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HIGHER ASPIRATIONS

Models Covered: (5dr luxury 4x4, 2.9, 2.5T, 3.2, 4.4 V8 petrol, 2.4, D5 diesel, [S, SE, SE Sport, SE LUX, Executive])

BY ANDY ENRIGHT

Although it may not have revolutionised the luxury 4x4 genre quite so radically as the BMW X5 did, the Volvo XC90 moved the state of the art on in a way few thought possible. In many ways it was perhaps better than even Volvo realised, the Swedish company continually raising the new price of the XC90 in an attempt to find a point where demand slackened off. So far that point has yet to be found. So far the plaudits for the XC90 have just kept coming. Used examples are now starting to appear but don’t expect any bargains. You may have to beat a queue of prospective purchasers to the punch.

Better late than never is the motto best applied to Volvo’s XC90. The Swedish company’s core brand values of safety, family and quality are nowhere better exemplified than in a big Sports Utility Vehicle. Okay, so the other Volvo brand value, environment, had to play a slightly withdrawn role, but it’s a wonder the XC90 hadn’t appeared earlier. The company attributes this lateness to a desire to defend its traditional estate car markets, and a niggling factory capacity problem – issues now resolved. Yes, we’ve had Volvo’s V70 Cross Country, a car which carved an enviable niche for itself in the large estate crossover market, but the Swedes have missed much of the big money game. With sales of SUVs spiralling and vehicles like the Mercedes M-Class and the BMW X5 coining it, Volvo appeared to be sitting on its hands. Some speculated that as part of Ford’s Premier Auto Group, the big Ford family 4x4 was going to wear the badge of partner company Jaguar in a bid to spike the guns of Porsche’s Cayenne, but they were way off beam. Others felt that PAG would be unwilling for Volvo to poach sales from established brand Land Rover. Wrong again. The XC90’s shape was penned by Doug Frasher, an ex-NASA wind tunnel engineer who is now employed in Volvo’s California design studio. His design was selected in a rather unconventional beauty contest held in the 40-degree heat of the Arizona desert. Volvo’s hot weather proving facility outside Scottsdale was the venue and three full-size mock-ups were presented to Volvo’s top design gurus from no fewer than thirteen different countries. In such sweltering conditions it would have been tempting to green light anything and retire for a cool beer, but after much consideration Frasher’s design was voted favourite and has subsequently appealed to UK buyers. Enormously. Rarely had Volvo ever had such a hot cake on their books. When it was first launched in June 2002, the entry-level D5 S model retailed at £28,400. In the following period Volvo consistently nudged prices higher, justified in some part by minor trim revisions in 2003 and has introduced an Executive model to sit above the S and SE variants. With the asking price for the entry level car comfortably over £31,000 by 2005 and the waiting lists as big as ever, Volvo are perhaps still undercharging for the XC90. Admittedly, a shake-up of the range in 2005 resulting from modifications to the D5 diesel engine does distort the picture a little. From that point on, the 2.5T engine became the entry-level option with the erstwhile entry-level model, the old 163bhp 2.4 D5, offered only as an automatic and renamed 2.4D. The revised D5 delivered 184bhp and compliance with the Euro IV emissions regulations. Major changes were on the cards in the spring of 2006. The XC90 received a facelift with revised tail lights more body-colouring to the external fittings and a touch more chrome. The engine range from this point on was 184bhp D5 diesel, 3.2-litre straight six petrol and 4.4-litre V8. Specifications were also upgraded with a new SE Lux trim level being introduced between the existing SE and Executive strands. A little later, the more dynamically-focused SE Sport derivatives were introduced.

Unlike most of its rivals, the XC90 seats seven as standard with a set of rear seats that adults can occasionally use. Despite this, the car’s footprint is no bigger than a Land Rover Discovery. Part of the reason for this apparent miracle of packaging is the compact transverse engine. Despite needing US sales to make the venture commercially viable, no monster V8 power unit is available, Volvo instead comfortable with either the D5 five-cylinder diesel engine or the familiar T6 turbocharged six-cylinder petrol powerplant. Volvo realised that the majority of big 4x4s are bought by women who cite the sense of security as a key buying criterion and set up a women’s reference group to run the rule over crucial aspects of the car’s design. Unbeknown to many, Volvo has in fact tried to enter this market four times in the past, but failed to get their proposals off the ground for a number of internal reasons. The fifth attempt draws upon much of that experience and explains why the XC90 has an uncanny right-first-time look to it. Despite a front end that makes Beachy Head look apologetic, the overall feel isn’t overly macho, with steeply raked front and rear screens reducing the overall perception of bulk.

A tough one this. As with any product that’s ‘hot’, many speculators were turning around used Volvo XC90 models at a premium. The first examples have stabilised now, however, so the first 52-plate 2.9-litre models start from £24,200 and the D5 diesel will be £300-£500 more.

The Volvo XC90 has yet to report any significant faults although as with any 4x4, check the rear load bay for signs of damage. The engines are both relatively unstressed units with the diesel being particularly bombproof. With the more powerful T6 models, check the tyres carefully as the shoulders can rapidly wave the white flag if the car has been driven in a ‘spirited manner’. The interior trim is hardy and the fittings are well made, so the interiors tend to bear up pretty well. Check for correct wheel alignment and inspect the suspension and exhaust if you suspect it may have been subjected to something more arduous than a grassy car park.

(approx based on a 2002 XC90 2.4D SE) If you’re willing to shell out for an XC90 you’ll need to be able to budget for parts and they’re not conspicuously cheap. Expect to pay £282 for an exchange starter motor and a hefty £56.65 for an exchange alternator (160 watt). The cost of front brake pads depend on how big your alloy wheels are – if you’re running 16-inch rims you’ll pay £68 for a pair and if you ticked the box for 17-inch wheels you’ll need to stump up £71. A nearside headlamp unit of the non-xenon variety retails at £208 while a windscreen with rain sensor but without heat reflecting glass will come in at £303.

Parent company Ford will, after the Explorer/Firestone debacle, be glad to hear that the XC90’s innovative Roll Stability Control (RSC) system received the World Traffic Safety Symposium Manufacturers Award. Volvo have approached this thorny issue with a three-pronged attack. In order to prevent the XC90 going dirty side up in the first instance, sophisticated gyroscopically controlled stability software steadies even the most radical lane changing behaviour. Should you hit a kerb or ditch and roll the XC90, it features a boron-reinforced roof to prevent the upper body deforming. Finally, the XC90 also features curtain airbags that stay inflated ten times longer than normal bags in order to ensure passengers are kept away from flying glass and insulated from doorframes during a roll. A demonstration outside Gothenburg where an XC90 was filled with crash test dummies and then walloped in the side by an iron sled proved how effective the system was. Despite being thrown into four-barrel rolls by this 30-tonne impact, the dummies were all safely restrained in their seats. So, the XC90’s passengers are safe. What about other road users? Volvo claim the XC90 is the first unselfish SUV by fitting a low-level impact absorbing cross member behind the front spoiler to prevent the high, wide and handsome XC90 riding up and over more vertically challenged vehicles. Other road users may have little problem spotting the XC90 coming, but the Volvo driver gets an innovation that gives almost superhuman visionary powers. Infrared technology allows the driver to see up to five times further at night than is usually the case with conventional dipped beam. Although only offered as an option, it transforms night driving, and means you won’t feel the need to constantly dazzle oncoming traffic with the XC90’s ridiculously powerful main beam. The XC90 uses an electronically controlled permanent 4x4 system with a Haldex differential calculating how much drive should be directed to the rear wheels, typically anything from 5 to 65 per cent. The original 2.4-litre D5 model boasts an engine that’s good for a healthy 163bhp, a little down on German rivals, but it certainly won’t break the bank to run, returning an average fuel figure of nearly 31mpg and CO2 figures of just 244g/km, especially good for such a large vehicle. The 60mph increment passes in 12 seconds and a top speed of 112mph is perfectly acceptable for all but the most merciless autobahn stormer. Later, this unit was upgraded to 184bhp and these cars will hit 60mph in 10.3s while returning 26.4mpg. If you need more in the way of acceleration the T6 model may appeal. Performance from the 272bhp turbocharged motor is strong, the T6 hitting 60mph in 9.3 seconds and it will keep on accelerating to 130mph. The fuel consumption figure of 21.9mpg is laudable indeed for such a sizeable hunk of Scandinavian real estate, although the CO2 emission of 305g/km may niggle at your environmental conscience. The 3.2-litre unit is a straight six with 236bhp while the range topping V8 that was also introduced in 2006 can manage a healthy 311bhp.

If you’re after a quality luxury 4x4 that’s not brash in the way many German models are, the Volvo XC90 is the perfect solution. Well built, beautifully appointed and supremely capable it’s the complete package. A used bargain, however, it most clearly is not.

NAUTICAL BUT NICE
Now there’s a 4x4 for people with salt water running through their veins and the sound of the sea ringing in their ears. Or indeed anyone who fancies a good-looking Volvo XC90 at a value price. Steve Walker reports…

Batten down the hatches, splice the mainbrace and shiver your timbers. No, me harties, it isn’t International ‘Talk Like A Pirate Day’ – unless you happen to be reading this on September 19th when, oddly enough, there is such a thing as International Talk Like A Pirate Day. No, it’s a new special edition from Volvo with a pronounced seafaring slant. Volvo have gone all maritime on us with their sponsorship of the Volvo Ocean Race and now we can drive a car that shares a name with this prestigious round-the-world yachting event. The Volvo XC90 ‘Ocean Race’ is here and she be a fine vessel indeed.

We’re told that the Volvo Ocean Race is the ‘ultimate sailing endurance event’, crossing four oceans and calling in on five continents over a 33,000-mile course. The competitors will be frantically winding handles, hoisting sails and tying knots aboard some of the world’s most advanced racing yachts without a barnacle-encrusted frigate in sight and, hopefully, no pirates. It’s the adventurous, hi-tec image of modern sailing that Volvo are hoping to tap into with their sponsorship of this escapade against the elements and if some of that can rub off onto the XC90 4x4, then so much the better. Customers actually have the choice of Ocean Race special editions of three different Volvo models but we’ll be leaving the V70 Ocean Race and the XC70 Ocean Race in dry dock for the purposes of this article and concentrating on the XC90 Ocean Race. Volvo have done quite a thorough job of marking the vehicle out from ordinary XC90s. For a start, the bodywork is coated in Ocean Blue pearlescent paint which isn’t offered elsewhere in the range (though you can ask for Electric Silver if that doesn’t suit. The car’s appearance is further enhanced with a new, more exclusively designed Volvo Ocean Race emblem and chrome exterior details. All the cars feature full Ocean Race leather upholstery and are available in Soft Beige or Off Black with the centre console and other details in silk matt aluminium inlays. Better still, all Ocean Race customers get a branded key ring to leave casually placed on the Yacht Club bar. All these additions come on top of the standard SE specification and so the XC90 Ocean Race comes completely shipshape and Bristol fashion with features like cruise control, an electric driver’s seat with memory functions, 18" alloy wheels, rear parking assist and a 6-CD autochanger. Most customers will go for the five cylinder D5 diesel version, though a 3.2-litre six cylinder petrol variant is also being offered. Expect the vehicle to cost around £1,000 more than an equivalent SE model, which means that the Ocean Race XC90 range starts in D5 diesel form from around £36,500.

"…all Ocean Race customers get a branded key ring to leave casually placed on the Yacht club bar"

Volvo’s D5 engine used to produce 163bhp but a series of revisions to the unit boosted power to today’s 185bhp and made it Euro IV compliant. It certainly won’t break the bank to run, returning an average fuel figure of 34mpg, enjoying Euro IV status for tax purposes and producing CO2 figures of just 219g/km, which are especially good for such a large vehicle. The towing capacity of 2,250kg will also appeal to those with boats or caravans. Still, a good deal is being asked of that diesel engine. That said, only footballers and rap stars generally buy big 4x4s for their performance credentials and for the majority of us, the generous 400Nm torque figure of the diesel engine will be quite adequate. The 60mph increment passes in around 11 seconds and a top speed in the region of 120mph is perfectly acceptable for all but the most merciless autobahn stormer. The XC90 D5 isn’t averse to a bit of the rough stuff, the adequate ground clearance, compact overhangs, diesel lugging power and comparatively low centre of gravity making it proficient but not in the same league as something like Land Rover’s Discovery. It uses an electronically-controlled permanent 4x4 system with a Haldex differential calculating how much drive should be directed to the rear wheels, typically anything from 5 to 65%. Unlike most of its rivals, the XC90 seats seven as standard with a set of rear seats that adults can occasionally use. Despite this, the car’s footprint remains usefully small. Being a Volvo, the XC90 isn’t shy of safety features. The innovative Roll Stability Control (RSC) system received the World Traffic Safety Symposium Manufacturers Award. In order to prevent the XC90 going dirty side up in the first instance, sophisticated gyroscopically controlled stability software steadies even the most radical lane changing behaviour. Should you hit a kerb or ditch and roll the XC90, it features a boron-reinforced roof to prevent the upper body deforming. Finally, the car also features curtain airbags that stay inflated ten times longer than normal bags in order to ensure passengers are kept away from flying glass and insulated from doorframes during a roll. A demonstration outside Gothenburg where an XC90 was filled with crash test dummies and then walloped in the side by an iron sled proved how effective the system was. Despite being thrown into four-barrel rolls by this 30-tonne impact, the dummies were all safely restrained in their seats. So, passengers are safe. What about other road users? Volvo have fitted a low-level impact absorbing cross member behind the front spoiler to prevent the high, wide and handsome XC90 riding up and over more vertically challenged vehicles. As for the Ocean Race special edition, its collection of cosmetic enhancements will be worth the £1,000 premium to some but if Volvo really wanted prospective buyers beating the showroom door down, perhaps a few more substantial features could have been included. The marque’s sponsorship of the Volvo Ocean Race could prove a shrewd move if it helps the XC90 attain more of a rugged, outdoorsy image. At the moment, it’s probably the most family-friendly luxury 4x4 you can buy but fashion-conscious buyers may bypass it in favour of rival products that display more cachet. With its nautical marketing tie-in, you can imagine the XC90 Ocean Race becoming the 4x4 to have amongst the boaty Howard’s Way set but it will need to catch on with land-locked buyers before it really gets the wind in its sails.

Facts At A Glance CAR: Volvo XC90 Ocean Race special edition range PRICES: from £36,500 [approx] - on the road INSURANCE GROUPS: 15-16 CO2 EMISSIONS: 219-289g/km PERFORMANCE: [D5] Max Speed 121mph / 0-60mph 10.9s FUEL CONSUMPTION: [D5] (urban) 26.4mpg / (extra urban) 40.9mpg /(combined) 34.0mpg STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Front & side airbags / ABS / SIPS / WHIPS WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Heightmm 4733/1860/1562mm

XC BEAST
The Volvo XC90 has been steadily evolved since its introduction in 2002. Andy Enright checks out the latest version

Volvo, it seems, takes exception to the maxim that you don’t mess with a winning formula. The XC90 has been the Swedish company’s biggest recent success, with demand way outstripping supply, but it’s also a product that debuted in 2002, aeons ago in the motoring world. Since that time, we’ve seen all manner of new entrants in the luxury 4x4 market and Volvo has tinkered with the basic package in an attempt to keep the XC90 fresh.

It’s still a seven seater. And it still isn’t really designed for heavy off road work. A few years back, there was a facelift, both inside and out. For the latest model year, the improvements are more subtle. There’s a lower CO2 figure for the D5 Geartronic diesel variant that most customers buy, the introduction of the sports-inspired R-DESIGN trim level, plus a wider palate of exterior colours, alloy wheels and options giving buyers more choice.   Engines in the luxury 4x4 sector have a lot to contend with but Volvo feels that the XC90s are well up to the challenge. The 183bhp D5 diesel stalwart continues in the latest model with its muscular 400Nm torque rating. This unit boasts a CO2 figure of 219g/km and now in automatic ‘Geartronic’ form, it puts out just 224g/km. This means that the XC90 is the only premium standard 7-seat SUV available which achieves a sub 225g/km figure in both manual and automatic transmissions.

“Volvo’s first V8, the XC90’s flagship engine is something rather special”

This CO2 figure means the D5 Geartronic engine falls below the key Band G threshold for Vehicle Excise Duty, saving new Volvo XC90 owners £570 in Vehicle Excise Duty over three years.  This model will now also avoid the daily £25 London Emissions Related Congestion Charge (ERCC), saving owners around the Capital several hundreds of pounds in annual congestion charges as well as qualifying for the 90% discount for London residents. Want a petrol model? The entry-level petrol unit is a 236bhp 3.2-litre straight six powerplant, built at Bridgend in Wales. Largely constructed of aluminium, this lightweight yet punchy engine is smaller than the old five-cylinder lump and thanks to Variable Cam Timing and Cam Profile Switching, it’s a good deal more efficient. The 0-60mph sprint takes 8.9s but if you need more speed. Volvo has also unleashed a big hitter in the form of a 311bhp 4.4-litre V8 engine. It can hit 60mph form standstill in under seven seconds with a hefty 440Nm of torque chiming in nicely at 3,900rpm. Volvo’s first V8, the XC90’s flagship engine is something rather special. Its narrow V-configuration means that it’s possible – as with all Volvo engines – for it to be mounted transversely and still offer excellent crash protection space in the front crumple zone. With the block and the head cast in aluminium, this engine weighs in at just 190kg. Low weight means better handling, sharper acceleration, improved fuel economy and lower emissions. While it may seem a little counter to Volvo’s tree-hugging image to sell a brash V8 ‘SUV’, this XC90 has a social conscience of sorts. One of the cleanest V8 engines on general release, it meets stringent American ULEV II (Ultra Low Emission Vehicles II) standards thanks to four catalytic converters, a lean air/fuel mix for cold starting and a higher idling speed at cold start. Volvo’s engineers had identified that the first 15-20 seconds after starting was when the majority of harmful emissions were created and have worked to quell this occurrence. That’s the environmental bit out of the way. If you’re a little less concerned about polar ice caps, you’ll be pleased to know that a heavy right boot will send the XC90 V8 to 60mph form standstill in under seven seconds with a hefty 440Nm of torque chiming in nicely at 3,900rpm. Onto trim. The SE level has been replaced by an R-DESIGN package that many customers will want. It includes a specially tuned dynamic chassis, stiffer anti-roll bars, firmer shock absorbers and sport tuned speed-dependent steering. The shock absorbers have stiffer rebound rates and the anti-roll bars are stiffer to offer a high level of stability when cornering. R-DESIGN adds an extra dimension to the Sport styling with 19-inch alloy wheels as standard (with new 20-inch alloys an optional upgrade), quad exhaust pipes, skid-plate, R-DESIGN badge on the grille and rear view mirror caps in silk matt finish. To accentuate the sporty nature further and to create a sleeker appearance, the car is not fitted with roof rails, although these are still available as a no cost option. Inside the car the seats are covered in either off-black leather-faced sports with cream inlay or calcite with an off-black inlay. The R-DESIGN logo embossed on the backrest and the contrasting stitching aim to reinforce the interior’s sporty appearance. Other R-DESIGN interior details include the leather-trim steering wheel with its R-DESIGN logo, aluminium pedals, specially designed aluminium centre stack and door inlays, gear selector and tufted dark sport floor mats with contrasting leather piping. Safety is of course a prime Volvo strength. Parent company Ford were, after the Explorer/ Firestone debacle, glad to hear that the XC90’s innovative Roll Stability Control (RSC) system received the World Traffic Safety Symposium Manufacturers Award. Volvo has approached this thorny issue with a three-pronged attack. In order to prevent the XC90 going dirty side up in the first instance, sophisticated gyroscopically-controlled stability software steadies even the most radical lane changing behaviour. Should you hit a kerb or ditch and roll the XC90, it features a boron-reinforced roof to prevent the upper body deforming. Finally, the XC90 also features curtain airbags that stay inflated ten times longer than normal bags in order to ensure passengers are kept away from flying glass and insulated from doorframes during a roll. Not a whole lot needed doing to keep XC90 sales strong but Volvo has pre-empted any buyer fatigue with a strong but well-judged package of improvements. Success is virtually guaranteed once again.

Facts At A Glance CAR: Volvo XC90 range PRICES: £32,845-£54,550 - on the road INSURANCE GROUPS: 15-18 CO2 EMISSIONS: 219-322g/km PERFORMANCE: (V8) Max Speed 149mph / 0-60mph 6.8s FUEL CONSUMPTION: (D5 Geartronic) (urban) 23.7mpg / (extra urban) 37.7mpg /(combined) 31.0mpg STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Front & side airbags / ABS / SIPS / WHIPS WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Heightmm 4733/1860/1562mm

THE XC GETS SEXY
Volvo’s XC90 has no shortage of admirable attributes but to date it hasn’t been the dynamic choice in its sector. The Swedish company is hoping to change perceptions with the SE Sport range. Andy Enright reports

Confession can be extremely liberating. Try it on for size – Volvo certainly is. How about we stop trying to avoid the nagging accusation that you’re not going to take your XC90 off road and embrace it instead? Stand up proud and admit that it would be a cold day in hell before you took this big 4x4 into axle deep mud. Feels good to shake off the guilty pretence doesn’t it? Volvo seems to think so because it has unveiled a range of XC90 models that are geared towards even sharper on road performance – the SE Sport variants. Leave the wellies in the potting shed and get your driving shoes on.

The Sport SE isn’t just a cosmetic makeover. Underneath the skin sits a fundamental retuning of the XC90’s suspension designed to offer flatter, keener cornering and a better connection with the road. The shock absorbers benefit from stiffer rebound rates and the anti-roll bars go up in girth by .5mm at the front and by 1mm at the rear. The speed-dependent power steering has also been modified to offer more feel and feedback, while Volvo’s Nivomat self levelling system has been further refined to improve body control. The work of the Special Vehicles department, the SE Sport is all about finding a workable compromise between handling and ride. As the head of this department pointed out, "the driving characteristics are of a calibre that many would not have thought possible in a Volvo SUV. And we have not had to compromise on ride comfort. We have succeeded in finding a balance between driving stability and the capacity to absorb unevenness in the road." Much of the credit for the XC90’s additional ‘stiction’ comes courtesy of some quite enormous Pirelli P Zero Rosso tyres – rubber you’d more normally expect to find on a supercar instead of a big 4x4. Wrapped around the 19-inch five-spoke Vulcanis alloy wheels, these tyres measure 255/50 R19W. Thankfully Volvo hasn’t been tempted to lower the profile of the tyre too much. I’m still recovering from a ride in a 4x4 fitted with 30 series tyres where every rut, ripple and ridge in the road surface was transmitted straight up my spinal column.

"A Volvo to give a Porsche Cayenne a run for its money? That’s the premise here"

Volvo has also worked overtime to visually differentiate the XC90 SE Sport from the rest of the line up. As well as those big alloys – offered in either bright silver or diamond cut with contrasting tone – there are double chromed exhaust pipes and the addition of a unique paint finish – Passion Red. Flared wheel arch finishers, satin silver exterior trims and brushed stainless steel sill mouldings are also fitted. The car looks lower and sleeker than other XC90s and at first it’s not apparent why. Then you realise that the roof rails have been deleted. Volvo will add them as a no cost option if you so desire. Drop inside and there are torso-gripping sports seats with added lateral cushioning. Perforated leather adorns the sports steering wheel and the gearshift gaiter, while the leather seats use a combination of two contrasting grades of leather with another colour for the piping. The instrument dials have been finished in blue with metal chronograph style bezels. Three engines are offered. The diesel option is the 183bhp D5 diesel, good for 121mph and 34mpg. This will doubtless be the volume seller and it’s a great engine. Carbon dioxide emissions are pegged at 219g/km for the manual or 239g/km if you opt for the Geartronic automatic. The entry-level petrol unit is now a 236bhp 3.2-litre straight six powerplant, built at Bridgend in Wales. Largely constructed of aluminium, this lightweight yet punchy engine is smaller than the old five-cylinder lump and thanks to Variable Cam Timing and Cam Profile Switching, it’s a good deal more efficient. The 0-60mph sprint takes 8.9s and the official combined economy figure is 23.9mpg. Volvo has also unleashed a big hitter in the form of a 311bhp 4.4-litre V8 engine. Their first V8, this is the same powerplant that’s offered in the S80 V8 AWD and it’s something rather special. Its narrow V-configuration means that it’s possible – as with all Volvo engines – for it to be mounted transversely and still offer excellent crash protection space in the front crumple zone. With the block and the head cast in aluminium, this engine weighs in at just 190kg. Low weight means better handling, sharper acceleration, improved fuel economy and lower emissions. While it may seem a little counter to Volvo’s tree-hugging image to sell a brash V8 ‘SUV’, this XC90 has a social conscience of sorts. One of the cleanest V8 engines on general release, it meets stringent American ULEV II (Ultra Low Emission Vehicles II) standards thanks to four catalytic converters, a lean air/fuel mix for cold starting and a higher idling speed at cold start. Volvo’s engineers had identified that the first 15-20 seconds after starting was when the majority of harmful emissions were created and have worked to quell this occurrence. That’s the environmental bit out of the way. If you’re a little less concerned about polar ice caps, you’ll be pleased to know that a heavy right boot will send the XC90 V8 to 60mph form standstill in under seven seconds with a hefty 440Nm of torque chiming in nicely at 3,900rpm. In order to prevent the XC90 going dirty side up during overenthusiastic cornering sophisticated gyroscopically-controlled stability software steadies even the most radical manoeuvres. Should you hit a kerb or ditch and roll the XC90, it features a boron-reinforced roof to prevent the upper body deforming. Finally, the XC90 also features curtain airbags that stay inflated ten times longer than normal bags in order to ensure passengers are kept away from flying glass and insulated from doorframes during a roll. The XC90 SE Sport may be a departure for Volvo but it looks set to be a very lucrative one. Everything the XC90 has touched has thus far turned to gold. There seems little reason to doubt the trend will continue.

Facts At A Glance CAR: Volvo XC90 SE Sport range PRICES: £37,295-£46,055 - on the road INSURANCE GROUPS: 15-18 CO2 EMISSIONS: 219-322g/km PERFORMANCE: (V8) Max Speed 149mph / 0-60mph 6.8s FUEL CONSUMPTION: (D5 Geartronic) (urban) 23.7mpg / (extra urban) 37.7mpg /(combined) 31.0mpg STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Front & side airbags / ABS / SIPS / WHIPS WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Heightmm 4733/1860/1562mm

PETROLEUM SPIRIT
A big offroader with powerful petrol power will be a turn-off for cost-conscious buyers but give Volvo’s XC90 3.2-litre a chance and you might like it. Steve Walker reports…

Diesel is fast becoming the default fuel for buyers of large family 4x4s in this country, particularly for those who aren’t blessed with a bank account of the bottomless variety. The superior fuel economy along with the lower CO2 emissions and the improving refinement of modern oil-burning engines all play their part but where does all this leave petrol? It’s true that petrol engines deliver better performance but do we really want performance in a big family-orientated offroader? Volvo obviously think some of us do and their plush XC90 4x4 is better equipped than most to handle it. That’s why they offer the latest model with a sweet 3.2-litre straight-six petrol engine.

Volvo’s XC90 occupies a curious position in the large 4x4 arena. Its pricing, equipment levels and interior quality match it squarely up against luxury 4x4 models like BMW’s X5 and the Mercedes M-Class but the Volvo also offers seven seats mounted in a versatile interior that’s more MPV than 4x4. Its off road ability is best described a patchy but on the tarmac it displays a high degree of composure and refinement that’s on a par with many executive saloons. It’s a hard one to nail down and no mistake but this unorthodox collection of abilities has won the XC90 a large and loyal following in the UK. The 3.2-litre petrol engine sits slap bang in the middle of the XC90 engine range, above the big selling D5 diesel and below the 4.4-litre V8 that was introduced to give the car added impetus at the very top end of the luxury 4x4 segment. The majority of buyers will discount the V8 straight off the bat, or at least as soon as they get their heads around the 20mpg combined fuel economy. The 3.2-litre is more economical but not by much, posting an average in the region of 24mpg compared to the 34mpg you should expect from the diesel. Emissions may be another sticking point, with the 3.2 engine producing 281g/km of CO2 and the D5 pumping out 219g/km. Also counting against the V8 is the hefty premium of nearly £8,000 that it commands over the 3.2-litre but with the 3.2 requiring only an extra £1,000 in addition to the oil-burner’s asking price, buyers are presented with an interesting conundrum.

"The 3.2-litre engine is smooth in its power delivery and pleasantly hushed when cruising"

With 235bhp on tap, this straight-six engine is not lacking in power, which it deploys through Volvo’s ‘Geartronic’ automatic transmission (there’s no manual option). It will get the XC90 to 60mph in 8.9s before running out of puff at 130mph. The 182bhp D5 diesel requires 10.3s to hit the 60mph barrier and eventually achieves a 121mph top speed so the additional £1,000 outlay gets you a whole lot of extra capability. Unlike many large 4x4 vehicles, the XC90 is well equipped to take full advantage of its engines’ power output. It can’t quite match the BMW X5 which is widely regarded as the class benchmark for on-road handling but it isn’t too far off. The car is not averse to being hurried down a fast B-road, although twistier sections unsettle it a tad, but its key strengths are ride and refinement. The 3.2-litre engine is smooth in its power delivery and pleasantly hushed when cruising, while the XC90’s suspension does a great job of ironing-out the road surface to keep passengers comfortable. With the XC90’s entry-level S trim reserved for the cost-effective D5 diesel engine, the 3.2-litre straight-six powerplant enters the equation at the SE trim level priced from £36,435. Here there’s leather faced seats with electric adjustment for the driver’s seat and a 6 CD autochanger in addition to the generous standard specification. 18" alloys also feature to boost the exterior appearance. Above the SE sits the SE Sport with its sharper responses and more dynamic appearance. Next comes the SE Lux with its full leather upholstery, heated front seats, Bi-Xenon headlamps and various cosmetic titbits, then you have the Executive which really is crammed with high-tech features. The XC90’s cabin really is excellent, the most versatile of any large 4x4. The rearmost row of seats is really only suitable for kids but leg and headroom elsewhere is plentiful. That rear row can be folded down so that it completely disappears under the floor leaving an extensive load area, while the three seats in the middle row slide back and forth individually to create extra legroom. These middle seats fold flat in an operation that’s refreshingly simple and that results in a truly monstrous carrying capacity for those weekend trips to the municipal dump. Safety is another prime Volvo strength. Parent company Ford were, after the Explorer/ Firestone debacle, glad to hear that the XC90’s innovative Roll Stability Control (RSC) system received the World Traffic Safety Symposium Manufacturers Award. Volvo has approached this thorny issue with a three-pronged attack. In order to prevent the XC90 going dirty side up in the first instance, sophisticated gyroscopically-controlled stability software steadies even the most radical lane changing behaviour. Should you hit a kerb or ditch and roll the car, it features a boron-reinforced roof to prevent the upper body deforming. Finally, the XC90 also features curtain airbags that stay inflated ten times longer than normal bags in order to ensure passengers are kept away from flying glass and insulated from doorframes during a roll. The Volvo XC90 is a luxury 4x4 designed around the family and that makes it something of a unique proposition in today’s large 4x4 sector. Volvo obviously got the balance right, however, because the car has been a storming success for them since its launch. One suspects that cash-strapped family buyers will gravitate towards the lower running costs of the diesel engine while those intent on money-no-object luxury will opt for the V8 and the opulent Executive trim. This leaves the 3.2 straight six option as a bridge between the two extremes. It’s more expensive to run than the oil-burner but for just £1,000 more, it’s usefully quicker and very refined. That will be enough to persuade some buyers, especially those who don’t cover particularly high mileages and so won’t find the pinch at the pumps quite as fierce.

Facts At A Glance CAR: Volvo XC90 3.2 PRICES: £36,453-£46,525 - on the road INSURANCE GROUP: 16 CO2 EMISSIONS: 281g/km PERFORMANCE: Max Speed 130mph / 0-60mph 8.9s FUEL CONSUMPTION: [Geartronic] (urban) 16.8mpg / (extra urban) 31.7mpg /(combined) 23.9mpg STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Front & side airbags / ABS / SIPS / WHIPS WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Heightmm 4733/1860/1562mm

XC BEAST
The Volvo XC90 Has Been Steadily Evolved Since Its Introduction In 2002. This Year’s Vintage Sees Some Useful Improvements. Andy Enright Reports

Volvo, it seems, takes exception to the maxim that you don’t mess with a winning formula. The XC90 has been the Swedish company’s biggest recent success, with demand way outstripping supply, but it’s also a product that debuted in 2002, aeons ago in the motoring world. Since that time, we’ve seen all manner of new entrants in the luxury 4x4 market and Volvo has tinkered with the basic package in an attempt to keep the XC90 fresh. It was only a matter of time before the XC90 needed some rather more serious surgery and rather than let sales tail off, Volvo has stepped in and applied the changes. The latest car looks like an XC90 but there are wide-ranging alterations.

Let’s start with that subtly-modified styling. The exterior design of the XC90 has long been one of its strong points. It’s imposing without ascribing to the neo-brutalist school of vehicle architecture popularised by the likes of the Land Rover Discovery and Jeep’s Commander. Instead, it mixes slab sides with smooth curves in a way that’s beautifully resolved. It’s recognisably a Volvo yet remains one of the best looking 4x4s money can buy. The latest car emphasises the curves of the XC90’s ‘shoulders’ with a redesigned tail light section. There’s also additional chrome detailing, a full-width rear scuff plate and a bumper that incorporates a little more body colouring to visually lower the rear of the car. The front also adds a splash more chrome and colour-coding while revised 18-inch alloy wheels and colour-coding for the side mouldings, mirrors and door handles give the flanks a cleaner look. Volvo is also offering a palette of more modern exterior colours including a very striking White Pearl finish. The interior has been given a makeover too with the aim of giving the XC90 a more luxurious, premium feel. The cabin was already extremely good in terms of functionality and ergonomics, if lacking a certain elegance that buyers in this market have increasingly come to expect. That’s fixed now. New materials and upholsteries including opulent Sovereign Hide soft leather, Sapele wood trims and aluminium detailing are all on offer to shunt the XC90 that little but further upmarket. An RTI satellite navigation system that works from a hard disk rather than a DVD is true next generation technology, it’s also quicker and easier to use than previous Volvo systems.

"The XC90 sales curve just doesn’t incorporate dips"

The stereo system too follows a decidedly contemporary bent with an auxiliary input for your MP3 player. The standard High Performance unit will play CDs with music in MP3 and WMA formats as well. Opt for the Premium Sound audio package and you’ll get a digital class D amplifier from Alpine with ICE Power technology from Bang and Olufsen Powerhouse, Dolby Pro Logic II surround sound and Dynaudio loudspeakers. Active bi-xenon headlamps move up to 15 degrees from the straight ahead when you’re negotiating corners, the system automatically disabling itself during daylight hours. A wide angle park assist camera is also available. The big news is a revision in the engine line up. The 183bhp D5 diesel continues with its muscular 400Nm torque rating but the petrol 272bhp six-cylinder T6 and the 210bhp five-cylinder 2.5-litre turbo engine have both been quietly shelved. In their place come a pair of engines that are massively more appealing. The entry-level petrol unit is now a 236bhp 3.2-litre straight six powerplant, built at Bridgend in Wales. Largely constructed of aluminium, this lightweight yet punchy engine is smaller than the old five-cylinder lump and thanks to Variable Cam Timing and Cam Profile Switching, it’s a good deal more efficient. The 0-60mph sprint takes 8.9s and the official combined economy figure is 23.9mpg. Volvo has also unleashed a big hitter in the form of a 311bhp 4.4-litre V8 engine. Their first V8, this is the same powerplant that’s offered in the S80 V8 AWD and it’s something rather special. Its narrow V-configuration means that it’s possible – as with all Volvo engines – for it to be mounted transversely and still offer excellent crash protection space in the front crumple zone. With the block and the head cast in aluminium, this engine weighs in at just 190kg. Low weight means better handling, sharper acceleration, improved fuel economy and lower emissions. While it may seem a little counter to Volvo’s tree-hugging image to sell a brash V8 ‘SUV’, this XC90 has a social conscience of sorts. One of the cleanest V8 engines on general release, it meets stringent American ULEV II (Ultra Low Emission Vehicles II) standards thanks to four catalytic converters, a lean air/fuel mix for cold starting and a higher idling speed at cold start. Volvo’s engineers had identified that the first 15-20 seconds after starting was when the majority of harmful emissions were created and have worked to quell this occurrence. That’s the environmental bit out of the way. If you’re a little less concerned about polar ice caps, you’ll be pleased to know that a heavy right boot will send the XC90 V8 to 60mph form standstill in under seven seconds with a hefty 440Nm of torque chiming in nicely at 3,900rpm. Safety is another prime Volvo strength. Parent company Ford were, after the Explorer/ Firestone debacle, glad to hear that the XC90’s innovative Roll Stability Control (RSC) system received the World Traffic Safety Symposium Manufacturers Award. Volvo has approached this thorny issue with a three-pronged attack. In order to prevent the XC90 going dirty side up in the first instance, sophisticated gyroscopically-controlled stability software steadies even the most radical lane changing behaviour. Should you hit a kerb or ditch and roll the XC90, it features a boron-reinforced roof to prevent the upper body deforming. Finally, the XC90 also features curtain airbags that stay inflated ten times longer than normal bags in order to ensure passengers are kept away from flying glass and insulated from doorframes during a roll. Not a whole lot needed doing to keep XC90 sales strong but Volvo has pre-empted any buyer fatigue with a strong but well-judged package of improvements. Success is virtually guaranteed once again.

FACTS AT A GLANCE CAR: Volvo XC90 range PRICES: £32,845-£54,420 - on the road INSURANCE GROUPS: 15-18 CO2 EMISSIONS: 219-322g/km PERFORMANCE: (V8) Max Speed 149mph / 0-60mph 6.8s FUEL CONSUMPTION: (D5 Geartronic) (urban) 23.7mpg / (extra urban) 37.7mpg /(combined) 31.0mpg STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Front & side airbags / ABS / SIPS / WHIPS WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Heightmm 4733/1860/1562mm

D5 ALIVE!
Big 4x4s And Diesel Engines Make A Winning Combination - As Andy Enright Discovers When Running The Rule Over The Volvo XC90 D5…

In a word association game, Barbour jackets, green wellies and clay pigeon shooting would often be associated with one of only two car brands. One would be Land Rover, the other Volvo. Both these brands are owned by Ford’s Premier Automotive Group and have to be managed so as not to tread on each other’s toes. Since the launch of the XC90, a fully-fledged Volvo 4x4 with instant appeal amongst the country set, that has become more difficult. The D5 diesel version looks to be the pick of the range, being of greater significance than the petrol contingent.

Despite competing in a market dominated by cars like the BMW X5 3.0d and Mercedes ML270 CDi, the XC90 D5 offers a reassuring blend of bold new world and tried and tested material. The fact that it wins just about every back-to-back comparison test and award going is also immensely reassuring. The chassis is ostensibly a stretched version of that which underpins the V70 estate, the XC90 also utilising many of the XC70’s all wheel drive mechanicals. Moreover, the engine and automatic gearbox aren’t significantly different to those found in an S80 D5 executive saloon. The styling retains a number of familiar Volvo signatures too: the curvaceous bonnet that merges into the bold hiplines, the bluff front grille and the commonsense cabin and controls. The latest car emphasises the curves of the XC90’s hips with a redesigned tail light section. There’s also additional chrome detailing, a full-width rear scuff plate and a bumper that incorporates a little more body colouring to visually lower the rear of the car. The front also adds a splash more chrome and colour-coding. Volvo’s D5 engine used to produce 163bhp but a series of revisions to the unit boosted power to today’s 185bhp and made it Euro IV compliant. The D5 starts at £32,845 and the value proposition seems to weigh in the big Swede’s favour when it’s compared to rivals like BMW’s X5. It certainly won’t break the bank to run, returning an average fuel figure of 34mpg, enjoying Euro IV status for tax purposes and producing CO2 figures of just 219g/km, which are especially good for such a large vehicle. The towing capacity of 2,250kg will also appeal to those with boats or caravans.

"The XC90 D5 isn’t averse to a bit of the rough stuff…"

Still, a good deal is being asked of that diesel engine. The five-speed automatic gearbox with its long, relaxed gearing saps power still further. Those looking for something a little livelier will like the more affordable six-speed manual gearbox. That said, only footballers and rap stars generally buy big 4x4s for their performance credentials and for the majority of us, the generous 400Nm torque figure of the diesel engine will be quite adequate. The 60mph increment passes in around 11 seconds and a top speed in the region of 120mph is perfectly acceptable for all but the most merciless autobahn stormer. The XC90 D5 isn’t averse to a bit of the rough stuff, the adequate ground clearance, compact overhangs, diesel lugging power and comparatively low centre of gravity making it proficient but not in the same league as something like Land Rover’s Discovery. It uses an electronically-controlled permanent 4x4 system with a Haldex differential calculating how much drive should be directed to the rear wheels, typically anything from 5 to 65%. Unlike most of its rivals, the XC90 seats seven as standard with a set of rear seats that adults can occasionally use. Despite this, the car’s footprint remains usefully small. Part of the reason for this apparent miracle of packaging is the compact transverse engines. Volvo offer this D5 five-cylinder diesel engine, an advanced in-lince six-cylinder 3.2-litre unit with 236bhp and the mighty 311bhp V8 powerplant. All three offer compact dimensions given their capacity and are impressively efficient. Being a Volvo, the XC90 isn’t shy of safety features. The innovative Roll Stability Control (RSC) system received the World Traffic Safety Symposium Manufacturers Award. In order to prevent the XC90 going dirty side up in the first instance, sophisticated gyroscopically controlled stability software steadies even the most radical lane changing behaviour. Should you hit a kerb or ditch and roll the XC90, it features a boron-reinforced roof to prevent the upper body deforming. Finally, the car also features curtain airbags that stay inflated ten times longer than normal bags in order to ensure passengers are kept away from flying glass and insulated from doorframes during a roll. A demonstration outside Gothenburg where an XC90 was filled with crash test dummies and then walloped in the side by an iron sled proved how effective the system was. Despite being thrown into four-barrel rolls by this 30-tonne impact, the dummies were all safely restrained in their seats. So, passengers are safe. What about other road users? Volvo have fitted a low-level impact absorbing cross member behind the front spoiler to prevent the high, wide and handsome XC90 riding up and over more vertically challenged vehicles. Prices start at a cut throat £32,845 for the 183bhp D5 S. An SE version is also available priced at £36,435 which adds leather upholstery, 18-inch wheels, a 6-disc CD changer, an electric driver’s seat, body-coloured wheelarches and wood or aluminium dash inlays. Above the SE sits the SE Sport with its sharper responses and more dynamic appearance. Then comes the SE Lux model which features superior trim materials memory seats and bi-Xenon headlamps amongst other things. But the undisputed king of the line up is the £46,525 D5 Executive. This model really goes to town with far too much equipment to list here. Like its BMW and Mercedes rivals, the diesel-engined XC90 is the one that most people will choose most of the time. If you’re at all worried about the conspicuous consumption that big 4x4s represent, the Volvo XC90 D5 is a responsible alternative. Safe, with room for seven and without crippling running costs, it brooks no surprises. A Colossus with a conscience? That’s about the size of it.

Facts At A Glance CAR: Volvo XC90 D5 range PRICE: £32,845-£46,780 - on the road INSURANCE GROUPS: 15-17 CO2 EMISSIONS: 219g/km PERFORMANCE: (manual) Max Speed 121mph / 0-60mph 10.9s FUEL CONSUMPTION: (manual) (urban) 26.4mpg / (extra urban) 40.9mpg /(combined) 34.0mpg STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Front & side airbags / ABS / SIPS / WHIPS WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Heightmm 4733/1860/1562mm

EXECUTIVE STRESS RELIEF
If You Take Your Creature Comforts Seriously, Volvo Have The Car For You. Andy Enright Takes A Look At The XC90 Executive…

The Volvo XC90 must have come as a rude shock to the established players in the luxury 4x4 sector. Straight out of left field this company with no real experience in this market built a car that went straight to the top of the class, winning award after award. Premium products are curious things however, many manufacturers recognising that for a small percentage of customers, the product can never be too premium. Hence the existence of the Volvo XC90 Executive, a model that offers a standard equipment list that runs and runs.

Granted, the standard XC90 isn’t shy of gear but the Executive offers the sort of refinements that go beyond what even the most luxurious Range Rover, BMW X5, Volkswagen Touareg and Mercedes M-class models offer. It’s a gadget lover’s dream. There’s a DVD system with twin 7-inch screens integrated into the front headrests with remote control and cordless headphones. Then there’s a 650W Dynaudio Premium Sound system with Dolby Pro Logic surround sound and rear headphone sockets, a built-in GSM phone and even a refrigerator incorporated into the armrest between the front seats. There’s sat nav too but Volvo’s next generation RTi system runs from a hard disk rather than the traditional CD. Volvo have fitted walnut wood inlays on the centre console, gear lever, glovebox and centre console. Even the electric window buttons are finished in walnut. The interior trim has been upgraded to soft feel leather throughout with contrasting piping for the first two rows of seats and chunkily padded armrests on the front doors. There’s even thick pile floor mats in the passenger compartment and load bay. Electrically adjustable driver and passenger seats and folding door mirrors complete the ensemble indoors but Volvo have paid just as much attention to the exterior look and feel. A rear skidplate and aluminium roof rails are included, as is a silver square mesh grille and Executive badging. Body-coloured door handles and waist mouldings give the car a sleeker appearance and the 19-inch alloy wheels, chrome mirrors and bi-xenon headlamps add the finishing touches. Naturally, with this level of luxury equipment the options list is left to scratch its head and wonder what to offer. Volvo have managed to come up with dark tinted side and rear windows and separate air conditioning for the third row of seats. The XC90 range has been well oversubscribed since launch and demand is sure to be strong for the future despite a hefty pricetag. The strong demand notwithstanding, only a few XC90 Executives will be offered annually, split between the 183bhp D5 diesel, the 236bhp 3.2 straight six petrol engine and the range-topping 311bhp V8. Prices start at £46,525.

"With this level of luxury equipment the options list is left to scratch its head and wonder what to offer "

Perhaps we should have foreseen the XC90’s impact. After all, if one company could be relied upon to tap into the lucrative luxury 4x4 market better than any other it would have to be Volvo. The company’s core brand values of safety, family and quality are nowhere better exemplified than in a big Sports Utility Vehicle. Okay, so the other Volvo brand value, Environment, may have to play a slightly withdrawn role, but it’s a wonder the XC90 hadn’t appeared earlier. The styling retains a number of familiar Volvo signatures too: the curvaceous bonnet that merges into the bold hiplines, the bluff front grille and the commonsense cabin and controls. The latest car emphasises the curves of the XC90’s hips with a redesigned tail light section. There’s also additional chrome detailing, a full-width rear scuff plate and a bumper that incorporates a little more body colouring to visually lower the rear of the car. The front also adds a splash more chrome and colour-coding. Unlike most of its rivals, the XC90 seats seven as standard with a set of rear seats that adults can occasionally use. Despite this, the car’s footprint is no bigger than a Land Rover Discovery. Part of the reason for this apparent miracle of packaging is the compact transverse engine. Being a Volvo, the XC90 isn’t shy of safety features. The innovative Roll Stability Control (RSC) system received the World Traffic Safety Symposium Manufacturers Award. In order to prevent the XC90 going dirty side up in the first instance, sophisticated gyroscopically controlled stability software steadies even the most radical lane changing behaviour. Should you hit a kerb or ditch and roll the XC90, it features a boron-reinforced roof to prevent the upper body deforming. Finally, the car also features curtain airbags that stay inflated ten times longer than normal bags in order to ensure passengers are kept away from flying glass and insulated from doorframes during a roll. A demonstration outside Gothenburg where an XC90 was filled with crash test dummies and then walloped in the side by an iron sled proved how effective the system was. Despite being thrown into four-barrel rolls by this 30-tonne impact, the dummies were all safely restrained in their seats. The XC90 Executive is, at the same time, a very convincing yet quite perplexing proposition. With its blend of savvy design, luxurious features and emphasis on safety it’s an impressive all round package and one that has the right badge to appeal to buyers with the better part of £50,000 in disposable income. It may just be too successful for its own good, however, eating into the profits of that other Ford Premier Auto Group product, the Range Rover. Still, as problems go it’s a nice one to have.

Facts At A Glance CAR: Volvo XC90 Executive range PRICE: £46,330-£53,965 - on the road INSURANCE GROUPS: 17-18 CO2 EMISSIONS: 219-309g/km PERFORMANCE: (V8) Max Speed 130mph / 0-60mph 6.9s FUEL CONSUMPTION: (D5 Geartronic) (urban) 26.4mpg / (extra urban) 40.9mpg /(combined) 34.0mpg STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Front & side airbags / ABS / SIPS / WHIPS WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Heightmm 4733/1860/1562mm

THE ICE IS RIGHT
On paper, Volvo’s big, spacious, seven-seat, diesel-engined XC90 4x4 looks an ideal vehicle for a family skiing holiday but how did it go in the snow? Steve Walker reports

It’s fast approaching five o’clock local time and the wipers are in overdrive, battling to clear the windscreen of the snow that’s been easing down with growing persistence ever since we left the N90 and began our assent to Val Thorens. There’s a good two inches of white powder on the surface of the Alpine road that coils its way up from the valley floor to Europe’s highest ski resort but the tyres of our Volvo XC90 have gripped faultlessly so far and it plods onward into the mounting blizzard.

It’s all an alien scene to the one nearly nine hours ago as we rolled up from the ferry’s salty car deck and on to French soil. More than six hundred miles of Autoroute monotony lay ahead through the kind of foggy dampness that could have placed us anywhere in the UK during the colder months. Then we turned off the trunk road, climbed a few hundred meters and suddenly it was hairpin bends, mountains rising like sharks teeth and every window hosting its own Christmas card vista. Big scenery and big weather like this are rarities in Britain but that’s partly why thousands of us migrate each winter to the snowsports playground of the French Alps and precisely why we picked a big car like Volvo’s XC90 to follow them. Four-wheel-drive is a godsend in these conditions. Halfway up the road to Val Thorens we’d already experienced a couple of hairy moments where the front-wheel-drive Volkswagen Golf ahead lost traction, despite the extra grip provided by its snow chains, and began slithering back down the slope toward us. There’s not much one can do on a narrow road in such a situation except clench your buttocks, clutch your insurance documents and pray the approaching vehicle’s wheels regain some purchase. To our relief, things never became too dicey and the floundering Golf always managed to scrabble its way onward. By contrast, the XC90 ploughed on imperiously at a safe distance. Even where the snow is compacted by the traffic and becoming icy, there’s only the occasional quarter turn of wheel slip to indicate that grip could be in anything approaching short supply. The TRACS system distributes power between the four wheels efficiently so that the DSTC traction control is rarely called into action and confidence is inspired in all on board.

"Volvo have sacrificed the serious offroad ability that luxury 4x4 buyers never use for mild road manners and impressive comfort"

Waiting up at 2,300m in the deepening twilight is the warm, pine-walled chalet we’ve booked along with ski hire and ferry crossings through leading UK winter sports tour operator Ski Collection (www.skicollection.co.uk / 0870 770 0407). All we’ve needed to worry about since crawling out of bed at 2.30am that morning was getting there and now the trip is in its final, most spectacular stages. Not that what went before was any less revealing so far at the XC90 is concerned. Motorways are where big luxury 4x4s like the XC90 usually feel the most impressive and with a vast swathe of France to cross, we took to the two-lane Autoroutes with gusto. The XC90 delivers a polished performance at cruising speeds with a well damped ride and minimal wind noise around the mirrors and a-pillars at 80mph. Equally, road roar was virtually undetectable as we barrelled along through the flat farmland of Northern France. The 2.5-litre D5 diesel engine looks less impressive on paper than equivalent units fitted to rivals like BMW’s X5 and the Mercedes M-Class but it proved surprising on our trip. We averaged 28mpg, some way shy of the official combined cycle average of 34mpg but still creditable given the kind of driving we were undertaking. When tasked with relaxed cruising duties, even at the 130kph French Autoroute speed limit, it’s highly refined. After the mammoth motorway trek and before the snow closed in, there was some scope to hustle the XC90 along some winding B-roads. It coped admirably and in a way that belied both its size and the substantial load on board (four adults plus enough jumpers and socks for a week on the slopes). The engine doesn’t respond well to being gunned out of the corners but if a relatively even pace is maintained, the XC90 can entertain. Body control is good with vehicle easing itself into corners without the violent pitch and lurch of some big offroad offerings. The brakes do their job in a smooth, progressive manner and the Geartronic automatic gearbox shifts ratios smoothly so long as you are correspondingly easy with the throttle. The XC90 interior has been its unique selling point since launch and the thoughtful design helped make our nine hour incumbency something more than bearable. In many ways, the control interface is the antidote to the menu driven systems favoured by rival marques. These come across to many, particularly on first acquaintance, as complex and unfathomable but the XC90 keeps it simple. With most functions operated by their own large and clearly marked buttons, the fascia is more Fisher Price than minimalist chic but there’s definite appeal in that. In typically pragmatic fashion, Volvo have sacrificed the serious offroad ability that luxury 4x4 buyers never use for mild road manners and impressive comfort. The XC90 has more than enough traction for the Alpine snow and ice we encountered and that will be good enough for the vast majority of buyers in this sector. The build quality is strong and while the design lacks the finesse found in the top rival luxury 4x4s, there’s a simple, family-orientated feel that, along with the extensive boot and adaptable seven-berth seating system, is refreshingly in-keeping with this vehicle’s remit. It all makes the XC90 a highly rewarding companion on a trip like this. Rounding the last hairpin and cresting the final rise into Val Thorens, the journey home is seven days on the slopes away. Still, nine hours in an XC90 is no longer the foreboding prospect it was a day ago. For that, we’re extremely grateful.

Facts At A Glance CAR: Volvo XC90 D5 - Travel Story PRICE: £32,845-£46,780 - on the road INSURANCE GROUPS: 15-17 CO2 EMISSIONS: 219g/km PERFORMANCE: (manual) Max Speed 121mph / 0-60mph 10.9s FUEL CONSUMPTION: (manual) (urban) 26.4mpg / (extra urban) 40.9mpg /(combined) 34.0mpg STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Front & side airbags / ABS / SIPS / WHIPS WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Heightmm 4733/1860/1562mm

VOLVO ON A ROLL
Does Volvo Really Need An XC90 With A V8 Engine? The Market Would Seem To Think So. Andy Enright Reports

Volvo, that most caring and environmentally-oriented of car companies, would seem a rather odd candidate for developing a hulking great V8 engine. Surely these Swedes with an unimpeachable green reputation would be better served developing alternative fuel technology instead of relying on good old fashioned cubic capacity? On the surface it would appear that parent company Ford has corrupted the Scandinavian gene pool but, as is so often the case with Volvo, not all is as it seems. The XC90 V8 AWD is a luxury 4x4 with a conscience.

That may sound a little trite given that we’re talking about a 311bhp bruiser of a powerplant but this 4.4-litre engine is one of the smartest of its ilk and Volvo almost felt a responsibility to develop it. The market for seriously powerful all-wheel drive SUVs has taken off in the past few years with vehicles like the Porsche Cayenne and the Mercedes ML dramatically upping the ante. Volvo could either sit back and watch its rivals cleaning up or enter with its own take on the genre. The 322g/km of carbon dioxide that the XC90 emits may not make it quite the environmental poster child but compare it to the alternatives. The BMW X5 4.4i chugs out 335g/km, the Mercedes ML500 emits 339g/km and the Porsche Cayenne S spews out 361. That’s probably not enough to tip the balance in the Volvo’s favour if you’re a sceptic, but consider this. It meets stringent American ULEV II (Ultra Low Emission Vehicles II) standards thanks to four catalytic converters, a lean air/fuel mix for cold starting and a higher idling speed at cold start. Volvo’s engineers had identified that the first 15-20 seconds after starting was when the majority of harmful emissions were created and have worked to quell this occurrence. Volvo’s philosophy of trying to convert potential V8 customers to their way of thinking instead of plumping for more profligate rivals is a smart piece of thinking. We can but do our bit. After a weekend spent circuit racing and riding a two-stroke motocross bike, I realised I’d probably done more damage to the environment than Virgin’s entire 747 fleet but by using a ‘clean’ V8 on the way home, I was suffused with a rosy glow of environmental smugness. I was also rather taken with the fact that when you’re not so concerned with the limits of winter pack ice, the XC90 V8 will get to 60mph from standstill in under seven seconds with a hefty 440Nm of torque chiming in nicely at 3,900rpm.

"The XC90 V8 AWD is Volvo’s admission that just saying no is a counter productive philosophy"

The Swedish company’s first V8, this is the same powerplant that’s offered in the S80 V8 AWD and it’s something rather special. Its narrow V-configuration means that it’s possible – as with all Volvo engines – for it to be mounted transversely and still offer excellent crash protection space in the front crumple zone. With the block and the head cast in aluminium, this engine weighs in at just 190kg. Low weight means better handling, sharper acceleration, improved fuel economy and lower emissions. The introduction of this pivotal engine also coincides with some tweaks to the XC90’s styling that are worth taking another look at. The exterior design of the XC90 has long been one of its strong points. It’s imposing without ascribing to the neo-brutalist school of vehicle architecture popularised by the likes of the Land Rover Discovery and Jeep’s Commander. Instead, it mixes slab sides with smooth curves in a way that’s beautifully resolved. It’s recognisably a Volvo yet remains one of the best looking 4x4s money can buy. The latest car emphasises the curves of the XC90’s ‘shoulders’ with a redesigned tail light section. There’s also additional chrome detailing, a full-width rear scuff plate and a bumper that incorporates a little more body colouring to visually lower the rear of the car. The front also adds a splash more chrome and colour-coding while revised 18-inch alloy wheels and colour-coding for the side mouldings, mirrors and door handles give the flanks a cleaner look. Volvo is also offering a palette of more modern exterior colours including a very striking White Pearl finish. The interior has been given a makeover too with the aim of giving the XC90 a more luxurious, premium feel. The cabin was already extremely good in terms of functionality and ergonomics, if lacking a certain elegance that buyers in this market have increasingly come to expect. That’s fixed now. New materials and upholsteries including opulent Sovereign Hide soft leather, Sapele wood trims and aluminium detailing are all on offer to shunt the XC90 that little but further upmarket. An RTI satellite navigation system that works from a hard disk rather than a DVD is true next generation technology, it’s also quicker and easier to use than previous Volvo systems. Given that Volvo is Latin for ‘I roll’, it’s important that they give this tall 4x4 some outstanding safety credentials. Parent company Ford were, after the Explorer/ Firestone debacle, glad to hear that the XC90’s innovative Roll Stability Control (RSC) system received the World Traffic Safety Symposium Manufacturers Award. Volvo has approached this thorny issue with a three-pronged attack. In order to prevent the XC90 going dirty side up in the first instance, sophisticated gyroscopically-controlled stability software steadies even the most radical lane changing behaviour. Should you hit a kerb or ditch and roll the XC90, it features a boron-reinforced roof to prevent the upper body deforming. Finally, the XC90 also features curtain airbags that stay inflated ten times longer than normal bags in order to ensure passengers are kept away from flying glass and insulated from doorframes during a roll. The XC90 V8 AWD is fast, well-equipped, offers more than a nod to environmental responsibility but does so without imposing a severe financial burden. Consumer research shows that many of us want to be green but don’t want to make any sacrifices in doing so. Here’s the solution. It’s big, bold and has a Volvo badge on the back.

Facts At A Glance CAR: Volvo XC90 V8 AWD PRICES: £44,330-£54,420 - on the road INSURANCE GROUP: 18 CO2 EMISSIONS: 322g/km PERFORMANCE: Max Speed 149mph / 0-60mph 6.8s FUEL CONSUMPTION: (combined) 20.9mpg STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Front & side airbags / ABS / SIPS / WHIPS WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Heightmm 4733/1860/1562mm