Volvo says its new XC90 is "the first SUV with a conscience." It gets straight to the heart of the matter by directly addressing the three big SUV issues. 1. It gets good gas mileage and the five-cylinder version has ultra-low (ULEV) emissions. 2. It has a gyroscopic sensor that detects a possible impending rollover, activating a Roll Stability Control system to apply braking and cut throttle to correct the imbalance; also, there's a high-strength steel roof structure, just in case. 3. It has a unique low front chassis crossmember, about the same height as the bumper of a sedan, designed to inflict less damage on any vehicle or its occupants that the XC90 might strike.
A totally new vehicle, the 2003 Volvo XC90 looks like a cross between a Volvo Cross Country wagon and a BMW X5. Unlike the BMW, the new Volvo is roomy, with a versatile interior that boasts more cargo space than the Mercedes M-Class, Acura MDX, and other vehicles in this class. The XC90 offers a comfortable ride quality and handles well. It's powered by turbocharged five-cylinder and six-cylinder engines and we actually preferred the 2.5T five-cylinder version.