Road Test: Volvo XC90 T6 2016

Volvo XC90 reviewed and tested 2016

The Volvo XC90 with its distinctive headlights, striking alloys and swish tablet, makes one hell of a lasting first impression. On the launch earlier this year I fell for everyone one of its suave moves so I had much to look forward to on a longer drive out to Dullstroom which should have played to every strength of the XC90. There would be three of us (at times that figure would be seven), lots of luggage, stretches of road perfect for autonomous driving and a spot of gravel.

Instead I discovered that the Volvo XC90 is not the leader in autonomous driving. It wants to hug the shoulder line rather than stick an equal distance between the lanes. The active cruise control reacts slowly once a car has left direct line of sight, a precaution that angered motorists behind me. Volvo may have just pledged to accept all accountability for any of its vehicles involved in a crash under autonomous control but it’s hardly the best system out there… just the most accountable.

Were the 20-inch optional wheels not so sexy I would complain that road noise is harsh but that might just be a good enough reason to tick the optional air suspension setup. The T6 petrol engine failed to live up to economy claims with our unit needing 9.8l/100m under idyllic conditions and anybody in the market for a fast petrol SUV won’t be too thrilled by the Volvo’s performance, even though in context it’s still a fabulous bit of engineering and certainly quick enough. You really want the diesel.

Volvo XC90 doesn’t ride the best and the steering melts away in your hands just when you need the extra bit of weight, so you have to look at other areas in order to vote for the XC90 over a Mercedes GLE, Porsche Cayman or BMW X5. Those reasons do exist; the boot is voluminous and the third row of seats turn XC90 into one of the best seven-seater SUVs on sale. The tablet touchscreen is slick and intuitive and tactile items like the Stop/Start button and Drive Select are made from exquisite metallic finishes. The Volvo XC90 demonstrates Volvo’s best cabin to date with typical streamlined controls and high quality finishes.

There are flaws. I wish it drove as sublimely as the Audi Q7 but then one adds up how much the Audi would cost with the same equipment as the Volvo XC90 and the scales balance out once more. The XC90 is the smartest looking SUV and has the roomiest cabin of its classmates but the engines are bravely small in a segment that thrives on one-upmanship. And yet Thor’s Hammer is destined for a very unique person and there’s no denying that underlying desire to be that someone special.

Comments

comments