The design of the gen 1 XC90 wasn't just tank like. Wasn't it one of the first mass produced cars to incorporate boron steel in its construction? Its design was far more "car-like" than many of its SUV peers at the time; monocoque chassis, transverse engine giving loads of space, a relatively low centre of gravity which contributed to decent stability. Also I guess the electronic anti-roll tech, although I'm sure archaic by current standards, must have contributed to its performance. Remember all the excitement about top heavy SUVs toppling over in the 2000s, especially Ford Explorers?
Also XC90 drivers may be inherently careful, but they (we) have always gravitated towards certain cars and it's only the XC90 that has achieved this amazing performance over such a long period. It would be interesting to know how many fatalities there have been in XC90s globally since its launch.
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