LOOKS
Volvo has focused on ramping up the luxury with this upgrade of the XC90. The vehicle includes leather upholstery, heated front seats, rear park assist camera, tinted windows and a panoramic moonroof with power sunshade. The refreshed exterior has a sharp grille design that will grab your attention, and an attractive overall silhouette.
In terms of size, it’s not a true full-sized SUV (officially it’s “mid-sized”) but to me it almost feels like one inside. Plenty of room in the front and second rows, and a bit of a tight squeeze in row 3 (though kids will be fine).You can choose two or three rows (max seating is 7).
If you’re feeling the need to be truly luxurious, you can opt for the “inscription” trim level. This package (yours for $5,600) includes LED headlights with Active Bending lights and “Thor’s Hammer” daytime running lights; illuminated tread plates, upgraded Nappa leather upholstery; leather key fob and more.
ENGINE, HORSEPOWER
Leave it to Volvo to be unique under the hood.
In this vehicle, they have taken a 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine, and both supercharged and turbocharged it. The vehicle also features a 8-speed automatic transmission.
Numbers on this unique power plant are 316 horsepower, and 295 lb.-ft. of torque.
While it generally gets the job done and gets you around confidently, the fact that this vehicle is so large means you won’t be getting up to speed as quickly as others in the class that offer something more than a four-banger.
On the plus side, you get standard all-wheel-drive … which I found to come in very handy during my test drive when a big snowstorm hit. Unlike all those little cars out there skidding left and right, I was confident I could get where I was going without any issues. That’s the peace of mind a larger, AWD vehicle will give you in the northern states -- even if you don’t need it most of the year.
TECHNOLOGY, SAFETY
What jumps out at the driver immediately in the XC90 is the new Sensus 9-inch touchscreen that controls the vehicle’s infotainment system, which has a vertical layout and not your standard horizontal or square design.
It’s a bit tricky to get used to at times, and could be a bit touchy when manipulated, but overall I got used to it pretty quickly. There’s just a bit of a learning curve since it’s unlike any other system on the market from any automaker and most people have never seen anything like it.
There are some great safety features offered on the XC90, such as the vehicle pushing you back into your lane if you are about to veer out accidentally, and the eagle-eye view you get on the rearview camera. Collision avoidance system will brake by itself if it senses a collision coming.
Navigation worked well, with maybe an occasional odd choice for directions; Music will sound impressive via the 330 watt audio system with 10 speakers (and you can upgrade to a 19-speaker system for another $2,650).
Standard fare such as HD Radio, USB and AUX ports, Bluetooth for phone/audio streaming, satellite radio (6 months included) are included, too -- as one should expect if a vehicle of this caliber.
Other helpful safety features include: Pedestrian and cyclist detection and avoidance; roll stability control; lane-departure warning; and more.
The Vision package ($1,600) will get you blind spot info and cross traffic alert, 360-degree surround view camera, and auto-dimming mirrors. The Climate package ($1,950) brings with it heated rear seats; heated steering wheel; and a head-up display to keep your eyes on the road. Last but not least, the convenience package ($1,800) features Park Assist Pilot; adaptive cruise control; the lane keeping aid; and curiously, a grocery bag holder in the cargo area (don’t think I’ve ever seen that feature listed until now).
It’s little surprise that the XC90 follows in Volvo’s tradition of its vehicles being named a top safety pick by the IIHS.
MPG, PRICE
Official numbers are 20 city/25 highway/22 combined, but I didn’t find it quite lived up to those stats -- though that’s likely due in part to conditions I was driving in.
My test vehicle came in at $66,855; base price for the XC90 starts just under $50K. Not quite at the super-luxurious level, but it’s still competing with some high-end vehicles in the luxury SUV class.
BOTTOM LINE
If folks can recognize that the quality won’t be a concern here, the Volvo XC90 is one of the strong options for a high-end SUV on the market and should help the company grow its footprint in the United States.
I felt fully confident in its ability when I drove it, regardless of weather, and the interior was welcoming and luxurious. The infotainment system could use a bit of work to clean up its touchiness, but overall it’s not a fatal flaw and the vehicle still holds up very well.
Luxury SUV alternatives such as the Range Rover, Acura’s MDX, and BMW’s X5 are worth checking out too, but don’t forget about little old Volvo -- which has made a big impression with this redesign.
--------------------
AutoTechReviews.com can be found on Twitter @AutoTechReview, or stay updated at the AutoTechReviews Facebook page. Matt Myftiu can be found on Twitter @MattMyftiu.
