The XC90 has seats for seven in three rows, although the rearmost are best left for kids. The new all-wheel drive system is invisible to the driver appearing when needed distributed electronically to the proper wheels. The Haldex AWD in the V8 is quick to respond and even more sure of foot in sudden slipperiness than before. The vehicle's ground clearance (8.9") means that drifted snow or muddy roads will have a tough time keeping you from where you want to go. Yet with its wide stance the XC90 feels well planted and the body roll in turns hardly noticeable.

A full complement of electronic alphabetically tagged adjuncts are on board. You'll recognize ABS (anti-lock braking) but suffice it to say the others keep the braking power at its optimum and distributed in the most beneficial manner for any driving conditions. Traction and stability are electronically attended as well so that unwanted slipping and sliding and side roll are simply dealt with at a threshold below your awareness.

Though Volvo is not actually the Swedish word for safety the name has been so long identified with safe driving that it could be. The driver and front-passenger get side-impact air bags and side curtain air bags protect even the third row of seats. ROPS, if you're up for another serving of alphabet soup, stands for "Roll-Over Protection System," of particular interest to buyers of vehicles with higher centers of gravity than sedans.

If drivers of varying stature share your car you'll like the fact that the XC90 front seats are electrically adjustable eight ways, with a 3-position memory on the driver's seat. And the steering wheel adjusts up and down and telescopically as well.

There's fingertip access on the steering wheel to the cruise control and the audio system. The latter, by the way, offers am/fm with a six CD changer in the dash.

The various configurations (64 but whose counting?) possible in the interior make for wonderfully flexible use so any owner can customize it to cover a multitude of situations. Even the front passenger seat folds flat so truly lengthy objects can be swallowed in 9 ½ feet of unobstructed space. The total capacity for cargo with all passenger seats folded is 92.3 cubic feet. To compare with some competitors: Acura MDX, 81.5; BMW X5, 54.5; Lexus RX330, 84.7.

And more good news: the headrests do not have to be removed to fold the seats flat.

The center bench seat of the XC90 operates in an ingenious fashion. It is split in thirds - 40/20/40 - and the sections slide forward independently. An integrated booster cushion can be ordered for those seats. With the center console between the front seats removed (easy enough) the center section of the second row can slide forward to a position nearly between the front seats. What a way to deal with a young one's separation anxiety. And the proximity makes a parent a less distracted driver.

Manipulating the seats - folding, unfolding, sliding, etc. - is remarkably easy so that all the Volvo's interior capabilities are easy to realize. (CONTINUE...)