The 2009 Volvo XC90 is the largest car made by the auto manufacturer, by some margin. Unsurprisingly classed as a full sized SUV, it’s also one of the larger family haulers available on the market. Suffice to say, the XC90 is a mammoth. Unfortunately, climate change and rising petrol costs are threatening the XC90 with the very real prospect of following the hairy elephant into extinction.

Safety and space are the two primary concerns of the XC90, and it excel’s at providing these with ease. The large cabin has seating for everyone and the kitchen sink, while the tough bodywork and high ground clearance make it a veritable tank of the road.

This comes at a cost though: The basic model uses a 3.2-liter, 235-hp 6-cylinder engine which can be ramped up to 311-hp by a 4.4-liter V8 engine. Neither of these engines have enough oomph to create a particularly edgy or sporty ride, but they do haul the XC90’s considerable weight with relative ease, and the mileage is surprisingly good, weighing in at a very respectable 34.0mpg.

The 2009 Volvo XC90 is in hot competition with the likes of Audi’s Q7 and the new BMW X5, and it holds up fairly well. Luxury fixtures and fittings, kid friendly fabrics and entertainment systems and an overall high build quality make it a welcome addition to the large SUV market. Not doomed to extinction quite yet, then.