We review the Volvo XC90 D5 R-Design from price to economy and all its features

MY English teacher told me that if I wanted to attract the attention of the reader, I had to start off my writing with a bold statement.

So I will - I'd pick over Land Rover's similarly priced .

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I know there will be a whole queue of haters forming at Sun HQ, all ready to pelt me with statements such as: "The Discovery is one of the most capable offroaders in the world," and "You won't get the XC90 up a mountain."

But come on, no one I know buys a premium SUV for its ability to go greenlaning.

There are a bunch of reasons why the

What it lacks in Everest-tackling skills, it more than makes up for with bags of Swedish style, the latest innovative in-car tech and the ability to comfortably swallow seven occupants.

No one I know buys a premium SUV for its ability to go greenlaning

Volvo has worked tirelessly to shake off its old and stuffy image and this is the result.

It is a premium SUV that manages to be both superbly understated and very cool.

The "Thor's Hammer" running lights look fantastic, especially in Britain's drizzly winter weather, and the flared wheel arches makes it look purposeful.

Inside, the front passengers are greeted with Volvo's brave new Sensus Connect system, which takes care of everything from navigation to climate in one neat, nine-inch touchscreen display.

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I admit that I was a little worried when I drove early models, because the system took an age to boot up.

It meant I could not pump up the heating or switch on the heated seats for a while.

But this has been remedied and Sensus is a very slick and speedy way of navigating around menu screens without hundreds of buttons and switches ruining the sculptured dashboard.

The XC90 drives well, too, with a ride that definitely leans towards comfort rather than performance - but there are very few complaints from the driver's seat.

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The 2-litre diesel isn't mind-blowing but it packs enough torque to get it up to speed when exiting corners and it is whisper-quiet at motorway speeds.

Practicality is its biggest trump card, as the clever seven-seat layout means it doubles up as a minibus when needed. But the seats all cleverly stow, should you need to transport bikes and prams.

It will even lower the rear air suspension at the press of a button to make it easier to load bulky items.

All in all, it's a fantastic package that's very difficult to beat. Practical, stylish, all-wheel-drive capability and now with the sort of technology to make Discovery owners envious, it's very hard not fall in love with the XC90.