Volvo has announced the bold goal, that no person should be killed or seriously injured in a new Volvo by 2020. As we have already written, the new Volvo XC90 might well be the world’s safest vehicle, period. That is no small act to follow, but Volvo hasn’t quailed. When the original XC90 came out, it was quite possibly the world’s first safe SUV. To that end, Volvo has exquisitely prepared its biggest car to protect its occupants both physically and spiritually from the outside world. The XC90 may occasionally get to go out on country roads to play, but it is going to spend most of its time doing battle with the daily commute. Fortress of SolitudeĪs good as the XC90’s dynamics are, the experience of riding in one is even better. And, if Volvo is to be believed, it will also offer best-in-class fuel economy. But, in Sport mode, it can deliver lively acceleration at nearly any speed. It is smooth and nearly silent when cruising. The T6, on the other hand, is already a joy. Still, even if the T8 remains less sprightly than I could hope, it is at least efficient, delivering 59 mpge and an electric-only rage of 25 miles. The T8s we drove were preproduction models, so I am hopeful that the production vehicles will be a bit more refined and immediate. Drop the hammer and the engine and electric motor take a moment to gather themselves before delivering full power to the wheels. Still, with muscle car power, the T8 seems like it should feel more impressive than it does. The results, at least on paper, are impressive, not just 400 horsepower but also 472 pound-feet of torque. The batteries take the place of the mechanical AWD system, meaning there is no loss of interior or cargo space. The powertrain boasts a version of the T6 twin-charged engine driving the front wheels, with an electric motor mounted on the rear axle to create hybrid all-wheel drive. The T8 is an impressive technical achievement. Touching and feeling these pieces gives drivers a sense of calm, thoughtful luxury that is unique in the segment. Both of these choices deliver a surprising amount of pop, with the T6 making the 0-to-60 sprint in 6.1 seconds and the T8 managing it in 5.8 - both numbers faster than a BMW X5 35i, I should mention. All Volvos going forward will be powered by 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder engines with a dazzling array of extras bolted to them.Īmerican XC90 buyers will be able to choose between the 316-horsepower turbo and supercharged T6, and the 400-hp T8 plug-in hybrid. Just as the XC90 is built around the SPA platform, it is also built around Volvo’s new Drive-E engine family. On broad American streets I suspect this won’t be as much of a problem, but it still less than ideal. On tight urban streets, I spent a lot of time sawing at the wheel to maneuver around corners. For an electric system, it offers great feedback and connection to the wheels, but it is also too light for my taste and also too slow. In fact my only dynamic quibble - it’s my job to find at least one thing wrong - is the steering. There is nothing dynamically that the XC90 doesn’t do well, and there is nothing that feels compromised. The result is a study in how compromise can be a good thing. And all this for a starting price of just $48,900. The new XC90 isn’t just an exquisitely comfortable and unimaginably safe Scandinavian family hauler, it has an interior fit to make Audi blush, and performance that should have a few Bavarians sweating. Now, after long wait, we have finally driven the result, and we can say that it has paid off. We have been hearing for the past year how Volvo has poured its heart, soul - and an awful lot of Chinese dollars - into creating its truly revolutionary new SUV. It might be hard to believe that the source of this Teutonic terror could be a Swedish seven-seater, but the new XC90 is anything but typical. If that’s the case BMW, Audi, Mercedes, and even Land Rover should be worried, because the Swedes - in their own quiet way - have just put them on notice. Volvo has clearly stated that the new XC90 represents the future of the company. The 2016 Volvo XC90 isn’t just another luxury crossover with Audi performance, Range Rover luxury, and an Acura price tag, it is putting the competition on notice.
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