Volvo XC90, presentation and road test in Asturias

The people at Volvo have taken their time renewing one of their most successful models of recent years.

We’re talking about the Volvo XC90, whose second generation arrives this month to replace the original XC90, launched no less than in 2002.

Exterior design

Although the first official images of the new XC90 have been out for several months, seeing it in person for the first time is more than surprising. The XC90 is a voluminous vehicle, with great presence from whatever angle you look at it.

The front of the XC90 is more robust than ever thanks to a large, very upright grille, where the logo, larger than before, sits higher than ever. The headlights, with Full LED technology, feature daytime running lights in the shape of a sideways T, which the brand has called “Thor’s hammer”. At the bottom we find the fog lights, also LED.

The side profile is more of a continuation, although it has been suitably updated. The glazed surface is quite considerable, which allows the cabin to have very high levels of brightness. At the rear, the changes are not revolutionary either, although the evolution is clear in the form of thinner, more stylised light clusters and generally cleaner lines.

Interior design

Inside, unlike the exterior, the change is more than substantial. The people at Volvo have done an excellent job of creating what is undoubtedly one of the best cabins on the market today. From Sweden they have chosen to improve the on-board experience as much as possible, and they have achieved it with a comfortable, easy-to-use interior with excellent finishes.

The first thing that catches the eye is the almost total absence of buttons and switches. Practically everything is controlled from a large 9″ central screen mounted in a vertical position and developed together with Apple. The ease of use of this system is remarkable, and within a few minutes you are handling it with complete confidence, able to configure navigation, climate control, the phone or the audio system.

The instrument panel is also fully digital, able to display different information as well as different views. Everything inside the new XC90 has been renewed to offer a very pleasant, modern image.

The materials used in the interior are of a more than good standard, with -little- soft plastic and -plenty- of premium material such as leather, aluminium, wood or glass. The seats deserve a special mention: they have been carefully designed to offer excellent support, as well as comfort levels on a par with the best. They are the kind of seats you simply want to sit in.

Interior space is what you would expect from a vehicle in this segment. The first two rows have no tightness whatsoever, while the two seats in the third row have a rather awkward access. Once seated, the position is relatively comfortable, with enough space for a not excessively long journey.

The boot has a capacity of 671 litres (with the third row of seats folded down), expandable if the second-row seats are also folded. The maximum boot capacity is 1,898 litres, and the minimum 314 litres. The vehicle has numerous storage compartments both in the centre console and in the doors, while in the boot we find a false floor on the units that do not carry a spare wheel.

Dynamics and driving

The Volvo XC90 will launch with a full range of both diesel and petrol engines. All engines are four-cylinder units of 1,969 cc, which hints at a possible modular construction of the powerplants.

In diesel, we find a D4 with 190 CV and 400 Nm, as well as a D5 with 220 CV and 470 Nm. In petrol, Volvo offers a T5 with 254 CV and 350 Nm, a T6 with 320 CV and 400 Nm, and a plug-in hybrid variant called T8, with a total output of 400 CV, an electric range of approximately 40 km, and an average consumption of 2.1 litres per 100 km.

I had the opportunity to drive the D5 variant, which will be the best seller in our country. It is a very well-balanced powerplant which, combined with an 8-speed automatic gearbox (as with the other engines), delivers more than enough performance for a vehicle of this kind, while keeping consumption relatively restrained.

The refinement of this engine does not reach the innate smoothness of a six-cylinder unit, although the engineers at Volvo have worked hard to achieve very good results. Once under way, no noises are noticeable that would disturb the comfort of the ride.

The suspension is a deformable parallelogram setup on all four wheels, and optionally can feature air springs offering 5 different stiffness settings. The steering, with electric assistance, has a smooth feel that makes manoeuvres easy.

Price and equipment

The XC90 will be offered with four trim levels. The entry level is called Kinetic, and includes, among other things, City Safety, light and rain sensors, sign recognition, keyless start and entry, or 18″ alloy wheels. Its price starts at €53,900 for the D4 Kinetic variant (5 seats).

The next level up is the Momentum, which adds to the Kinetic items such as 19″ wheels, comfort seats with partial leather upholstery, a power tailgate, rear parking radar, expanded interior ambient lighting, or the air quality system for the climate control. (From €59,500)

The top level is the Inscription, which extends the Momentum trim with, among other things, the driving modes system, 20″ alloy wheels, Full LED headlights with cornering light, Nappa leather upholstery, illuminated door sills, or the 12.3″ instrument panel. The R-Design variant is more focused on sportiness, and features different badges, a driver’s seat with extendable cushion, or paddle shifters on the steering wheel.(From €66,400 for both)

Photography | Daniel Valdivielso

Technical specifications of this car

Off-RoadVolvo XC9010 versions · from 82,200 €