IT’S the estate car the business world’s been waiting for from the brand that made the body style a hallmark: the new Volvo V90.

With the prospects of all kinds of powertrains like its stablemates – the award-winning XC90  SUV and S90 saloon – you can look forward to sub-50g/km emissions with the tax-saving plug-in hybrid twin engine T8.

That promises 410hp for stunning performance – or 50km silent and green pure electric transportation – which on the XC90 can save £11,000 in benefit-in-kind tax. See £11,000 tax savings helps drive Volvo XC90 hybrid attraction to SMEs

It’s the latest evolution from the people who made estate cars into state-of-the-art utility vehicles decades before the phrase sports utility vehicle was conjured up.

Load-lugging workhorses you could fill to the gunwhales for work, play or just family living – the original lifestyle classic transcending class barriers.

The stylish and versatile V90 is the latest in the premium car maker’s top-of-the-line 90 series sitting alongside the award winning XC90 SUV and the recently-launched S90 premium saloon.

Building on Volvo Cars’ indisputable heritage in the estate segment, that began over 60 years ago with the Volvo Duett, the new V90 takes the premium estate a clear step forward in terms of aesthetics, materials and finish, while living up to the ultimately practical nature of any true estate.

“We have a very strong position in the estate segment,” said Håkan Samuelsson, president and chief executive of Volvo Cars.

“In many people’s minds we are known as the definitive estate brand. While the Volvo brand today stands for more than estates, we are proud to carry forward this rich heritage with the V90.

“The new V90 is the third car unveiled in Volvo’s top-of-the-line 90 series, all of which are built on the company’s specially-designed and fully modular Scalable Product Architecture (SPA), which has opened up a range of new opportunities in terms of how Volvos can be designed, built and equipped.

Thomas Ingenlath, senior vice president for design at Volvo Cars, said: “The modern premium estate is all about the intriguing combination of a luxurious experience with the functional origins of the estate’s silhouette.

“The sophisticated ambience of our new Volvo Interiors is combined with a great cargo space, providing the right kind of functionality – whether through connectivity or cargo and storage solutions.”

Most advanced standard safety package

The new Volvo V90 delivers cutting-edge Pilot Assist semi-autonomous drive technology, the most advanced standard safety package on the market, with large animal detection and run-off road mitigation, and class-leading connectivity including smartphone integration with Apple CarPlay.

Volvo Cars has also worked tirelessly on driving dynamics in the new model delivering a totally new and refined driving experience characterised by a sense of engaging control and predictability.

Dr Peter Mertens, senior vice president research & development at Volvo Cars, said: “We have a very strong offer in the V90.

“Our PowerPulse technology is designed to deliver a distinct performance boost to our diesel engine, while the T8 Twin Engine petrol plug-in hybrid will deliver around 410hp and a pure electric range of around 50 km.”