The mung bean morons who attacked 30 cars in Oxford recently would probably have the Volvo XC90 bang in their blinkered sights.

An impressive, leather-trimmed, cruise-controlled seven-seater riding on 18-inch alloy wheels is obvious red-rag-to-a-bull material to any self-respecting ‘eco-activist’, even if they were unaware that Jeremy Clarkson had bought one.

So is this Sweden’s shot at producing a ‘gas guzzler’, whatever that is? Err, no.

It is a chunky, well-built, well-equipped, supremely safe family car that is capable of transporting a six-a-side team and the manager, with an under-bonnet story that packs a few surprises.

First is that the engineers have got to work on the 2009 model’s D5 turbocharged diesel engine and managed to cut its carbon dioxide emissions to 224 grams per kilometre.

That sounds boring, but it drops the XC90 a whole tax band and also means the XC90 will avoid the proposed £25 London Congestion Charge.

Second, if you are on your best behaviour behind the wheel and drive with a deft touch on the pedals, some surprisingly pleasant fuel consumption figures are possible from the 185 horsepower five-cylinder engine.

The over-riding appeal of the smooth-riding XC90 is the versatility of the interior with its Rubik’s Cube-like flexible seating which, according to Volvo, offers 64 different seating configurations.

I couldn’t be bothered with fiddling around with the seven seats, so I just filled them with people and zoomed down to an outdoor concert at Arundel Castle and back to check for complaints. I feared my teenage nieces in the rearmost fold-flat seats would be the first to whine. They did not. With a 1am return home, they slept soundly in the back and maintained they had plenty of leg and shoulder room, storage space and comfort.

There was similar praise from those further up the car, where things are even more pleasant with a removable armrest between the front seats to offer more legroom for the passenger in the centre seat in the second row of seats. That centre seat also has an integrated booster cushion and slides forward to bring a child closer to the passengers in the front seats.

The XC90 is a top-of-the-range sports utility vehicle which, according to Volvo, is likely to be bought by people with an average gross annual household income topping £79,000, who like their creature comforts.

To cater for those who like even more power, Volvo has added two new engines to the range, including the company’s first V8, a 315 horsepower unit, and a 3.2-litre, in-line six-cylinder engine that delivers 238 horsepower.

So before our misguided green warriors next decide to vandalise vehicles by shoving beans in the valves to let down the tyres, a little more research might not go amiss. I am not holding my breath.

Auto facts Volvo XC90 D5 SE Geartronic

  • Price: £36,745
  • Ins group: 15
  • Fuel consumption (Combined): 34mpg
  • Top speed: 121mph
  • Length: 479.8cm/188.9in
  • Width: 189.8cm/74.7in
  • Luggage capacity: 8.8 cu ft (seven seats in place)
  • Fuel tank capacity: 15 gallons/68 litres
  • CO2 emissions: 224g/km
  • Warranty: 3 years/60,000 miles