Volvo XC90 RANGE
If
Volvo Were To Make A Luxury 4x4 How Would It Look? The XC90 Renders Such Daydreaming Redundant. Andy Enright Reports
Better late than never. If one company could be relied upon to tap into the lucrative luxury 4x4 market better than any other it would have to be Volvo. The companys core brand values of safety, family and quality are nowhere better exemplified than in a big Sports Utility Vehicle. Okay, so the other Volvo brand value, Environment, may have to play a slightly withdrawn role, but its a wonder the XC90 hadnt appeared earlier.
The company attributes this lateness to a desire to defend its traditional estate car markets, and a niggling factory capacity problem issues now resolved. Yes, weve had Volvos V70 Cross Country, a car which carved an enviable niche for itself in the large estate crossover market, but the Swedes have missed much of the big money game. With sales of SUVs spiralling and vehicles like the Mercedes M-Class, the
BMW X5 and the
Land Rover Discovery coining it, Volvo appeared to be sitting on its hands. Some speculated that as part of Fords Premier Auto Group, the big
Ford family 4x4 was going to wear the badge of partner company
Jaguar in a bid to spike the guns of Porsches Cayenne, but they were way off beam.
| Build |
 |
| Comfort |
|
| Depreciation |
|
| Economy |
 |
| Equipment |
 |
| Handling |
 |
| Insurance |
|
| Performance |
|
| Styling |
|
| Value |
|
The XC90s shape was penned by Doug Frasher, an ex-NASA wind tunnel engineer who is now employed in Volvos California design studio. His design was selected in a rather unconventional beauty contest held in the 40-degree heat of the Arizona desert. Volvos hot weather proving facility outside Scottsdale was the venue and three full-size mock-ups were presented to Volvos top design gurus from no fewer than thirteen different countries. It would have been tempting to green light anything, but Frashers design was a huge favourite and looks set to make significant inroads into a maturing market.
"The overall feel isnt overly macho"
Unlike most of its rivals, the XC90 seats seven as standard with a set of rear seats that adults can occasionally use. Despite this, the cars footprint is no bigger than a
Land Rover Discovery. Part of the reason for this apparent miracle of packaging is the compact transverse engine. For the time being, the engine choice is between five-cylinder diesel power, which comes in 163bhp 2.
4D or 185bhp D5 form, or the familiar 2.5T five cylinder and T6 turbocharged six-cylinder petrol powerplants. Parent company
Ford will, after the Explorer/Firestone debacle, be glad to hear that the XC90s innovative Roll Stability Control (RSC) system received the World Traffic Safety Symposium Manufacturers Award.
Volvo have approached this thorny issue with a three-pronged attack.
In order to prevent the XC90 going dirty side up in the first instance, sophisticated gyroscopically controlled stability software steadies even the most radical lane changing behaviour. Should you hit a kerb or ditch and roll the XC90, it features a boron-reinforced roof to prevent the upper body deforming. Finally, the XC90 also features curtain airbags that stay inflated ten times longer than normal bags in order to ensure passengers are kept away from flying glass and insulated from doorframes during a roll. A demonstration outside Gothenburg where an XC90 was filled with crash test dummies and then walloped in the side by an iron sled proved how effective the system was.
Despite being thrown into four-barrel rolls by this 30-tonne impact, the dummies were all safely restrained in their seats. So, the XC90s passengers are safe. What about other road users? Volvo claim the XC90 is the first unselfish SUV by fitting a low-level impact absorbing cross member behind the front spoiler to prevent the high, wide and handsome XC90 riding up and over more vertically challenged vehicles. This pragmatism is a recurrent theme in the XC90s design process.
Volvo realised that the majority of big 4x4s are bought by women who cite the sense of security as a key buying criterion and set up a womens reference group to run the rule over crucial aspects of the cars design. Unbeknown to many, Volvo has in fact tried to enter this market four times in the past, but failed to get their proposals off the ground for a number of internal reasons. The fifth attempt draws upon much of that experience and explains why the XC90 has an uncanny right-first-time look to it. Despite a front end that makes Beachy Head look apologetic, the overall feel isnt overly macho, with steeply raked front and rear screens reducing the overall perception of bulk.
Other road users may have little problem spotting the XC90 coming, but the Volvo driver gets an innovation that gives almost superhuman visionary powers. Infrared technology allows the driver to see up to five times further at night than is usually the case with conventional dipped beam. Although only offered as an option, it transforms night driving, and means you wont feel the need to constantly dazzle oncoming traffic with the XC90s ridiculously powerful main beam. Despite the touchy-feely caring sharing nature of the XC90, prices start at a serious £31,235 for the 2.
5T model in S trim. An SE version is also available priced at £33,735 but if you want a plusher Executive model youll need an upgrade to a different engine. The diesel side of the range is now split between the automatic only 2.4D model with its 163bhp output and the 185bhp D5 engine which boasts Euro IV compliant status.
The 272bhp T6 models are fitted with Geartronic auto gearboxes as standard and retail at £34,515 in S trim, £37,015 in SE guise or £46,820 for the Executive. The XC90 uses an electronically controlled permanent 4x4 system with a Haldex differential calculating how much drive should be directed to the rear wheels, typically anything from 5 to 65%. True, Volvo was left standing at the platform looking for its ticket when the big 4x4 gravy train left town. It missed the easy sales racked up by
BMW and Mercedes for those people who didnt want a Land Rover product.
And therein lies the irony. With Land Rover a prominent member of Fords Premier Auto Group alongside Volvo, the XC90 has to slot into a niche rather than cannibalise Land Rover sales. Does it work? We feel the market was crying out for a car that was pretty much the Volvo of big 4x4s. The XC90 sells itself.
FACTS AT A GLANCE
CAR: Volvo XC90 range
PRICE: £31,235-£45,820 - on the road
INSURANCE GROUP: 15-18
CO2 EMISSIONS: 242-309g/km
PERFORMANCE: (T6) Max Speed 130mph / 0-60mph 9.3s
FUEL CONSUMPTION: (D5 Geartronic) (urban) 23.7mpg / (extra urban) 37.7mpg /(combined) 31.0mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Front and side airbags / ABS / SIPS / WHIPS
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Heightmm 4733/1860/1562mm
<< Back to Volvo car reviews
<< Back to car reviews homepage
Find New & Used Cars in the UK |
New & Used Volvo Cars For Sale UK
