By: Dave Abrahams
Franschhoek – Volvo's new XC90 new, released in South Africa this week, looks butch and chunky on the outside, but the spacious interior is so Swedish it's almost a caricature.
Huge expanses of naturally blonde wood – or brushed aluminium, depending on the trim level – surround an iPad-sized touchscreen, a digital instrument cluster and a handful of switches and buttons, far fewer than you'd find in a comparable luxury SUV from any other maker.
What saves it from Ikeaville, however, is the luxuriously touch-friendly leather trim and superbly comfortable seating, encouraging you to relax and make yourself at home even when you're throwing the XC90 at the scenery. Navigating around the car's systems and settings is a simple, unfussy swipe-and-tap process; with a little practice you can take care of the basics without taking your eyes off the road.
It's a big vehicle, a little longer and noticeably wider than its predecessor - about on a par with a BMW X5 – although downsized engines, and intelligent use of aluminium and high-strength steels in the body make it significantly lighter. More importantly, clever packaging has created sufficient cabin volume that even the third row of seats is quite comfortable for passengers up to 1.7 metres tall.
All XC90's are powered by variations of the same engine - a force-fed 1969cc transverse four, with different cylinder heads for diesel and petrol, mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission, and all but the entry-level front-wheel-drive D4 have all-wheel drive as standard.
SA MARKET LINE-UP
Two models will be available in South Africa at launch from 1 August – the biturbo D5 oil-burner, rated for 165kW at 4250 revs and 470Nm from 1750-2500rpm, and the supercharged and turbocharged T6 petrol, with a quoted 235kW at 5700rpm and 400Nm from 1500-4800rpm.
These will be followed in the fourth quarter of 2015 by the entry-level D4 diesel (140kW at 4250rpm, 400Nm from 1750-2500) and the high-pressure turbo'ed T5 petrol (187kW at 5500rpm, 350Nm from 2200-5400) and, in the first half of 2016, by the flagship T8 Twin Engine plug-in hybrid, which combines the 235kW T6 engine with a 65kW electric motor on the rear axle, for a total of 300kW and 640Nm, enough to launch the XC90 from 0-100 in 5.9 seconds and on to 230km/h flat out, at a nominal cost of 2.1 litres per 100km, including a 400V battery with enough capacity for more than 40km of 'stealth mode' driving.
There are three standard trim levels – Momentum (standard) and Inscription (luxury), available in all five flavours, and sporty R-Design, on all but the D4, as well as a list of extra-cost options including a head-up display, adaptive air suspension and variable-rate power-assisted steering.
From our base at the Conservatory, just outside Franschhoek, we were able to drive both the D5 and T6 over the tortuous Franschhoek pass, down the fast sweeps of the Theewaterskloof valley and back. Each was sure-footed and tracked well, with no discernable body roll (a marked improvement on previous Volvo SUVs) although I was always conscious that I sitting on, rather than in, a two-ton vehicle, and that the laws of physics are as immutable for Volvo as for any other vehicle.
MUSCULAR MID-RANGE
The standard double-wishbone front and multi-link, torsion-bar rear suspension was firm but with supple initial movement to soak up ripples and road cracks, while the long wheelbase obviated nausea-inducing pitching.
In typical AWD fashion, the front end could be made to 'push' near the limit of adhesion, resulting in mild understeer, and I once got the back end of the T6 to step out momentarily under power, exiting a bumpy corner, although the traction control soon put paid to that bit of exuberance, sharply cutting the power until the wheels were back in line.
I first drove the D5, which impressed with its muscular mid-range through tight corners. With peak torque available from below 2000rpm, initial acceleration was explosive, with little or no tendency to change down unexpectedly when asked to deliver the goods. As a result, we passed everything in sight over the pass without ever actually getting into a hurry.
The T6, in contrast, does its best work above 4000rpm, so as soon as you put foot, there's a momentary delay while the eight-speed Geartronic changes down two or even three cogs to get into the meat of the power band, followed by a high-pitched howl as both turbo and supercharger kick in.
On the fast bends and long straights of the valley, however, the T6 showed impressive top-end pace, rapidly shifting up to top gear and staying there, running smoothly and quietly at thoroughly naughty speeds – although fuel consumption rose to an equally naughty 15.5 litres per 100km.
Which one you choose, then, would depend on where you intend to use it, although the D5 is the more relaxed ride under all circumstances.
PRICES
D4 Momentum – R804 900
D4 Inscription – R844 600
T5 Momentum – R827 400
T5 Inscription – R868 000
T5 R-Design – R888 700
D5 Momentum – R853 200
D5 Inscription – R893 900
D5 R-Design – R914 600
T6 Momentum – R867 000
T6 Inscription – R907 600
T6 R-Design – R928 300
T8 Momentum – R1 005 100
T8 Inscription – R1 042 000
T8 R-Design – R1 066 400
As to the profile of an XC90 customer, we agreed it was most likely to be a tech-savvy, professional family person, with a healthy lifestyle, a strong streak of independence and probably a technical background such as architecture or engineering – someone able to understand what Volvo is trying to achieve with the new XC90 and appreciate its left-of-centre way of getting there.
IOL