Meet the new Volvo XC90 SUV
VOLVO'S THREE-ROW SUV MAKES A FIRST OFFICIAL APPEARANCE IN STOCKHOLM
The new Volvo XC90 SUV is officially here. After years of show-car teases, we finally have our first firm look at the Swedish brand’s future styling direction. It's more than just sheetmetal, though. The XC90 also ushers in a new era of infotainment and safety technology for Volvo, for better or for worse. It’s the first all-Volvo vehicle to arrive since Ford sold the brand toChina’s Geely in 2010, and it’s the first product to benefit from Volvo’s new Scalable Product Architecture (SPA) platform.
“This is one of the most important days in our history. We are not just launching a car but re-launching our brand," saidHåkan Samuelsson, president and CEO of Volvo Car Group. Such statements could ordinarily be chalked up to an overzealous marketing department, but in the case of Volvo -- a brand that’s seen its U.S. sales decline by more than half in the past few years -- the XC90 marks a turning point. If American consumers don’t warm to the brand’s new products, it’s hard to see a future for Volvo here.
First though, the new look of Volvo. Those daytime running lights are known as “Thor’s Hammer,” and they’re arguably the most distinctive part of the design. While Volvo claims a “new, confident face” for the brand, anyone who’s seen a Buick Enclave in the past few days will recognize numerous design similarities, particularly in the vertical grille bars. From the side, the XC90 has the muscle of the Volkswagen Touareg, accented by a more rigid Scandinavian look to the shoulder line. It’s undeniably attractive, but those who were hoping for a larger link to Volvo’s stunning concept cars of late are going to be let down.
Interior design takes a leap forward, however: Volvo’s austere interior aesthetic has given way to a warmer (yet still unmistakably Swedish) cockpit with matte wood and leather accented by crystal-cut glass on the shifter. What may be more controversial is a new tablet-sized central touchscreen controller not unlike that found in the Tesla Model S; it controls most in-vehicle functions and is complemented by redundant steering-wheel controls and a voice-command system. A quick demo showed quick response times to commands, but we’ll wait for a real-world test to pass judgement.
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Each of the seven seats inside the XC90 is capable of independently moving and folding for cargo flexibility. The third-row seating positions feature the same seating design as the other two rows; legroom is still tight, but the seats are vastly better than the compromised, temporary-feeling seats found on most three-row SUVs. Available four-zone climate control with a rear air-conditioning unit should help keep rear passengers more comfortable.
The XC90 is being launched on the heels of Volvo’s all-four-cylinder engine strategy; every model in the XC90 lineup uses the new Drive-E turbocharged 2.0-liter I4 making 316 hp as its core powerplant. There’s no turbo I5 or I6 option, but Volvo is offering what they call the Twin Engine XC90 plug-in hybrid that uses a turbo and supercharged I4 combined with an 80-hp electric motor for approximately 400 combined hp. Front- and all-wheel-drive models will be available, and an eight-speed automatic will be the sole transmission.
Given Volvo’s historical safety focus, it’s no surprise that engineers placed a high emphasis on safety features and driver aids in the new XC90. In addition to the now-expected suite of active safety technologies, the XC90 comes with standard auto braking that covers bikes, pedestrians and other vehicles day and night. Volvo also reiterated its Vision 2020 goal in which no one will be killed or seriously injured in a Volvo vehicle by 2020.
Full pricing details aren't yet available, but Volvo has announced a well-equipped XC90 T6 AWD will start at $48,900 when it arrives in U.S. showrooms in April 2015; the fully loaded XC90 First Edition models will wear a sticker of $65,900.
We’ll have more details on some of the technology and design found in the new Volvo XC90 in the coming days and weeks, and we’ll bring you our drive impressions as soon as Volvo puts us behind the wheel.
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