor of facelifts on offer and sales of SUVs rising by double figures - up 29 per cent this year - the only thing for it was to get behind the wheel of one of the strongest performers in its class.
Volvo was quite late entering the premium SUV market back in 2002, trailing behind the likes of BMW at the time. And yet, in the five years since the initial launch of the XC90, and with rivals such as Audi joining the fray, it's worth revisiting a car that once filled one of the few voids left in the motoring world.
This Volvo was an early crossover: part-SUV/part-people carrier. These days, while owning an SUV is becoming as socially acceptable as managing a child labour camp, crossovers are the latest "in form" motoring fashion accessory, partly because they don't offend the green stasi as much as fully-fledged off-roaders. Muscular, but with low enough CO2 emissions to rival a mid-size family saloon, these high-sprung hatchbacks have fallen into the SUV category more for want of a proper segment of their own.
As their numbers grow, expect to see a lot more mention of crossovers than SUVs, particularly by marketing departments keen to downplay the SUV image, while at the same time cater for those who love the look of such vehicles. While the XC90 cannot be compared with the more environmentally-friendly crossovers of recent years, it does offer a mix of large SUV with flexible family space inside.
It was one of the few premium models to offer seven seats, for example. That appealed to well-heeled families who couldn't squeeze their litter of offspring into a BMW, and would rather send their children to an orphanage than be seen in "one of those boxy minibuses" made by one of those "common" brands. They could even end up driving one of those Japanese cars: heaven forbid.
The XC90 carries all the premium badge presence that Volvo can muster. What's more, it drives like a regular car, so there will be no embarrassment when snide neighbours get in and find you're not quite up to speed with diff-locks and low-ratio gears. The simple response is to ask them how much RAM they have on their laptop. As they look on bewildered, explain you operate the same principle with the XC90: it does the job, so you don't really need to know the intricate details.
The fact is that the XC is a competent enough off-roader. We had the chance to test it some time ago in the harsh winter snows of the Arctic Circle and it did everything you would expect of a proper off-roader. This was in unforgiving climes just 200km or so from the Russian city of Murmansk, with banks of snow to conquer and roads of sheet ice. On several occasions we drove over frozen lakes. During all these tests there was never really any doubt that the XC had credible off-road credentials.
It's not going to rival the Toyota Land Cruiser or the Land Rover Defender, but it won't leave you stranded on the muddy fields of Kildare at a Streisand concert either. The Swedish SUV comes with a combination stability and traction control system (DSTC) that ensures you don't bed down in the field or kill yourself in regular corners.
Our excuse for taking the XC90 out on test is that Volvo has given it the mildest of makeovers, and you'll have to be a fully-fledged anorak to spot the new xenon headlights on offer at the upper end of the range and revised door handles, new tail lights and a greater use of chrome. Other clues include larger door mirrors with built-in indicators and the option of adding the Swedish firm's new blind spot information system (Blis). This shows a red light at the bottom of the a-pillar to warn you if an overtaking car is approaching.
Such minute changes were hardly worth the effort some may say, but then again, despite a general feeling that it's been around for most of our motoring life, the XC90 is here only since 2002. Perhaps the light touch of the remodelling symbolises just how successful the car has been to date.
For all the off-roading and Arctic credentials on offer, the big selling point is undoubtedly the extra row of seats. They were practical at the launch five years ago, and they remain just as easy to operate now. Think of it as the premium answer to the Opel Zafira - our long-time favourite mid-range people carrier.
We travelled with six occupants in the Volvo during the past week or so, and the only gripe to come from the back was the jump down from the car when exiting. It's hardly something that you can complain about when you buy an SUV.
Admittedly the Volvo has lost some of its uniqueness with the arrival of several seven-seat rivals. BMW's new X5 now offers a similar set-up, as does the new Land Rover Discovery and Audi's Q7 behemoth.
Yet the XC90 has lost none of its appeal when pitted against these rivals. The BMW has arguably more cachet, but the extra seats are not as conducive to adults and boot space is limited when three rows are in operation.
The Land Rover can take a full-grown adult in the third row and is probably the Volvo's main rival given its competitive price, but it's also a little more rugged than many potential XC90 owners would like, and therefore less conducive to the urban and suburban driveways that the Volvo seems to call home.
Similarly with Audi's Q7, a spacious quality product but often regarded as just too big and bulky for its own good. One potential owner recently asked us if you needed a HGV licence to drive one of these.
FOR THESE REASONS MANY suburban families looking for seven-seats dressed up in SUV garb find the XC90 is a neater package. And they are right. For all its internal space, it never feels cumbersome.
Along with some minor aesthetic changes, the engine range has been expanded, with a new 3.2-litre petrol replacing the 2.5-litre turbocharged unit, but the D5 2.4-litre turbodiesel will remain the big seller.
It's smooth and remarkably quiet unless pushed, the only downside being a slight delay in converting engine roar to forward motion when you really kick down.
In terms of handling and ride, the XC90 remains rather light up front, though new sport SE versions come with stiffer front springs and more informative steering that would suit those who sought out the X5 for its handling ability.
For regular versions Volvo offers a speed dependent steering system (standard on the V8 version) as an option - priced at €425. As Volvo charges €155 for a passenger airbag cut-off switch and €900 for air conditioning for the third row of seats, that would seem like a relative bargain.
Where the XC90 scores best is in all-round family driving, soaking up poorly surfaced country roads and munching away at motorway miles.
The newcomers have closed off Volvo's unique selling point of seven seats in the premium market, but the XC90 should not be ignored.
For the money, it's far less imposing than any of its rivals and that will appeal to suburban buyers looking for a little style to combat the minibus world of people carrying, but without scaring the neighbours.
In addition to this model, Volvo is preparing a five-seater XC60 - a concept of which was shown in Detroit earlier this year. That will be a harder sell, for the attraction of the XC90 has always been in the third row.
The Volvo might lose out to the X5 and the Mercedes M-Class in terms of handling prowess, but in all other facets it deserves consideration by anyone facing the premium seven-seat challenge.
Factfile
ENGINE: A 2400cc five-cylinder turbodiesel engine putting out 183bhp @ 4,000rpm and 400Nm of torque @ 2,000rpm. Available with six-speed Geartronic automatic transmission (€2,365)
SPECIFICATION: Dual-stage front airbags; side impact protection system (SIPS) including side and curtain airbags; ABS with EBD: DSTC stability and traction control; roll stability control; Isofix fittings in second row; alarm; day running lights; LED brake light; climate control with pollen filter; leather steering wheel with remote audio controls; cruise control; 17" alloys are standard.
Options include: 18" alloys (€965); blind spot recognition - Blis (€945); passenger airbag cut-off switch (€155); air conditioning for third row (€900); electrically adjustable driver's seat (€1,405).
L/100km (MPG)
Urban: 11.9 (23.7)
Extra-urban: 7.4 (38.2)
Combined: 9.0 (31.4)
CO2 emissions: 239 g/km
Annual road tax: €786
Price: €73,715 with Geartronic
(€67,200 to €99,950)