RATHER than being a new breed of four-wheel drive, Volvo’s XC90 feels like others of its genre – comfortable, companionable and accommodating but with setbacks for its owner/s and other road users. These include high fuel consumption and a large turning circle, though cause for concern also comes in areas where 4WDs should excel: conventional dirt road driving. Some excellent protective measures are included, and the XC90 lives up to Volvo’s usual standards in interior presentation, fit and finish, ergonomics, equipment, seating cleverness and so on. But this is far from being an unprecedented vehicle.