The XC90 was launched in Britain in 2002 and quickly became the goose that laid the golden egg for Volvo dealers. Waiting lists soon stretched to more than 12 months, with even used examples changing hands in the classifieds for over list price. Four years on the XC90 remains one of the most coveted used cars, with second-hand examples rarely appearing below the £20,000 mark.

So what is it about the XC90 that makes it one of the most desirable cars of the decade? First there are the looks. While most premium 4x4s look ugly or aggressive or both, the XC90 has the familiar Volvo grille that endows it with an unpretentious, trustworthy face. This is no accident. During its development Volvo paid particular attention to female opinion and designed the XC90 to have broad appeal. This clearly paid off.

Slip inside and the good vibes continue. The dashboard is classic Volvo with large, clear dials, thoughtfully placed controls and plenty of storage. And though it is a large vehicle the high driving position, rear parking aids and deep windows make it surprisingly easy to thread through traffic.

Under the bonnet Volvo was also careful to appeal to a broad range of buyers. There are turbocharged petrol models as well more economical diesel versions. With around 50% more miles to the gallon the diesels have proved by far the more popular. Despite second-hand examples costing about £1,000 more than the petrol cars you’ll quickly recoup this at the pumps.

On the road the XC90 achieves arguably the finest balance between seven-seater MPV and luxury 4x4 that money can buy. It may lack the ultimate driving dynamics of a BMW X5 or Range Rover Sport, but neither of those offers a third row of seats. And compared with MPVs such as the Renault Grand Espace or Citroën C8 the Volvo XC90 feels more like first class travel while they are at best business class.

In terms of equipment you’ll never feel hard done by, with climate control, cruise control, CD and alloys as standard. Pay around £1,250 more for an SE and you will enjoy electric folding mirrors, wood trim and leather upholstery. If you are lucky your searches may turn up an example with satellite navigation — at nearly £3,000 as a factory option it is relatively rare. When switched on the colour screen rises James Bond-like from the top of the dashboard.

It’s certainly worth having but expect to pay £500 extra for a car with it.

But regardless of your engine or trim level it’s the XC90’s clever seating that puts it in a class of its own. Even the rearmost seats accommodate a couple of adults and when not in use disappear into the floor to liberate a huge amount of extra boot space. True to Volvo’s reputation for safety they all come with individual headrests and seatbelt pre-tensioners, while curtain airbags protect occupants in a side impact.

Four years ago the Volvo XC90 set new standards for premium 4x4s that double up as luxury people carriers. In 2006 the competition is still struggling to catch up, which sets the question: why bother spending £40,000 on a new car from a competitor when £20,000 will buy you a second-hand XC90 that’s the real deal from Volvo?

• Tailgate Split-opening rear is a boon and the lower section is strong enough for sitting on — or standing on if loading a roof box

• Servicing Due every 18,000 miles

• Upholstery Leather standard on all but base S model

• Power steering Speed sensitive. It’s light when parking but nicely weighted at speed

• Four-wheel drive Permanent four-wheel-drive system is controlled electronically but lacks high and low-ratio box or differential lock

• Towing Capable of towing 2,250kg. Many XC90s find homes with Caravan Club members

• Satellite navigation An expensive factory option but the DVD-driven system works well with operation from the steering wheel. Pay about £500 more for a used car fitted with the system

• Safety A five-star Euro NCAP performer. ABS, EBD and traction control are standard, with curtain airbags and dual-stage front airbags

• Engine Poor starting on diesel models can be a sign of injector problems — a £1,500 job to remedy

• Volvo XC90 2.4 SE Geartronic 2003 53 with 30,000 miles. Pay £24,250 at a Volvo dealer or £22,995 privately

‘Trade’ is what a dealer would pay to buy your car; ‘retail’ is what you would pay a dealer.

Alternatives

Figures based on CAP December 2005 edition

 © Jason Dawe Productions Limited October 2006