This first 2002 version was on sale for twelve years, before there was even any thought of a redesign. The car that has been Volvo ' s Captain America-esque poster boy, and which helped take Volvo from a slight sterotype, to an iconic manufacturer of quality cars, has never failed to impress, winning car of the year in 2015. Since its creation it has just become better and better. And the thing is about this latest regeneration, is that it ' s even better. Again.
The XC90 has that familiar look and feel on the outside; the air of a seven-seater car that is rugged, stylish and up for anything. Its‘ Thor hammer’ LED headlights are a shining example( ouch!) of the plethora of little flourishes that make it a really very goodlooking car, as are the lovely shiny 19-inch alloy wheels.
Behind those good looks is some seriously impressive engineering. The XC90 is the first car to incorporate Volvo ' s new modular platform – codename SPAR( Scaleable Product
Architecture). In this Volvo is claiming to use a higher proportion of hot-formed boron steel than any other manufacturer, allowing the XC90, so they say, to be larger, lighter, safer and better balanced than in previous versions.
Inside the car, you are aware that the latest XC90 has had a serious tech update. At the same time everything is positioned perfectly in that brilliant Swedish fashion; everything is there for a reason, and does it brilliantly, be it button, dial or screen.
In regards to the non-computery stuff, the cabin is very good quality, the seats are comfy and the panels and dashes exude luxury. And there is a lot of space – for drivers, passengers and for your luggage.
The touch-screen, part of a new in-car system, controls everything from heating, to music, to navigation, and is very pleasing to use. And Volvo has gotten“ down with the kids”( as I believe they call it these days) and made the XC90 capable of using the internet to go on Spotify and other such fun pastimes.
Driving the XC90 is a positive delight. Despite being a‘ big’ SUV, it doesn ' t ever make you feel small, the steering is easy on the biceps, and your visibility is very good. You get enough feedback from the road to make you aware where and what you ' re driving on, but it is never uncomfortable. At high-speed, motorway driving, the ride is extremely comfortable, meaning that the XC90 eats up the long journeys effortlessly. The XC90, despite its obvious size and shape, handles twisty roads very well indeed with some rather excellent body control. Being 4x4, the XC90 isn ' t put off by non-road terrain, and with a 235bhp 2.0 litre engine, has plenty of pulling power – of caravans and trailers I mean!
Obviously the XC90 isn ' t a sports car; nonetheless it manages 0-60mph in 7.8 seconds and can rack up a top speed of 137 mph. It can carry 71 litres of fuel, and with a combined mpg of 49.6, and emissions of 149g / km, is surprisingly efficient too!
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