Volvo XC90

Volvo XC90 is a large family SUV for people who want three rows, a high driving position and a cabin built around safety-minded, calm long-distance use. By our assessment, its real strength has always been the same one: it feels like a serious road car rather than a tall fashion item, with roomy seating and a reputation that sits close to the top of the class. The trade-off is size, because a vehicle this big is awkward in tight parking, costly to run and more car than many city households actually need. In practice it is for loading children, luggage and weatherproof comfort, not for feeling nimble on narrow streets. Against other premium SUVs it stands out less for sportiness than for steadiness and family-first packaging, which is why many buyers cross-shop it with other big European rivals. By our assessment, the XC90 is strongest when the brief is comfort, space and restraint, and weakest when the brief is cheap running or compactness; the 90 in the name is just part of the model name.