Sector: Large SUV Price: €52,400–€76,160 Fuel: 2.5–8.0l/100km CO2: 59–179g/km

Volvo did a great job of building up expectations before the XC90 was seen in public for the first time at the Paris Show last year. This followed several months of images of the interior, details of the engine options, safety equipment etc. When we finally saw it, replacing the model that first went on sale in 2002, new XC90 was a larger and more imposing car than the one it replaced. If anyone thought that Volvo had lost its touch in building large cars to carry people, dogs and grandfather clocks, here was the car to prove them wrong.

Volvo has carefully trained us so that when we think Volvo, we think safety and the XC90 has plenty of new safety equipment. There’s everything from Run Off Road to protect your spine and keep you firmly strapped in if you should leave the road at speed, to an ability to recognise pedestrians or cyclists stepping into your path ahead, day or night and bringing the car to a rapid halt if you don’t. There’s plenty more too. Then there’s the large touch screen in the centre of the dash, which will integrate your Apple or Android phone with ease and much more besides. It also replaces many of the switches you might expect to find. It’s impressive. Apple CarPlay and Google Android Auto will both be available with the car later this year.

The great mystery surrounded what the car was actually like to drive. Its predecessor had been well regarded, could the new model top it? Volvo promised no more than four-cylinders for petrol and diesel engines, carrying Volvo’s Drive-E branding for efficiency.

There are three engine choices for the XC90 – D5 twin-turbo diesel  producing 225hp and 470Nm with EU combined fuel consumption of 5.8l/100km and CO2 emissions of 149g/km. The T6 turbocharged and supercharged petrol engine produces 320hp and 400Nm and offers an EU combined fuel consumption figure of 8.0l/100km with CO2 emissions of 179g/km.

Still to come is the T8 plug-in hybrid, which combines the T6 petrol engine with a rear-mounted 82hp electric motor. Using the current EU test cycle, official fuel consumption is a barely credible 2.5l/100km with preliminary CO2 emissions of 59g/km. An all-wheel-drive system is standard for the D5 and T6, mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission co-developed with Aisin.

Fleet drivers are likely to find the D5 suits their budgets and tax regimes best. Considering the size of the car, it delivers good performance and refinement. The T6 is also a pleasant engine to live with, but fuel consumption and CO2 emissions have less fleet appeal. The T8 may also attract some fleet attention, but it is likely to be an expensive option.

Air suspension is an option too and I drove both steel and air-sprung models. Although the air suspension settings are adjustable using the drive mode selector I found the settings either too soft or too firm and preferred the steel suspension. Otherwise, the XC90 is an attractive proposition, if you want a large seven-seat SUV.

Verdict:

The safety systems, comfort, space and low emission diesel will be what many SUV fleet customers want. An interesting alternative to established large SUVs.