Volvo XC90 (2014)

Synopsis

Volvo, the Swedish automotive giant, released its new luxurious mid-sized SUV, dubbed as Volvo XC90 in 2008. The XC90 is more like an extended version of Volvo XC60. It’s the perfect combination of technology, style, comfort and performance. Perhaps, it’s this perfect blend which makes this car a potential crowd-puller.

Exterior

Volvo XC90’s muscular design and sturdy body could make any car lover fall head over heels. Designers of XC90 have enhanced the looks of the car from every dimension by integrating groovy features and choosing contemporary layouts. The stylish front grille is tucked in with the chrome finished symbol of the company- a symbol of class, power and sophistication. The powerful bi-xenon lights in the front give the XC90 a very masculine look. The powerful lights are contemplated by fog lamps, packed light below. From the rear side, the tail-lights, and body coloured bumpers give XC90 a seductive outlook. The aptly coloured door handles and stylish side-view mirrors only add to the alluring outlook of the car.

Interior

Volvo XC90 is packed with some catchy interiors. The suave colour combination of XC90's interiors aptly matches the gear knobs, passenger seats, front dashboard, and the entire decorum inside. The rich leather upholstery is well complemented by wood finished arms on the doors, and silver finishing on their handles. The contemporary dashboard and cockpit style control panel gives XC90’s interiors a very modern outlook. Moreover, additional features like instep plates and sport pedals have also been provided to endow a classy touch to the crossover. The car is incredibly spacious, with enough room for 7 people to sit comfortably. It offers front and rear headroom of 1019 mm and 1041 mm respectively, and front and rear leg room of 1041 mm and 925 mm, which is spacious enough for 7 persons to easily tuck in.

Comfort and Convenience

There are plenty of features provided in Volvo XC90 to ensure a smooth and comfortable ride. For starters, everything from the interiors to steering wheel, gear knobs to seats has been designed lavishly with soft leather. There are lots of comfort features like comfort pillow, sun-resistant rear windows, electric cooler and heater, and the list goes on. AC vents have also been provided for the rear passengers to provide them with equal comfort and coolness that the front side enjoys. The interiors’ feather touch gives Volvo XC90 an extremely homey look-and-feel. Long drives would never be tiring on Volvo XC90.

Music System

The only thing that does not hurt when it strikes you is Music. To make your music experience pleasurable, Volvo has docked in a music system with USB support and iPod plugin. XC90’s speakers deliver superior output, finally giving you something to brag about. In other, despite being a muscular cross-over, Volvo XC60 is also your nomadic entertainment hub.

Engine and Gearbox

Volvo XC90 offers three different types of engines- 3.2 AWD, V8 AWD & D5 AWD. Though all of these engines differ in horsepower, they all come packed up with a 6 Speed Geartronic Transmission System. The 6 cylinder 3.2 AWD engine produces 175 kW at 6200 rpm and reaches a maximum torque of 320 Nm at 3200 rpm. Delivering a much better performance is the petrol operated V8 AWD engine with 8 cylinders, which outputs 232 Kw at 5850 rpm and reaches a maximum torque of 440 Nm at 3900 rpm. But in India XC90 is available in only diesel. It generates maximum power of 200 bhp at 3900 rpm with maximum torque of 420 nm at 1900 rpm. The engine is mated to 6-speed automatic transmission.

Acceleration and Performance

Volvo XC90 is as muscular in performance as it is in looks. The SUV can sprint from 0-100 in about 7.3 seconds.

Mileage

Volvo XC90 can be expensive on street-roads, as it gives a mileage of just 5.9 kmpl. On highways, however, XC90 offers a slightly better mileage of 9.9 kmpl.

Safety features

Safety is one of the highly esteemed features of Volvo XC90. The active safety features include Cruise Control System, which can detect collision from distance. There’s also Collision Warning with Auto-brake, which prevents you from bumping into another vehicle. The availability of Airbags on the Driver as well as the passenger seat ensures the safety of everyone in the aftermath of any undue collision. Volvo XC90’s ABS (Anti-Braking System) with EBD works like a charm. The EBD (electronic brake distribution) distributes the instantaneous braking force equally between the front and rear wheels, thereby ensuring the stability of the ride. Apart from the normal security features, Volvo XC90 also offers some avant-garde security options like child-lock, adjustable seat-belts, side-impact protection beam, which provide a complete sense of security during the drive.

Suspension and Brakes

Volvo XC90 has excellent suspension technology that maintains the stability, control and comfort of the car. There’s a multi-link rear suspension with anti-roll bar, which is balanced by McPherson Spring struts in the front. These spring struts improve the handling of the car by providing varied features like Anti-Dive, Anti-Lift function & Anti Roll bar. Volvo XC90’s front and rear wheels possess ventilated disc brakes for immediate braking. These brakes work in accordance with ABS (Anti-braking system) that comes with Hydraulic Brake Assist and Ready Alert Brakes. There are also Automatic- brakes in the car, which are applied whenever the car tries to avert a possible collision.

Tyres

Volvo XC90 comes with 17 inch, 225/65 R17, Tubeless Tyres. Volvo assures that the tyres are puncture-proof, but in case a puncture occurs, the tyres are strong enough to resist wobbling and maintain the much needed grip on the road.

Shades

The Volvo XC60 comes in some vibrant shades like Twilight Bronze, Caspian Blue Metallic, Ice White, Electric Silver, and Ember Black. These subtle shades match the sophistication and the unmistakable charm of Volvo XC90.

Warranty

Volvo XC90 comes protected with a multi-layered warranty structure. The basic warranty encircles almost everything which is prone to occasional wear and tear. Parts like oil and air filters, brake pads or wiper blades can be replaced during the ordinary course of tenure of warranty (5 years/50,000 miles, whichever is earlier). The Drive Train Warranty protects internal parts like engine, transmission, drive axles and driveshaft, and can be replaced even after the basic warranty has expired. Volvo also offers a 12 year/ unlimited miles Rust warranty that protects the car’s metallic body from corrosion and ensures that the car never loses its flamboyant charm. Volvo also offers a premium service called Roadside assistance that will rescue if you’re stranded on the highway. If you accidentally lock your car up or fall short of petrol, all you have to do is just call manufacturer's toll-free number, and they would be at your assistance within a short span of time.

Value for Money

The Volvo XC90 D5 Diesel variant is inordinately priced at around 44 lakhs. Though the Volvo XC90 is an exceptionally well-designed compact SUV, it’s not exactly a complete value for money. However, if everyone could afford it, it won’t be such a coveted crossover.

Verdict

Despite the steep price, there’s no denying the fact that Volvo XC90 is an alluring crossover. It’s stylish. It’s powerful. It’s luxurious. And it’s packed with the most extensive safety features. Considering how limited your options are when it comes to luxurious SUVs, if you can afford this astounding beauty, Volvo XC90 is not the one to miss. It would have more heads turning your way than any other crossover.