Volvo’s new XC90 is a giant of a car. It has all of the street credentials of a thirsty 4x4, with a look that’s not forgettable. But don’t be put off by the look: there’s more to this car than meets the eye.

As you approach the XC90, you almost feel intimated. After some days behind the wheel and even just standing and looking at the XC90, I feel that it has replaced the Audi Q7 in terms of that look of strength. I’m not sure if that’s a good or a bad thing, it just gave me a different feeling about the car.

Under that aggressive-looking skin is a kinder type of vehicle. This new Volvo has taken time to appear, and it’s lighter and more economical than the old model of the past. This is more than a cosmetic exercise: you can feel the difference in almost every aspect of the car, and it’s impressive.

I understand that some readers will be put off by the list price, but many pay close to this figure for their average 4x4s with little of the comfort and style that the Volvo offers.

Volvo assured us at the Ploughing 2015 that they had plenty of farmer interest in the new XC90 and even claimed to have closed deals over the three days, so don’t be surprised where you might find a Volvo XC90 lurking.

There’s a lot to be impressed about in this new SUV. Volvo has developed a powerful power package from the 2.0 litre turbo-diesel engine. This develops 225hp and 470Nm of torque, which is ample power to propel the big Volvo from standstill to 100km/hour in just 7.8 seconds.

While that’s impressive for an SUV that weighs in at just less than two tonnes, it’s still a shade slower than the performance from the Audi Q7 and BMW X5 competitors. Relative to many modern cars, this is fast, especially given its size.

The engine torque is lower than these two competitors; that impacts on the towing ability. Volvo’s towing rating for the XC90 is 2.7 tonnes, just marginally lower than Audi’s new Q7 rated figure, while it’s significantly lower that the BMW X5 rating of 3.5 tonnes.

There is a smoothness from the eight-speed automatic gearbox that softens any diesel engine feel. With careful driving, it is possible to cruise at motorway speeds of 120km/hr with the engine revving at 1700rpm. There are five transmission settings, and I drove it mainly in Eco mode to attempt the best economy results.

That should be enough to deliver good economy, which in theory is rated at 26.3km/litre (5.8/100km or 48.7mpg). My driving average was closer to 14km/litre (33mpg), almost half the rated figure, and that’s closer to reality.

The previous XC90 was a thirsty machine, with an official fuel economy rating that was almost half the new one. Either way, this new XC90 will be significantly more economical if you are an existing XC90 owner.

The other improvements include very impressive LED lights, with an active beam system to automatically dim the lights for on-coming cars, keyless push-button starting and a start/stop system to help with fuel economy for town driving. There is an electric handbrake and hill hold assist system to aid hill starts.

The entry level XC90 is well equipped and it gives a feeling of luxury. The all-wheel-drive (AWD) version that I drove uses an electronic system to engage four-wheel-drive on demand, so it’s not a constant 4x4.

With non-off road Pirelli 275/35 R22 low-profile tyres fitted, I was reluctant to venture too far off road, but on rutted farm roadways it was comfortable. There is no spare wheel fitted, just a kit and that’s a negative.

The test car came with Volvo’s optional electronic air suspension system. That delivers impressive comfort, while adding a hefty €3,250 to the price.

The XC90 is a seven-seat SUV, and seat adjustment was easy. Like any seven-seat SUV, boot space gets severely compromised when all seats are in use.

The XC90 is a Volvo, so there’s plenty of good safety kit included. This ranges from pedestrian and cyclist detection and front collision warning with fully-automatic braking to the driver alert system and traffic sign recognition. The Volvo XC90 recently achieved an overall top performance in Euro NCAP ratings, scoring 100% in the safety assist category, and an outstanding 97% in adult occupant protection.

The XC90 is a big SUV and that’s for me why a reversing camera system would have been more useful than just parking sensors, after all, they are standard on some small Toyotas.

Entry prices start €71,450 or £46,250 in N. Ireland and that’s expensive, but competitive relative to the Audi and BMW competition.

The new XC90 may not bring power and equal performance, but it makes up for it in style and unmatched safety kit at this price level.

Volvo XC90 D5 AWD

Engine 2.0 litre diesel

Engine power 225hp

0-100km/hr 7.8 seconds

Economy 26.3km/litre

Fuel tank capacity 71 litres

CO2 emissions 152g/km

Road tax band C (€390)

Main service 20,000km

Euro NCAP rating Five stars

Towing rating 2,700kg

Warranty Three years/

100,000km

Entry price €71,450

NI price £46,250

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