Car of the Week – Volvo XC90 T8 R-Design

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  • Volvo, the Scandinavian company that has transformed itself from boring to ballsy, thanks to some serious Chinese investment, enjoyed a successful first six months of the year with a 10.5 per cent global growth, compared to the same time last year, thanks mainly to the revamped XC90 SUV.

    Yes, other Volvos like the excellent V60 Polestar might have played an important role in the company’s growing reputation but it is the XC90 that turned heads. It took on serious opposition like Range Rover, BMW, Mercedes and high-end Japanese brands and set refreshing new standards, thanks to its refined Scandinavian styling and comfort, not to mention its awesome four-cylinder engines.

    The XC90 T6 was already pushing the envelope in the world of automotive development but now there is a new, more powerful version of this lovely vehicle, in the shape of the cool XC90 T8. It’s a plug-in hybrid but Volvo prefer to call it ‘twin engined’ which is exactly what it is. It has a two litre four-cyclinder supercharged turbo engine and an electric motor which drives the rear wheels.

    Combined you get a wopping 397bhp and hefty supply of torque at 639nm which is enough to propel this machine from 0-100kmh in 5.6 seconds which considering it weighs about two-and-a-half tons is pretty impressive.

    The power is put down to the four-wheel-drive system on this vehicle via an excellent eight-speed automatic gearbox with paddleshifts offering a manual option. To get the most out of the hybrid technology you really need to plug this vehicle in either at home or at a proper charging station – if you know where there is one here in the UAE – but the battery which feeds the electric motor is charged by the engine when you lift off or brake.

    One of the things I really like about this vehicle is that it oozes refined prestige. Our test drive car was the R-Design model which gives you a black front grille, deep air intakes and front spoiler, bigger wheels and a much more aggressive stance, but in an understated fashion to emphasise that this SUV is all about unflustered, comfortable and versatile motoring.

    The only slight grumble I have is those rear lights. I know they are signature Volvo but compared to the rest of the design I think they just look a little bit old fashioned.

    The interior is where you really immerse yourself in what makes the XC90 stand out – exceptional build quality and uncompromising comfort. The leather seats are possibly the most comfortable in the business, the digital instrument cluster is cutting edge, the iPad like infotainment touch-screen, or more accurately ‘slide screen’ dominates the centre dash and the trims are spectacularly lovely.

    The gear-lever is carved out of crystal glass and although it is tiny, it epitomises the refined prestige of this Volvo. The Sensus infotainment screen operates just like an iPad and you definitely have to get used to it before it becomes intuitive but it delivers excellent connectivity with everything you need from the magnificent Bowers & Wilkins sound system, absolutely brilliant sat-nav, 360 degree overview parking camera, and a whole raft of apps and driver assists, talking of which there is one which is really interesting to use.

    Volvo call it Pilot Assist which is essentially a system that ensures you stay in your lane. A number of car manufacturers are now using this technology and it is a small step towards cars that will eventually drive themselves.

    On the Volvo you simply activate Pilot Assist via a button on the steering wheel and it will steer itself for about 15 seconds when you get an alert telling you that human input is again required. Apart from offering high-end luxury the cabin is extremely spacious and there is genuinely enough room for seven passengers which tells you that this is a large vehicle.

    To drive, it is really relaxing with its air suspension providing an extremely smooth ride. There was a little body-roll going through corners at reasonable speed but that is sort of inevitable with a car this big.

    Driven in hybrid mode you can travel on electric power only for a relatively short distance but of a large selection of modes I preferred Dynamic where you get the best performance from the combination of combustion and electric power. The XC90 T8 is a class act that offers the perfect combination of decent performance, seamless hybrid technology and ultimate comfort.

    As with all hybrids in the UAE I am not entirely convinced there is a public appetite for them at the moment but, for sure, they will become more and more popular as time goes by and if I had to buy one now I would go for this exceptional Volvo. It’s way ahead of the game.

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