Volvo XC90 driven and tested 2015
There are two underlining attributes that differentiate the new VolvoXC90 from every model before it. The Scalable Platform Architecture, although buried under the carpets, is a no less important fixed section between the front axle and steering column. The second hallmark is the new tablet screen. But I digress, first Volvo had to gain new independence and in the case of the XC90 it took more than a decade to do so.
With the Volvo XC90 being the second Volvo product under Geely (the first being the V40) there is a newfound freedom in design and switchgear. Volvo has seemingly been allowed to spread its wings and create a product that’s not chained by restrictive rules.
The Volvo XC90 is unmistakably Volvo but in the same breath, very new. Organic and simple but intelligently bold. Initial images coined the ‘Thor’s Hammer’ headlight reference and they’re still the car’s most striking feature along with the bluff nose, square elements and the intricate design (and big) alloys that have traditionally been a Volvo weak point.
This car drives down the road with gravitas as a 7-seater tends to do. In a bizarre time dominated by slanting rooflines and pseudo coupes, the XC90’s stature is refreshingly purposeful. Returning to our earlier statement, the newly conceived platform will be at the heart of every future Volvo. The significance can’t be stressed enough, offering near infinite layout combinations and soothing the bean counters with its global economies of scale. Being designed from the outset to harness hybrid powertrains is another plus point, making this the first seven-seater hybrid car in the world.
Through the modular platform and strategic usage of special steels, the 2015 Volvo XC90 weighs 120kg less than the outgoing model and the diet invigorates Volvo’s Drive-E engines – which on the surface seem too small to power a car of this size. Five output combinations are offered from the 2.0-litre 4-cylinder engines in either petrol or diesel injection and although the modest size might encounter resistance from the capacity-conscious Middle Easterns, power is not disappointing. All models except the front-wheel drive D4 get AWD systems.
One of few complaints is that steering paddles will only be available on the R-line which arrives next year.
From the supple seats, of which we’ve always lauded Volvo’s selection of leather, the drive can only be described as confident and serene. In some instances…autonomous. Steering doesn’t drip with feedback but remains very accurate but it is the balance and poise which impressed us most. Factor in high grip levels and brakes that cause neither the nose to dip or the pedal to soften and you have a car that never aims to set fire to sportiness but yet is competent when ramped into the more dynamic drive modes. Air suspension is an optional feature.
The ratio of diminishing legroom the further back you go isn’t as steep as in some other seven seaters with third-row passengers more likely to run out of headroom before complaining about where their feet should go. Naturally things improve in the second row with three individual seats all with reclinable functionality and fore/aft movement.
These comforts pale in comparison to the strides Volvo has made to its central user interface which is a gamechanger for the brand, disposing of that cluttered keypad (very unSweish) for a large tablet screen. Operating in much the same way as a smartphone, one can swipe and pinch menu tiles and because of the clever compression and expansion of menus, there’s no need for a return button or home screen. Plugging most of the car’s features into one central system and removing the instant response of a dedicated button can be risky but in the Volvo XC90 the interface is wonderfully polished.
More than anything the XC90 signifies a turning point for the brand and future models. With drive-e engines already renowned for setting new standards in fuel consumption and carbon emissions comes the SPA platform which will help Volvo introduce new models on a more frequent basis – indeed the XC90 will be replaced by 2020. The Volvo XC90 needn’t be afraid of the competition in this image-driven, discerning luxurious segment.
Pricing: Volvo XC90 South Africa
D4 Momentum – R804 900
D4 Inscription – R844 600
T5 Momentum – R827 400
T5 Inscription – R868 000
T5 R-Design – R888 700
D5 Momentum – R853 200
D5 Inscription – R893 900
D5 R-Design – R914 600
T6 Momentum – R867 000
T6 Inscription – R907 600
T6 R-Design – R928 300
T8 Momentum – R1 005 100
T8 Inscription – R1 042 000
T8 R-Design – R1 066 400
