Sliding silently along city streets, Volvo's 2.3-tonne XC90 T8 is motoring's Beauty and the Beast.
Beauty in that a touch of a button gives eerily quiet, emission-free city driving for up to 27 miles on pure electric power. 
Beast in that you can just as quickly unleash the combined 400 horsepower of the supercharged and turbocharged petrol engine and electric motor, to deliver sizzling acceleration and a potential top speed of twice the motorway limit.
The spacious, seven-seater premium sports utility vehicle is a huge family favourite, and in R-Design trim the focus is on a seriously sporty and dynamic feel.
Volvo already enjoys a reputation for providing the most comfortable seats in the industry. The new XC90 improves on that with specially-designed seats, with adjustable side bolsters, seat cushion extension and massage, that also free up interior space for passengers both in the second and third seat rows.
The second row features three individual seats with recline adjustment. The sliding function can be used to create more legroom for the passengers in the third row – or to increase loading space. An integrated child booster cushion in the centre seat is optional. The seats in the third row offer plenty of comfort for smaller passengers.
The most striking feature in the luxurious interior is a large, tablet-like touchscreen, that controls all the car's systems from satellite navigation and audio to Bluetooth telephone and climate control.
The traditional selection of buttons and controls has been replaced with the virtually button-free touchscreen, controls on the steering wheel and a capable voice-control system.
The in-car possibilities includes Internet radio, connected navigation, finding and paying for parking, seamless music streaming, the ability to mirror and use Apple and Android devices in the touchscreen display and a hot spot for using a tablet in the car.
The XC90 will not only tell you when it’s time for a service, but even suggest an appointment at a Volvo dealership.
Other delightful touches inside include Nappa leather and wood with handcrafted details, a gear lever made of crystal glass from Orrefors, the famous Swedish glassmaker, and diamond-cut controls for the start/stop button and volume control.
On the move, the XC90's new chassis gives a smooth, solid ride, combined with sharp handling and response.
Alongside comfort, safety is one of Volvo's major selling points, and the new car raises the bar as the XC90 is the first car in the world with technology that features automatic braking if the driver turns in front of an oncoming car.
Automatic braking, which is fitted as standard, now covers vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians in front of the car, day and night.
A new adaptive cruise control, with pilot assist, enables safe and comfortable semi-autonomous driving by automatically following the vehicle ahead in stop-and-go traffic. Acceleration, braking and now also steering are controlled automatically.
Making sure that the driver remains in full control also when manoeuvring and reversing in tight spaces, the all-new XC90 features a 360° surround view, that gives the driver a bird's-eye view where information from all cameras are added up digitally to a one 360° image. The park assist pilot now also offers automatic reversing into a parking bay.
So whether you want a quiet, green, mild-mannered city machine, or a high-power, blood-pumping evil twin, the T8 delivers.


Auto facts
Model: Volvo XC90 T8 R-Design
Price: £63,605
Insurance group: 43
Fuel consumption (Combined): 134.5mpg
Top speed: 143mph
Length: 495cm/195in
Width: 200.8cm/79in
Luggage capacity: 34.1 cu ft
Fuel tank capacity: 11 gallons/50 litres
CO2 emissions: 49g/km
Warranty: Three years/60,000 miles