I call it love at first sight. She is massive, huge and bulky. She stands tall and is sturdy. She commands respect and stands out in a crowd. Just the way I like it. She is Volvo XC90. And one cannot help but fall in love with her.
With the recent launch of the second generation model of XC90, it seems Volvo has done a commendable job of marrying the premium features with a rugged look. It brings style with comfort, speed with safety. Altogether, the SUV certainly raises the level of excitement. Just as exciting as the recent change in ownership and management of the company.
In fact the 2015 Volvo XC90 is the first completely new car developed in-house after Volvo was acquired by China’s Geely Holding. So it wouldn’t be wrong to say that Volvo with this launch is riding high on expectations. And, why not? It has turned the heat on and made sure the competition is stiff.
But, let’s just see what makes XC90 what she is. As for the design, the car has introduced new refreshing headlamps. The T-shaped headlights that Volvo calls “Thor’s Hammer” (from Swedish mythology) serve well. And they add the right luminosity. The front grille with a cross line looks classy. And, just by looking at it one can tell that the manufacturer has put in a lot of thought and care into the making. The very design, attention to minute detail at the front and the rear makes it a spectacle.
In India the Volvo XC90 will be offered in two trims: the entry level Momentum, and the top-end Inscription. The Inscription gets a full chrome front grille and larger wheels in comparison to the Momentum. As I stand by its side I can't take my eyes off the car. And peeping inside the cabin from those big laminated glass windows I can't but jump straight in.
Well yes, it’s a bit tall. A bit high. But, never short on its offerings. It has active air suspension to take care of you.
Marketed as a seven-seater, it isn’t much of a problematic climb even to the rear third row. From the driver’s seat, it is pleasing to experience the compactness of the vehicle.
The car, despite being spacious and big, doesn’t really make you feel as if you are riding an elephant. It is agile and easy to steer. It’s crisp and holds firm to the ground. With the D 5, 2 litre, four cylinder engine it produces 225 bhp with an 8-speed automatic gearbox.
And, even if the tech specs aren’t excellent, they are still better than good. And, by the way, no love shall be complete without despair. Volvo doesn’t go overboard with its features. It keeps them just right. There is a little possibility that you might complain about the acceleration but that’s only if you are the pessimistic kind. For this machine never lets you go down on cheer.
The cabin designing, I must say, is topline. It doesn’t make you feel lost. The dashboard has a screen fixed with just 4 buttons on the home-screen. This Sensus system with Bowers & Wilkins speakers creates magic. And, if you set it on the concert hall mode it is likely you will run out of fuel before you run out of enjoyment. This is a delight and a big plus that the latest XC90 offers.
Then there are a host of other features like the clean zone filter which keeps a check on the entry of polluted air into your cabin, adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, etc. I suggest, it is a supreme car. And it deserves a place not just on the roads, but in our hearts.
For Volvo this time has taken quite a few steps ahead.
