THE XC90 has been a phenomenal success for Volvo but the model has been around for a while. In car years, it'll be in its early 50s. If it was a person, it will have a receding hairline and a tummy that gets in the way.

On top of facelifting the XC90 to keep it from failing medicals - and remain in the running with its competitors - Volvo has introduced a new variant called Sport.

Available with a 3.2-litre inline-6 and 4.5-litre V8, the Sport is the wise guy who didn't bother with slapping on Rogaine to fight the hairline. It shaved its head, got some Paul Smith shirts, designer jeans, signed up with a gym and became a member of St James Power Station.

Yes, it's the hip uncle every nephew wished he had.

The car is flashy in an almost un-Swedish way. It wears big and unique 19-inch alloy wheels shod with exquisite Italian rubbers (Pirelli P Zeros, no less).

The usual rubber wheel arch claddings are colour coordinated with the body. On top of the standard palette, the Sport line-up also features a very striking hue of red. The bits that are chromed on the standard models have been given a funky satin silver finish.

Those with Tour de France aspirations will have to fix roof rails to mount bike racks. The rails are standard fare on regular XC90s but the Sport does not have them. Going bald has its price.

The shimmering blue instrument dials come from the Volvo S60 and V70R - the flashiest Swedes since Abba.

The funky dials are complemented by faux metallic accents and perforated leather touches.

Under the skin are modifications made to improve the Sport's handling - the bits that really count. These include unique shock absorbers and thicker anti-roll bars. The steering set-up has also been tweaked to cater to the more enthusiastic driver. The result is a sense of athleticism never felt before on an XC90.

Even at low speeds, the Sport feels different as the steering self-centres more urgently. At higher speeds, the car seems to ride just as well as the standard model, if not better, with a reduced tendency to bob or pitch.

Loading up the Sport in the bends really shows up the quality of the engineering work done. Grip levels aren't exactly stupendous, and the 3.2-litre engine needs quite a bit of revs to haul the 2.2-tonne car along.

But the fluidity in the body movement is a treat.

Most surprisingly, the mammoth SUV seems more fun to drive than the newer and lighter XC70. Despite its years, this middle-age SUV still knows how to party.

VOLVO XC90 SPORT
Price: $207,000 with COE
Engine: 3,192cc 24-valve inline-6
Transmission: Six-speed automatic with manual select
Power: 238bhp at 6,200rpm
Torque: 320Nm at 3,200rpm
0-100kmh: 9.5 seconds
Top speed: 210kmh
Fuel consumption: 17.2 litres/100km (city)
Agent: SM Motors