SCANDINAVIAN sensibilities are behind the pursuit of a holistic approach to car ownership by the very people who first slipped a three-point seatbelt around the world’s drivers.

But now the emphasis is less on preventing collisions and coddling car occupants than on the bigger picture of air quality and sustainable resources.

The latest 90-series range of Volvo vehicles sit on the top shelf of its burgeoning range and are at the forefront of Volvo’s bid to make safer, long-lasting, less-polluting and recyclable cars.

Volvo has adopted a methodical, stepped program that takes its products through its 2020 tipping point where it will make every vehicle operate either partially or fully on electricity.

So in this transition, the 90-series use a 2.0-litre diesel or petrol engine, adding supercharging or turbocharging and even electric assistance to improve performance while reducing emissions and fuel consumption.

In terms of its progressive development of the car into the future being done on its own terms, perhaps only Mazda comes close to a vision that melds the mobility needs of today with what is likely to be in demand tomorrow.

But the engineering planning that will take Volvo beyond 2020 aside, the 90-series represents a trio of vehicles – S90 sedan, XC90 SUV and the V90 Cross Country wagon – that sidle up to the German and Japanese prestige brands and give them a rub.

The Volvo may not be on every shopper’s list but the 90-series – and the dual-natured luxury and capability hallmarks of the V90 – should capture a lot of attention. Maybe the first problem will be to divert attention from more common prestige brands.