The things that make a Volvo a Volvo just seem to work better in a vehicle designed for family-oriented, all-purpose transportation. The Volvo XC90 is strong on safety, comfort and functionality, and we consider it one of the most successful vehicles Volvo builds.

For 2007, Volvo's sport-utility has been freshened with a restyled grille, bumpers and lights, and improved with new hardware under the hood. The standard XC90 is powered by a 3.2-liter inline six-cylinder engine that's smoother, more powerful and more sophisticated than the tried-and-true turbocharged five-cylinder it replaces, and it delivers comparable EPA mileage ratings.

In the growing-family scheme, the XC90 has it all. Its styling is appealing, without shouting family mobile. It seats up to seven passengers, with more cargo space than nearly all its competitors and features that allow quick, easy tailoring for cargo, gear or people. The XC90 is not the sportiest vehicle among luxury-class SUVs, but it handles well on city streets and highways. It rides very comfortably and it's easy to park. Either of the two XC90 models can tow just about anything the typical family is likely to pull along.

The standard 235-hp six-cylinder engine is up to all the demands of daily driving and delivers the best value, in our view. The upgrade 315-hp V8 adds a bit of excitement for those who put a premium on quick acceleration.

Volvo's fulltime all-wheel-drive system works smoothly in the daily grind without a huge penalty in fuel economy, and it's truly welcome when the weather gets foul or the road surface gets rough. Yet buyers who don't really need all-wheel-drive capability can choose an XC90 with front-wheel drive.

Volvo's reputation for safety engineering is deserved. Maybe more than anyone, Volvo devotes impressive resources and manpower to improve occupant protection. The XC90 offers the full array of active and passive safety features, including a Roll Stability Control system designed to keep the XC90 from rolling over, and a rollover protection system intended to shield occupants in the extremely unlikely event that a rollover actually occurs. Less obvious are features like a roof structure fashioned from high-strength steel, or a lower front crossmember engineered to inflict less damage on small vehicles if an accident occurs. It may be the safest SUV on the road; it's certainly one we'd feel reassured seeing our loved ones drive.

The XC90 also offers Volvo's optional BLIS system for the first time in 2007. BLIS uses cameras to search a large area on either side of the vehicle, and warns the driver if there might be a vehicle not visible in the XC90's mirrors.

The XC90 is not inexpensive, but comes well-equipped, with the standard engine and all-wheel drive, for well under $40,000. Luxury-class shoppers who put a premium on comfort, safety and value should find happiness here.