In the world of the SUV, Volvo is not a brand that immediately comes to mind when considering high-end options and there are plenty of them to choose from.
Chances are if you are looking for luxury and performance, the German marques will be the ones you will go to first but having driven the excellent new Volvo XC90, that might not be the case for very much longer because the Swedes have produced something pretty special.
And when it is as good as this vehicle is, word soon gets around with the result that even before this vehicle hit the showrooms Volvo received more than 33,000 orders.
So what is it that makes the XC90 so special? It’s not necessarily the design because, although it is very sharp and sophisticated looking there are rivals out there which look much more aggressive and have more aesthetic appeal, particularly to men. Porsche, Mercedes, Audi and BMW spring to mind.
No, the answer is that this vehicle is like a breath of fresh air. From the minute you climb into the cockpit, you realise this is something that stands out from the norm. It feels different and indeed it is.
For starters it is powered by a four cylinder 2-litre supercharged turbo engine which punches well above its weight with 320bhp and 400nm of torque, providing surprisingly responsive acceleration and exceptional fuel economy.
It puts the power down through the all-wheel-drive system via an eight-speed automatic with gear changes as smooth as silk.
I drove the XC90 T6 but the top of the range T8 comes with what Volvo call a Twin Engine which is essentially a hybrid, teaming up the turbo petrol engine and an electric motor which creates an impressive 400bhp.
Inside, the car is luxurious with lots of nappa leather and metal trim, amongst other bespoke options, and is spacious without being overly extravagant.
The seats are streamlined and superbly comfortable – a Volvo speciality – and the centre dash is dominated by a 12.3-inch Active TFT Drivers Information Display which looks like an iPad and is almost button free, setting a new standard for auto-technology.
The virtual instrument cluster is fab and the steering wheel is a nice size and comfortable to use without being over cluttered with buttons. The centre console houses the gearlever and the novel ignition switch which you twist rather than push, again, another pleasant change from what you would expect.
I have to say that the touch/swipe screen takes some getting used and I found myself concentrating too much on that and taking my eyes off the road which is not clever, but once you have familiarised yourself with the Sensus infotainment system it is a pleasure to use with high resolution graphics and an intuitive menu. It also has one of the best sat-nav systems on the market and the optional Bowers & Wilkins audio system delivers concert-hall quality to complete the classy persona of this vehicle. There is also an excellent head-up display.
The cabin, as a whole is spacious without being cavernous and ideal for a young family with a couple of kids and you really do get a feel of genuine quality. Volvo have always had a reputation for building some of the safest cars on the road and this vehicle takes it a step further with such things as full auto brake for driving in the city, driver alert control, pedestrian and cyclist
detection, cross traffic and blind spot alerts, high beam assistance, lane departure warning, road sign information displays and whiplash and side impact protection.
It is a fabulous car to drive, extremely comfortable, and while it won’t blow you away with its acceleration it is no slouch with a 0-100kmh time of around six seconds. It has air suspension which rises when you start the car and adapts to whatever mode you want to drive in, including Eco, Comfort, Off-Road, Dynamic and Individual.
I wouldn’t take this vehicle off-road, and neither will many who buy it because it is more suited to the school run than dune bashing and I spent most of my time driving it in dynamic mode when it is at its most responsive and handles exceptionally well. I never imagined a Volvo SUV would blow me away but the XC90 is one of the best vehicles I have driven all year.
