Swift Security

With its first V8, Volvo lives up to its reputation for being environmentally responsible, and the company is quick to point out that its V8 is the first to meet the strict “ULEV-II” standards—for an ultra-low-emission vehicle with stiffer stage two requirements. When I test-drove an XC90, I got 20.4 miles per gallon driving quite aggressively in heavy traffic, and I assume you could do better while taking it easy or cruising on the freeway.

Of course, the XC90 retains its interior comfort, with the usual well-designed instrument panel, a steering wheel that’s thick and sturdy to grasp, and accessory controls all ergonomically positioned and easy to use. The rich leather seats may be unexcelled for combining support with comfort. Additionally, the XC90 now offers a third-row bench seat to increase capacity to seven occupants.

The superb control of the XC90 V8 in all weather conditions fits well into Volvo’s legacy. Volvo deploys the Haldex all-wheel-drive system, which reads any tendency of the front wheels to spin and instantly shifts as much torque as necessary to the rear. That means optimum all-wheel-drive traction when conditions require it, on or off the highway, and the efficiency of front-wheel drive when you don’t need the extra traction. For owners who like to beat the adjacent car away from a stoplight, the electronic Haldex governing system gives instant torque to all four wheels whenever you stomp hard on the gas.

Stomping hard on the gas results in the sweet sound of high-tech power, and can zip the XC90 V8 from 0 to 60 miles per hour in about seven seconds. That’s not race-car fast, but it is fast for any Volvo, and any SUV. The XC90 isn’t just any SUV either, but one capable of carrying seven occupants in typical Volvo comfort, wrapped up in the safety of a 4,610-pound Volvo security blanket, in new-found Volvo style—and now with surprisingly responsive Volvo swiftness.