IT ONLY takes that first icy blast of the year to set you thinking about whether your car is really equipped to handle the British winter.
The cabriolet that looked so enticing in the summer or the city runabout with tiny wheels suddenly seems a lot less reassuring once there's snow on the ground.
Volvo XC90 owners, on the other hand, can afford to look a little smug when the temperature starts to drop.
Not for them the slipping and sliding - or the insecurity of not knowing whether they will stop in time...
The Scandinavians know a thing or two about driving on ice, of course, and it shows in models like this classy all-wheel drive sports utility vehicle.
The XC90 has a commanding road presence but it doesn't drive like a tank, despite its high ground clearance giving you a great view of the road.
Based on the S80 platform and a few centimetres longer than the V70, it's not designed for serious off-road use, but comes with an intelligent all-wheel drive system that adapts to the available traction on offer.
Pushed to the limit on frozen lakes across Finland, this means the car adopts a reassuringly firm stance on the most slippery of surfaces.
The vehicle may be big, but Volvo's D5 turbodiesel is an impressive performer and there's no lack of pick-up from the formidable 163bhp power plant, even on gruelling gradients.
Don't expect it to be too frugal, though. The sheer bulk of the beast makes sure the engine works hard and combined fuel economy in the automatic version is only just over the 30mpg mark - although that in itself is an achievement in this gutsy sector of the market.
But it's perhaps on the open road that Volvo's big SUV excels, creating the impression that you've taken your favourite armchair for a spin.
The price of the flagship models may induce a sharp intake of breath, but they incorporate all those nice little touches to cosset you from the outside world.
It's surprisingly practical too, not least in the way that two extra rear seats fold flat under the boot floor when they're not needed, while still giving you seven-seater flexibility when you want it.
The interior controls may light up like a star map at night, but they are straightforward and clear and come easily to hand. You also get the latest in audio and multimedia systems, with the option of fitting colour screens into the front headrests to keep rear-seat passengers amused with DVDs.
Dogs may find it hard to leap up onto the high rear tailgate, but it's strong enough to sit on at outdoor activities and stand on to load items onto the roof.
Throughout the interior, luxury touches are complemented by the reassuring sturdiness of the grab handles, steering wheel and other equipment. It's also easy to reconfigure - the real test of a car like this for busy families - with seats folding, sliding and adjusting with the minimum of effort depending on your requirements.
For the most part, it succeeds in its aim of providing car-like driving characteristics, and although you're undoubtedly conscious of your height on long tight bends, the XC90 grips the road confidently and features a roll stability control system to minimise the risk of a roll-over if you ever try to push the vehicle too far.
Plush, stylish and desirable, Volvo's contender has already scooped the What Car? award for best 4x4 for the second year running and production is being stepped up to 90,000 a year to meet demand and decrease waiting times.
The company hopes around 6,500 will hit British roads this year - more than 60 per cent up on 2003 - pushing premium rivals like the BMW X5 and Mercedes M Class down the sales league.
Back on the snow-swept motorway, the atrocious weather conditions provide a vivid reminder of the all-too-practical reasons why people opt for this type of car.
You may never venture off-road enough to justify buying a true 4x4, but the SUV, dear though it is, offers a welcome compromise when the weather closes in and everyone else starts grinding to a standstill.
FAST FACTS
Volvo XC90 D5 Geartronic S
Price: £31,383
Mechanical: 163bhp, 2,401cc 5 cyl diesel engine driving all four wheels via Geartronic automatic transmission
Max speed: 115mph
0-62mph: 12.3 secs
Combined mpg: 31
Insurance group: 15
CO2 emissions: 242g/km
BiK rating: 35%
Warranty: 3yrs/ 60,000 miles; 8yrs anti-rust; 3yrs paint