Volvo XC90 Review - Motorhub MiniMag 1

Motorhub MiniMag Review Series - Issue 1

Bringing you up to speed

Volvo XC90 Review

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The front grille holds a square jaw that Bruce Campbell would be proud of

Words & Photos: Daragh Ó Tuama

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This month I’ve had the pleasure of test driving Volvo’s brilliant XC90.

That’s two big words in the first sentence already – “brilliant” and “pleasure”. The XC90 is the best that Volvo has ever created and it is “brilliant”. Next is the word “pleasure” and I simply can’t find any other word to describe what it’s like sitting behind the steering wheel of this stunning machine.

There are reasons for Volvo receiving a myriad of 5-star ratings for this large SUV. Between its style and performance, it’s a segment topper and in my eyes it has become the benchmark for large SUVs.

Style

In the metal the XC90 is a much more rounded and attractive package in comparison with the outgoing model. This car is more robust and it makes the likes of the BMW X5 seem small. The front grille holds a square jaw that Bruce Campbell would be proud of, and the rear is curvaceous and unexpected to be honest. The car I’m testing is a brilliant black, and it is turning heads everywhere that I bring it. I can’t blame people really. I see one of Volvo’s brand ambassadors driving by me every morning, and my head turns too. This is an imposing machine and it oozes class and prestige. If you didn’t think Volvo was up there in the luxury race – you will after you see one of these.

The exterior style is beaten only by the elegance of the interior. Have you ever been to a Swedish Sauna? They’re places of wooden beauty.

The interior of this large SUV is just as sophisticated, and don’t worry, the clean-air air conditioning will keep you cool. Between Range Rover’s, Audi’s and BMW’s offerings in this segment, the Swedes win when it comes to presentation. Volvo show a magnificent attention to detail in fine tuning the interior of this XC90.

Inside is spacious and luxurious. Even seats 6 and 7 offer good legroom.

There is one slight thing in here that irks me however. The touch screen control panel of the vehicle is presented perfectly, but it is complicated. I will only have this car for seven days, and I’m certain that I won’t be able to fully navigate the system in that timeframe – this won’t be a problem for buyers though, because they will have longer to figure it all out.

Performance

This two-tonne beast is powered by a range of four-cylinder 2.0litre engines. The D5 engine in my test car delivers 225bhp, which means that it is far from sluggish. The ride is a bit firm and I’ve tried it on the most simple of off-road terrains - while I wouldn’t be worried about this getting me up a mountain road on a snowy day, I will warn you that when it gets even a little bit of off-road driving you will be jiggling around like my Uncle Paul at my cousins wedding.

Another thing is that this car has a lot of body roll on corners if you enter them with a bit too much gusto, however… I’ve had this car for the last couple of days and I’ve found that I don’t really want to drive it with gusto – this is a machine for cruising. Volvo does provide for those of you with heavier feet though.

They offer a 396bhp T8 petrol version. While I haven’t driven that yet, I find that the D5 engine’s 225bhp is just right, and it’s fitted nicely with an 8-speed automatic transmission.

Refinement is the name of the game in the new XC90 and while cruising, the mid-range performance of the vehicle on an open motorway or a dual carriageway is a real treat. The only thing lacking when you do get to a motorway is the gearbox’s tendency to hold onto gears a little longer than it should if you want to put the foot down from 0-100km/h – if you’re not in a hurry though, this isn’t an issue.

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Refinement is the name of the game in the new XC90

Economy, price and a few other stats On-paper Volvo says that the new XC90 can deliver a combined fuel economy of 5.7l/100km – which means you should be able to travel a fair distance with the 71 litre tank. Naturally I haven’t been driving this vehicle like a saint and my 9.0l/100km average so far is falling wide of that figure. We’re also told that the current annual road tax of this vehicle is €390.

For those of you that possess horses you will be pleased to know that the maximum towing capacity is 2,700kg. And for those of you who live in a slim house like me, you will be amazed by the fact that this car is probably as long as your house is wide – 4.95metres long.

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Now it’s time for price – are you sitting down?

Now it’s time for price – are you sitting down?

To be fair, this is a rave review. For all of the superlatives that I’ve used, there is a very high price tag attached to this vehicle. The Volvo Ireland website will tell you that prices start from €62,950 – although I can’t actually find a corresponding XC90 at that price. If you opt for the D5 I was driving in Momentum trim, you will be looking at an opening price of €70,950 – and there’s plenty of opportunity to spend more with extras and trim upgrades.

Summation

I’m really enjoying my week with the XC90, but with a price tag like this and the strong residuals historically attached to the XC90, I reckon I might be able to afford one in about twelve years. With that said though, it’s hard to majorly fault this machine.

Fast Facts (according to Volvo)

Engine: Four cylinder twin turbo-charged diesel Drivetrain: All wheel drive Engine displacement: 1969cc Horsepower: 225hp Torque: 470Nm Rev @ maximum engine torque: 1750-2500rpm Fuel Consumption: 5.7l/100km