Building on the success of both its predecessor and the smaller XC60, the all-new XC90 has already had 16,000 people put down their name for one. It promises a different approach to rivals for the creation of a luxurious SUV and it also marks the turning point for the company; it’s the first of a new breed of Volvos.

Håkan Samuelsson, President and CEO of Volvo Cars, said “these strong order numbers are very encouraging and it shows that customers obviously like what they see in the new XC90,” and that it “represents the new Volvo Cars and it is the first in a series of new cars to come, as we renew our entire product portfolio in the coming years.”

The first reviews of the XC90 are starting to come in now, and it seems like it’s really good. It’s not sporty, but very plush, comfy and safe, plus it looks crisp and modern – it won’t be as successful as the original, since that had far fewer rivals, but even in the current market conditions, it’s a different enough proposition to make a mark.

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