A third row of seats is ingeniously hidden under the cargo floor, split 50/50 for more flexible passenger/cargo usability. The seatbacks - that make up the front half of the floor itself - flip up, and the bottom cushions pull forward from under the floor. I found myself crouched in the back flipping and pulling, pushing and dropping one of the rearmost seats, grinning away at this simple, yet brilliant engineering marvel. It's the best 3rd row design I have ever seen, and even fits adults with fairly decent headroom, adequate shoulder and hip room and space enough for size 12 shoes- this last item can't be officially verified as my puny feet are hardly reflective, but the foot wells look roomy enough.

Volvo is doing a terrific job of interior design, and its choice of high quality materials mixed with superb fit and finish put the XC90 into the top level of its premium class. (Photo: Shawn Pisio, Canadian Auto Press)

Up front, interior accommodations are luxuriously spacious, and beautifully finished. Volvo is doing a terrific job of interior design now, and its choice of high quality materials and superb build quality put the XC90 into the top level of its premium class. The seats are superb too, supremely comfortable and supportive enough to keep even my lower back from hurting. The XC90 is also ergonomically correct, with a well designed steering wheel framing clear, easily legible gauges. All controls are reachable without much of a stretch and again are of the highest quality.

The base turbocharged 208-hp inline 5-cylinder engine produces 236 lb-ft of torque, which is lacking for an SUV of its size. The optional 2.9-L T6, with 268-hp and 280 lb-ft of torque, is much more suitable. (Photo: Shawn Pisio, Canadian Auto Press)

Volvo's only weakness might be under its front hood. Although its base turbocharged inline 5-cylinder is smooth, at 208-hp and 236 lb-ft of torque it hardly translates into exhilarating straight-line performance. This lackluster acceleration has a great deal to do with the SUVs substantial 2,046 - 2,095 kg (4,511 - 4,619 lbs) curb weight.

The upgraded T6 with its 268-hp 2.9-L turbocharged inline 6-cylinder does a much better job, boasting 280 lb-ft of torque. It still doesn't produce neck-snapping 0 to 60 times, but the T6 feels more capable of ramping up to highway speeds without holding up traffic and allowing confident passing once underway. Still, if Volvo ever needed the torque of a V8 it's with this vehicle.