Road test: Volvo XC90 D5 AWD
Volvo’s new seven-seat XC90 SUV launches here in mid-May, and the company has a lot riding on it — about £7.45 billion, to be precise.
That is how much it has cost to develop the company’s new SPA (scalable product architecture) platform, on which rests not only the new XC90 but Volvo’s hopes of almost reinventing itself as a brand.
The XC90 has been a hit since it appeared in 2002, and the new car looks similar to its predecessor, but it is more handsome and instantly recognisable by its T-shaped LED running lights, which have been dubbed “Thor’s hammer”.
Three versions are coming to the UK, all with two-litre, four-cylinder engines. The entry-level D5 has a 225hp diesel motor and is expected to account for three-quarters of all sales. The petrol-engined T6 has 320hp and the flagship T8 Twin Engine has a 318hp petrol engine and an 80hp electric motor.
Paradoxically, the T8 felt the least convincing on the road. You are well aware that the petrol motor is working hard, and the weighty battery pack mounted along the transmission tunnel makes it feel slightly arduous going through bends.
But these are pre-production cars and the Volvo engineers accept the car needs more fine-tuning before release. The D5 diesel sounds a little gruff when accelerating but is smooth at cruising speeds. The lack of an extra two cylinders is the trade-off for decent fuel consumption.
The car’s simple but elegant cabin is vastly improved. There is a 19-speaker sound system, head-up display and raft of safety equipment, including rear collision warning, park assist and a 360-degree view.
This is an elegant, well-made and safe car. The only compromise for owners is the slight lack of engine refinement, which would have given it a true premium feel.
Volvo XC90 D5 AWD
Top speed: 136mph;
MPG: 48.7;
CO2: 149g/km;
Price: £45,550
