Volvo XC90

Unveiled at the Detroit Motor Show in 2002, the XC90 has been produced ever since with minor changes here and there. Still in its 1st generation a decade later, the design became a bit too familiar. In May 2012, though, Volvo announced that there would be a 2nd generation of its front-engined front- or all-wheel-drive premium SUV.

In late 2014, Volvo opened the books for the First Edition, of which 1,927 were made to represent the year of Volvo Car’s foundation. Within 47 hours, they were all gone!

It has been completely redesigned inside and out. Its new face features a more prominent grille and sideways-T-shaped daytime running lights.

Inside, the tablet-like touchscreen allows you to control many of the car’s features, but diamond-cut controls let you do what the touchscreen can’t.

Volvo claims that the trim levels represent a tree with two branches. The roots, then, are the Kinetic. Further up the trunk is Momentum before it branches in two directions. Inscription for luxury, or R-Design for sport.

The new seats are said to replicate the shape of a human’s spine, making them safer and more comfortable. The 2nd row of 3 individual seats has great adjustability - sliding and reclining. And the also redesigned 3rd row offers up to 170 cm of headroom. The XC90’s rear seats have always been useable, so these should make it the genuine 7-seater that Volvo claims it to be!

All the engines are 4-cylinder 2-litre units. For diesel, there’s the 225 bhp 470 Nm twin turbo-D5 offering in the region of 47 mpg (6 l / 100 km) and the 190 bhp 400 Nm turbo-D4 offering up to 50 mpg (5 l / 100 km).

As regards petrol power, the supercharged and turbocharged T6 with 320 bhp and 400 Nm and the 254 bhp 350 Nm T5 don’t have any economy statistics to go with them yet. They all come with an 8-speed automatic transmission.

There’s also a 400 bhp hybrid T8 which combines a supercharged and turbocharged petrol engine with an electric motor. CO2 emissions are 64 g/km.

You can specify the XC90 with four-zone climate control for front and 2nd-row passengers, and a 3rd-row air con unit is definitely available, although Volvo has just said that it’s “standard or optional depending on the market”.

Volvo’s Adaptive Cruise Control with Pilot Assist will not only operate the accelerator and brake, but also the steering, in stop-and-go traffic.

Take a look at the XC90 in action in this short video: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNfkGkVXqFI