Ever since the Swedish automaker Volvo got bought out by a Chinese firm a few years ago, some new models and facelifts got introduced. The latest incarnation is the 2015 Volvo XC90. You might have seen people talking about the new luxury SUV online. Or perhaps you’ve seen some advertising about the vehicle in a newspaper.
But if you don’t have the full lowdown on Volvo’s newest model, you have come to the right place. That’s because I will give you a first look at the XC90 for today’s review. After spending some time test driving it and learning of its features, one thing’s for certain. There are plenty of reasons to get excited about the new Volvo XC90!
Here is what you need to know about the Swedish firm’s newest model in the 2015 lineup:
Three impressive engines
There are three power plants to choose from with the new 2015 Volvo XC90. The first is a 2.0-litre D5 turbodiesel engine. It produces 221 brake horsepower and will get you to 60 mph from a standing start in a not-too-shabby 7.6 seconds.
It also boasts CO2 emissions of 149 g/km and combined fuel economy of 48 mpg. There will be no doubt that the D5 is going to be the engine of choice for business users and long-distance drivers. In fact, the http://www.carcogroup.co.uk/ website has already seen plenty of enquiries and pre-orders for the D5 variant of the XC90!
The next engine is a 2.0-litre “T8” unit. What’s unique about this choice is it’s both turbocharged and supercharged. Oh, and did I mention it also has an electric motor too? It offers a whopping 394 brake horsepower as standard and has a 0-60 mph time of 6.2 seconds. If you want to be an eco-friendly motorist, the XC90 with this engine is your best choice.
Why? Because it only produces a mere 64 g/km of CO2 emissions! In some parts of the world, car tax gets based on engine emissions. In the UK, for example, you would not pay any tax on this particular vehicle as it has less than 99 g/km of CO2 emissions.
Last but not least is the 2.0-litre T6 petrol engine. Like the T8, it’s twin-charged but doesn’t come with an electric powertrain. Still, 315 brake horsepower and a 0-60 mph time of 6.3 seconds will more than make up for it!
On the road
Take an XC90 out for a drive, and you will realise that you’ve never driven such a comfortable car before in your life!
Admittedly it’s not a vehicle you’d throw around corners given its size. But don’t let that put you off because the model offers plenty of grip in all road conditions. It’s clear that Volvo want to tempt BMW X5 drivers away from the fold and into an XC90.
Equipment
There are three trim levels on the Volvo XC90 – Momentum, R-Design and Inscription. The “basic” trim level is anything but frugal! Some of the features you get as standard include LED headlights, rain-sensing wipers and a power tailgate.
You also get stylish twin exhaust tailpipes, rear parking sensors and 19-inch alloy wheels. The R-Design gets 20-inch wheels and sporty interior and exterior styling. The Inscription adds leather upholstery to the list of features.
If you’re in the market for something like a BMW X5 or Audi Q7, I recommend checking out the Volvo XC90 before making a decision.
Photo credit : Flickr
