Independent Reviews of New and Used Cars

The 330e Plug-in hybrid is the technological flagship of BMW's current 3 Series line-up. Jonathan Crouch takes a look.

The Q3 Sportback widens Audi's reach in the premium compact SUV segment. Jonathan Crouch takes a look.

The Volkswagen Golf SV has evolved - primarily beneath the bonnet. Jonathan Crouch tries the revised version of this mid-sized five-seat MPV and its clever 1.5-litre TSI EVO petrol engine.

"A bright light blue small Volvo SUV with white wheels and a white roof designed to replicate the look of a science fiction transformer robot. Really?"

This second generation XC90, the first of the brand's modern-era SPA architecture cars, marked a return to Swedish charisma and an emphasis on all the things that the Gothenburg brand does best - cool restrained style, real-world practicality and class-leading safety. To be specific, this is a large luxury SUV with a look and feel that's refreshingly different to that on offer from obvious rivals. A car that'll seat seven adults more comfortably than any other in its segment. And a model that in terms of crash protection, takes its responsibility for your family's safety to a whole new level. This XC90 boasts other important attributes too. The brand's chosen four cylinder 2.0-litre 'Drive-E' engine formula offers everything you need and nothing you don't in this class of car. As a result, if you're looking at a conventional variant like the D5 diesel model that most original buyers chose, you'll find no other AWD rival from this era that's more efficient. Opt instead for the top T8 Twin Engine plug-in hybrid version and, as we've said, you'll get yourself the world's cleanest and most powerful SUV from this period. Of course, this Volvo's not perfect. There are still sharper-handling choices and more capable off roaders in this sector from this period. In balancing these virtues though, this XC90 set its own class standard and in doing so, established a family benchmark amongst luxury SUVs that rival of its time struggled to match. Company founders Assar Gabrielsson and Gustaf Larson would have liked this car. More importantly though, if you're shopping in this segment, we think you will too.