Volvo XC90 preview
4 years in the making, 12 years since the launch of the original model, that doesn’t happen in the motor industry normally. This at long last is the new Volvo XC90.
It’s quite an important new car for Volvo because it’s the first car that Volvo has wholly made since it has been under Chinese ownership and they are of course owned by Geely these days. There’s a whole new platform underneath that will underpin future Volvos four cylinder engines only and plug-ins for Volvo in the future and a new look. Well it’s clearly a Volvo, it’s got the bluff at the front and the square shoulders, a straight back end and shouldered lights at the back as well, but it’s slightly different. There’s a new Volvo iron mark at the front, four hammer LED lights at the front and as SUVs go which are pretty boxy, it’s not bad.
We had a look at the D5 diesel model. There’s also a T6 petrol engine and what they call a twin engine T8 which is a combination of a plug -in hybrid system with electric power and petrol power. What I think this cars forte really is is comfort and refinement. This is a seriously quiet car to drive. You’ve got a little bit of wind noise, but the only reason you hear the wind noise is because everything else is so quiet. The engine’s hushed, you can put your foot down, and you get a little bit of engine noise but not a diesel roar or clatter. That’s definitely a thing of the past for Volvo. The petrol engines though are a little bit noisier and a little bit unusual in a car with a bit of performance. You get a four cylinder roar particularly on the hybrid. However it’s comfortable, refined, relaxed, has great seats as you’d expect from Volvo, and an infotainment system that Bowers & Wilkins have done the audio for, and it’s one of the best in car systems I’ve heard, and I’ve heard quite a few.
This isn’t a sports car though it’s an SUV so performance isn’t exactly thrilling, though I understand Polestar are working on the T6 and the D5 version to give it a bit more push. There’s plenty of grip but a fair degree of body roll which you’d expect in a car like this. The steering I found a little bit over light, but the good news is you can dig around in the settings and get a heavier steering weight, but still keep that relaxed feel to the car with the good ride quality. This is a car that does ride the bumps on the road pretty well.
Then there’s the kit in this car which is absolutely loaded and to be fair most cars come well equipped. This has a wonderful TFT display, you can have the Bowers & Wilkens system which I’ve mentioned, a fantastic touch screen system which is one of the best that I’ve ever encountered in a car. It’s not perfect – it’s a little bit busy and takes a little getting used to, but portrait works really well instead of the usual landscape setting that we’re so used to. Then there’s head up display and no end of safety kit. Volvo says that nobody will die in a Volvo by 2020, which is only 5 years away so a bold move but this car does have all the safety kit that you’d need such as forward collision alert. It can see pedestrians and bicycles and other car users in the dark. A fantastic safety kit and there probably isn’t a safer SUV you can buy.
There’s loads of space in the back for kids in row 2. Even three adults would be happy sitting in row 2. In row 3 adults aren’t too badly served, if you are about 5ft 6/5ft 7 you’ll be fine, and if you’re an agile child getting in the back it won’t be a problem. The seats in the 3rd row are exactly the same size as the seats in the 2nd row which is a nice touch. What’s also nice is the 3rd row seats are set inwards slightly so you are not sitting staring at the head rest in front. This means you get a nicer viewing out with a theatre style seating as you go back up in the car which means everyone gets a good view out of the windscreen nicely.
So has the new Volvo XC90 been worth the wait? Well if this is a sign of Volvo’s future, then Volvo’s future looks very bright. If you want a car that’s safe, comfortable, refined, looks good, with a high quality interior that’s packed with kit, then this car could be for you. I reckon Volvo have just gone and built a Range Rover at the fraction of the cost.
