Volvo XC90 R-Design

Upgrading to a sportier trim usually means you get sharper styling at the expense of driving comfort. However, the Volvo XC90 R-Design manages to look sporty and is nearly as comfortable as the standard model – in spite of its larger wheel and tyre combination. The newcomer is expensive, at almost £50,000, but if you want a sporty-looking, spacious SUV with reasonable running costs, it’s well worth considering.

Manufacturers know that sport sells, and buyers wanting a racier look for their new car are well catered for. While some makers hang their sport trims on the coat tails of performance models, Volvo hasn’t got that luxury. But that doesn’t stop it from offering its sporty R-Design trim across the range, including on the new Volvo XC90 SUV.

Like other R-Design models in the line-up, the XC90 gets unique styling touches inside and out. There are matt-silver wing mirrors, a subtle bodykit, a gloss-black grille and matt trim around the grille and windows.

You also get a set of 20-inch alloys wrapped in low-profile tyres, while full LED headlamps are still a talking point of the design. The result is an imposing SUV, especially in vivid Passion Red paint – exclusive to R-Design trim.

Climb inside, and you’re not left wanting for kit. The stylish cabin is boosted by R-Design-branded electric leather seats and two-zone climate control, while the Volvo’s smart touchscreen with sat-nav adds to the minimalist look.

There’s a leather steering wheel and gearlever to mark the car out, too, but as soon as you hit the road, it’s clear this model is no more performance-orientated than the standard model.

We tried the D5 diesel, and while it’s quick enough, the 222bhp four-cylinder engine makes itself heard when pushing on and disrupts the tranquil cabin. A Dynamic setting firms up the suspension and sharpens the engine and gearbox response, but as the XC90 is such a big car, body roll is still an issue in corners.

Plus, while the steering is firmer, it doesn’t offer much in the way of feedback. There are shift paddles if you want to take manual control of the eight-speed auto, yet you’ll soon find it’s easier to let the electronics do the work.

The Volvo is better in Comfort mode, and although the low-profile tyres do add extra road noise and make the ride firmer, it’s not uncomfortable. If you’re intent on saving fuel, Eco mode softens throttle response, yet this encourages you to press the pedal harder to get something out of it, which completely defeats the object of the setting.

Stick in Comfort mode, and the XC90 is a refined cruiser, while the sportier cabin hasn’t compromised the car’s practicality. You still get a seven-seat layout, and there’s plenty of space for all passengers, although the dark interior trim does feel oppressive.

Key specs

• Model: Volvo XC90 D5 R-Design
• Price: £49,285
• Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl diesel
• Power: 222bhp
• Transmission: Eight-speed auto, four-wheel drive
• 0-62mph: 7.8 seconds
• Top speed: 137mph
• Economy/CO2: 48.7mpg/152g/km

New Volvo XC90 T8 Twin Engine

Timing counts for a lot in the car business, and with consumers thinking twice about diesel power, the arrival of Volvo's plug-in hybrid XC90 couldn't have come at a better time.

The XC90 is, of course, the reigning Auto Express Car of the Year so the base for this new T8 Twin Engine (Volvo speak for plug-in hybrid) is seriously impressive. We love the XC90's style, quality, kit and refinement - the latter of which is moved up a further notch by the part-electric drivetrain.

The T8 combines a 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine over the front axle with an electric motor sitting over the rear axle. The electric motor can be used on its own for around 26 miles, or in combination with the engine for a combined 402bhp.

The stats are important in a car like this - not necessarily the claimed 134mpg (good luck achieving that) but the 49g/km CO2 figure, which will roughly halve your company car tax bill compared to the equivalent diesel, in spite of the near £14,000 premium you’ll pay for the T8.

Equally important is a 0-60mph time of 5.3 seconds with the car in power mode and your foot buried to the floor. With both motors working their hardest, you've also got the accompaniment of a synthetic engine note piped into the cabin to remind you how quickly you're going - and it's not half bad.

There's a similarly decent amount of shove if you bury the throttle when you're on the move, although in hybrid mode there's a slight hesitation as the eight-speed box decides to drop down a gear or two - power mode lessens that. Yet in spite of the other optional drive modes – ‘Save’ to hold back on the use of electric power for town use, ‘Pure’ for full EV mode or ‘AWD’ to ensure all wheels are constantly driven - most owners would do well to leave the car in Hybrid and let the electrics sort things out.

You could always delve into the menus on the wonderful 9-inch portrait-oriented touchscreen and devise your own Individual setting, but left to its own devices the T8 will switch between modes relatively seamlessly, adding to the feeling of calm in the cabin.

But while the performance is impressive, this is not a sporty SUV. The steering is too relaxed in its nature and the centre of gravity of the car feels just too high. No, this is a relaxed and comfy cruiser with a good turn of speed and impressive efficiency.

It's quiet, too, although perhaps Volvo should investigate tyres that rumble a bit less than the Pirellis fitted to our car – everything else is so hushed, tyre noise seems amplified.

The brakes take a bit of getting used to as well. They feel a bit wooden at first, needing a fair stomp to react, but then they do have a lot to do, sending energy back to the battery pack hidden in the spine of the car as well as stopping this big, heavy SUV.

Opt for air suspension and the Volvo XC90 rides nicely - although it's now beaten by the new Audi Q7 in that respect - and while the interior is beautifully built and looks fabulous, again, the Q7 has moved the game on already.

The Volvo feels more spacious inside than the Audi, though, with deeper windows (and better visibility) and lighter materials, while all seven seats offer as much space and comfort as you'll expect or probably need. You can also guarantee there won't be many safer places to put your family.

Volvo has also taken a leaf out of Audi's book with an options list that can add a fair bit of heft to the price. Our top-of-the-line Inscription model comes nicely kitted out, but some of the more interesting safety and luxury items available are options - that said, with gadgets that will steer, accelerate and brake the car for you in slow-moving traffic and a wonderful Bowers and Wilkins sound system, we'd certainly consider them.

The XC90 remains a worthy Car of the Year winner and this plug-in hybrid adds to its already sizeable appeal. The numbers and tax savings speak for themselves, and if your daily usage can make use of electric power, you'll continue to reap the financial rewards while enjoying a great car along the way.

Key specs

• Model: Volvo XC90 T8 Twin Engine Inscription
• Price: £59,995
• Transmission: Four-cylinder petrol engine plus electric motor, eight speed auto, four-wheel drive
• 0-60mph/Top speed: 5.3s/140mph
• Economy: 134.5mpg/49g/km
• Equipment: Autonomous emergency braking, leather seats, 9-inch touchscreen, DAB radio

Volvo XC70

 

The Volvo XC70 offers plenty of practicality, comfort and can tackle the rough stuff, too.

 

The Volvo XC70 is a four-wheel-drive version of the V70 estate, with a raised ride height to give it some off-road capability. It's a direct rival to the Audi A6 allroad and similar in concept to the Vauxhall Insignia Country Tourer and VW Passat Alltrack. Like the standard V70, the XC70 has a big boot and high-quality interior, but it should be able to go further in snowy, icy or muddy conditions. Depending on where in the UK you live, that ability could be vital at certain times of the year. Setting the XC70 apart from the regular estate are plastic body cladding and metal sump guards. It also has longer-travel suspension, which means it rides better – although this inevitably results in more body roll when driving through corners. Overall, the XC70 should prove to be tough, dependable and practical family transport, especially for those who don't like driving crossovers or SUVs such as Volvo's XC60 and XC90.

Volvo has not made the XC70 look hugely different to the V70 on which it's based. It's simply jacked up the suspension, added some plastic body cladding and fitted metal scuff plates under the front and rear bumpers. The end result does add poise and presence to the car, although it's not exactly attractive. Things are better inside, where Volvo's trademark floating centre console is the stand-out feature. The driver's controls are all user friendly and logically laid-out – particularly the intuitive buttons for the ventilation system. 

With soft, long-travel suspension for better off-road performance, the XC70 rides very comfortably on rough or potholed roads. It's a smooth motorway cruiser, too, however once you hit a twisty back road, you'll find it suffers from a good deal more body roll than the standard V70 through corners. When you do tackle the rough stuff, the XC70 doesn't disappoint. It has an impressive four-wheel-drive system and a full 210mm of ground clearance to avoid large rocks and ruts. Two diesels and one petrol engine are available. The latter is a 300bhp T6 that delivers rapid acceleration but will be quite heavy on fuel. The diesels are a better compromise: the 161bhp D4 is more than sufficient while the 212bhp D5 has a nice bit of extra shove. 

All of Volvo's engines and transmissions are well proven and have an excellent reliability record. XC70 owners are more likely to encounter electronic problems - specifically affecting the central locking system and engine immobiliser. Elsewhere, Volvo's longstanding commitment to best-in-class safety is reflected in the V70's maximum five-star Euro NCAP crash-test score, and there is a long list of passive and active safety systems available for the XC70.  

Volvo estates have always majored on practicality, and the XC70 continues that trend. Rear-seat passengers enjoy plenty of head and legroom, while a low loading lip and flat-folding rear seats mean it's easy to make the most of the 575-litre boot (which expands 1,600 litres with the seats lowered). Clever storage spaces can be found throughout the cabin: there's a rubbish bin in the back and an umbrella holder built into the tailgate. 

Avoid the XC70 T6 petrol model if you want to keep costs down. The 300bhp engine is undoubtedly fast, but consumes fuel at an alarming rate – and residual values suffer as a result. The 161bhp D4 diesel with a manual gearbox is the most efficient drivetrain for the XC70, returning 51.4mpg and emitting only 144g/km of CO2. Even with those impressive figures, the car still goes from 0-60mph in 9.6 seconds. Volvo servicing can be quite expensive, and the XC70 won't match the residual values of an Audi or BMW. 

Volvo S60 Cross Country 2015

Is the four-door saloon crossover a niche too far? Volvo is hedging its bets, and predicts shifting just 100 units a year of the S60 Cross Country in the UK. In the metal, the pumped-up saloon car looks far better that it does in the pictures, and for some that could be enough to win them over. It rides better than the standard saloon, too, and excels at long-distance refinement. But despite its likeability, we’d go for the more versatile V60 Cross Country all-wheel drive version - its more practical body shape is more suited to the outdoor lifestyle its jacked-up stance promotes. 

Coupe SUVs, four-door coupes, performance crossovers – there are plenty of niches these days, but Volvo has still managed to find another. Meet the S60 Cross Country – a saloon crossover that’s supposed to fuse all the luxuries of a conventional four-door with the rugged, go-anywhere appeal of Volvo’s off-road XC models.

It’s true that the S60 Cross Country is the only saloon crossover on the market – but Volvo isn’t the first to pull this trick. American car firm AMC revealed its Eagle in the Seventies and Subaru had a strong reputation for four-wheel drive saloons with raised ground clearances with its US-only Legacy SUS in the Nineties.

The S60 Cross Country sits 65mm higher than the regular saloon but there’s no trick suspension with configurable off-road modes – the Cross Country relies upon a taller springs and tough-looking bodywork jewellery, and that’s it. So there’s a new honeycomb grille pinched from the smaller V40 Cross Country, a lower front grille, silver-coloured scuff plate and dark grey trim which also incorporates the day-running lights. Along the sides there are plastic wheel-larch extensions and side scuff plates, and the window surround is finished in gloss black, as are the door mirrors. At the back there’s Cross Country branding on the bumper, a silver scuff plate and two-tone 18-inch alloys complete the makeover. 

It might sound like a bit of a mish-mash, but Volvo has managed to pull it off – in fact, the more we looked at it, the more we liked it. Due to the S60’s sloping roofline, swoopy front and blunt back-end remaining untouched for this model, the Cross Country could be confused for a coupe SUV like the BMW X4 – but perhaps that’s just us.

You won’t confuse the interior with anything other than a Volvo S60, though. Apart from the leather seats with contrasting copper stitching, it’s a carbon copy of the standard saloon, so there’s a well-made dashboard, button-heavy floating centre stack, super comfy seats, loads of steering wheel adjustment for the perfect driving position, and Volvo’s smart TFT instrument cluster. It also gets Volvo’s Sensus infotainment system, electric front seats and Volvo’s strong suit of safety kit including City Safe autonomous braking. Rear space is tighter compared to other premium saloons like the BMW 3 Series though, and the boot’s 380-litre capacity is 100 litres short of the BMW too.  

The S60 Cross Country can be ordered with all-wheel drive – opt for this and you’ll get Volvo’s throaty 188bhp five-cylinder 2.4-litre diesel under the bonnet and a six-speed auto box, but with CO2 emissions of 149g/km and combined fuel consumption of 49.6mpg it’ll be costly to run. We drove the front-wheel drive version that uses Volvo’s brand new 2.0-litre, four-cylinder diesel engine and a six-speed manual box, and with CO2 emissions of just 111g/km and 67.3mpg it’ll be far kinder to your pocket.

With the same 188bhp as the 2.4, the 2.0-litre gets from 0-60mph in 7.4 seconds, but it never feels that quick. You have to stir the six-speed box a lot to make decent progress, but the cabin is nicely isolated from engine noise. In fact, the insulation is just the start of the refined, cosseting driving experience - thanks to the extra ride height and 18-inch alloys wrapped in deep side-walled rubber, the ride quality is excellent – a welcome transformation from the slightly brittle standard S60. Turn into a corner and the S60’s well-weighted but ultimately numb steering remains, but surprisingly the jacked-up S60 doesn’t roll as much as you’d expect – body control is well checked. 

Key specs

• Price: £33,695
• Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbodiesel
• Transmission: Six-speed manual, front-wheel drive
• Power/torque: 188bhp/400Nm
• 0-62mph/top speed: 7.4s/130mph
• Economy/CO2: 67.3mpg/111g/km
• On sale: Now

 

Volvo XC90

 

New Volvo XC90 is one of the best SUVs you can buy, with quality, efficiency, space, comfort and, of course, safety.

The wait for the new Volvo XC90 has been well worthwhile. Debuting a whole new platform and efficient four-cylinder-only engines (one with plug-in hybrid tech), it has the style and quality to match Audi, BMW and Land Rover in the premium SUV segment, with new levels of safety – as you’d expect from Volvo.

The D5 diesel is the clear pick of the range, being quiet and with just enough get up and go. The T6 petrol offers decent poke, but like the plug-in hybrid-powered T8 range topper, the whine of a four-cylinder engine takes some getting used to in a market where six or eight cylinders are the norm. Go for the diesel - the petrol engine is fun, but sounds whiny and is thirstier.

Most buyers will be happy with the generous safety tally and upmarket kit you get on entry-level Momentum cars, although Inscription or the sportier R-Design trims will tempt you with even more clever stuff. There's a whole heap of standard kit too, with climate control, leather, sat nav and LED headlamps all thrown in.

However, key to the XC90’s appeal is it’s spacious, upmarket interior and the comfort and refinement on offer – this is a relaxing car to drive due to the plush ride and near silence. Being a Volvo, the seats are incredibly comfortable with a great level of adjustment and support. It's a genuine seven-seater too, with even adults as tall ats 5ft 7in able to squeeze into the third row of seats.

Our pick: Volvo XC90 D5 Momentum.

Volvos of old were known for their boxy, sedate designs, but with the original XC90 SUV, the brand spiced up the styling with a more flowing body and some interesting details. For this all-new XC90, Volvo has taken things to the next level – this is the flagship of the range and sets a template for what future models will look like: cool, classy and understated.

There are Scandinavian influences everywhere, according to Volvo. Take the T-shaped ‘Thor’s Hammer’ daytime running lights, for example – the narrow light bars give the XC90 an aggressive glare, helped by its deep front bumper and bluff radiator grille. Despite this square-set front end, the rounded wheelarches and raked windscreen pillars provide a sleek and aerodynamic look, but the 19-inch alloy wheels and silver roof rails on our test car mean it still has more than a hint of rugged SUV.

At the rear, the XC90 is less striking, but the brand’s designers have still used the light clusters to good effect. The tail-lamps run from the top of the boot right down to the bumper, and with Volvo’s traditional kink halfway down, the XC90 is instantly recognisable in the dark. There’s also a small boot lip spoiler and a few creases in the tailgate. Combine that with the car’s dual exhausts, and it makes for a minimalist and crisp rear end.

That theme is repeated inside, with expensive-feeling brushed metal inserts, lots of leather and an attractive layout. Compared to the last XC90, Volvo has decluttered the dashboard and removed most of the buttons. Instead, the entertainment and climate systems are controlled by a central touchscreen, flanked by two main air vents and some lovely chrome detailing. Along with the Range Rover-like digital dials, it’s the highlight of the cabin.

All of the main on-board functions are controlled by this nine-inch tablet-style set-up, including the sat-nav, DAB radio, climate control and Bluetooth. Our test car was also fitted with the £575 Winter Pack, featuring heated seats, a £700 360-degree camera system, Volvo’s £650 automatic parking gadget and the £1,500 Intellisafe Pro package that includes Queue Assist – a semi-autonomous system that takes control of the accelerator, brakes and steering in slow traffic.

The new XC90 may have four-wheel drive, but it’s more SUV than 4x4. Its road-biased set up means a comfortable ride in all models (although we’d steer clear of the 21-inch wheels) and plenty of grip. However, there’s a fair amount of body roll if you do take corners quickly (most owners won’t) while the steering errs on the side of lightness rather than sporty reaction – we preferred delving into the drive settings to opt for a comfortable ride, relaxed gear changes, but a bit more steering weight.

The engines provide decent if not outrageous performance, but they’re all reasonable when it comes to CO2 and mpg, especially the T8 with its clever plug-in hybrid tech – it’ll go around 25 miles on electric power alone. Volvo’s four-cylinder-only engine policy means a slightly higher-pitched engine note than you might expect in the petrol cars, but refinement is generally really impressive.

Even then the diesel sounds reasonably cultured rather than rattly. The petrol engine is similarly smooth and refined, but the four-cylinder whine is unusual in a car this size.

There's strong mid-range performance in diesel, but it lacks real punch - its doesn't feel as fast at the figures suggest. On the move, the downsized unit is adequate, with enough punch to keep up with fast-moving traffic. However, you do have to push the accelerator a long way to get a decent hit of performance, which means the gearbox holds on to revs before changing up. This can make things a bit noisy, although it’s much quieter and more refined at a cruise, with the eight-speed automatic gearbox shuffling ratios nicely.

Refinement is class leading, though - there's vague hint of wind noise around the mirrors (that sit back on the front doors to improve forward visibility) but it's only noticable due to the general quiet and calm in the cabin.

The XC90 strikes a neat balance between comfort and agility, with great body control and a rounded edge to the suspension’s damping. It means you can push the car and use the nicely weighted, quick steering to guide it down even narrow country lanes while still retaining the composed ride.

Traditionally, Volvo has been known for its dependability. However, it slipped six places to 17th in our Driver Power 2015 satisfaction survey, and was only the 20th most reliable brand out of 32. Only the first few customers will have received their XC90s by now, so reliability reports are scarce, and although the Volvo is packed full of new tech, we’re confident it should prove reliable.

Euro NCAP hasn’t crash tested the new SUV yet, but the brand claims it has the most comprehensive safety package on sale. This includes two world firsts: a Run Off-Road system that senses if you veer off the tarmac – preparing the car for a crash – and special energy-absorbent seats that’ll reduce the impact of a big hit. There’s also a clever autonomous braking system, which stops you turning in front of an oncoming car.

On top of this, the XC90 gets all of the usual safety kit, including seven airbags and ESP, while blind spot warning, rear cross traffic alert and the Queue Assist function are available as extras.

In seven-seat configuration, the Volvo offers a great mix of refinement and practicality, with 451 litres of boot space. Fold the third row down – an easier job than in the Discovery thanks to the simpler mechanism – and this rises to 1,102 litres. Stow them all away, and there’s 1,951 litres on offer. Plus, with a low loading lip and ‘hands-free’ powered tailgate as standard, it’ll be easy to pack away shopping.

There's a pop-up shopping bag holder in the boot, although it can't quite pop up if the rearmost seats are up, and a very shallow under-boot area that the T8's charging cord can live in. There's nowhere to store the luggage cover when seven seats are being used, though - it just sits across the floor.

Even the third row of seats is reasonably generous for adults – although headroom will be tight for some. However, you’ll have to be fairly agile to climb up and past the second row.

Seats six and seven are the same size as those in the row two and set slightly inwards for a better view forward. Theatre-style seating rising towards the back of the car helps, too, although the floor in the second row isn’t entirely flat due to a transmission tunnel (that also houses the batteries in the plug-in hybrid) that limits foot space for the middle passenger.

There’s a large storage area in the centre console, a decent glovebox and a deep central cubbyhole. Storage in the back row is good as well, with each seat getting its own cup-holder and trinket tray. However, the XC90 doesn’t offer heating controls for the rear.

The XC90 T8 Twin Engine will be a favourite among company car users – its plug-in hybrid tech registering a claimed 112.9mpg but a more useful 59g/km of CO2. That’s assuming you can stretch to the £60,000 price tag for a Momentum model. Plus, let's be honest, the plug-in hybrid will get nowhere near its claimed mpg.

More popular will be the XC90 D5, which still claims a reasonable 48.7mpg and 149g/km of CO2 – and a £14,000 price advantage over the T8. Sitting between the two is the XC90 T6 petrol with its 316bhp four-cylinder engine offering 35.3mpg and 179g/km of CO2.

The old XC90 proved to be quite stubborn in holding on to its value, so we’d expect this new model to be no different.