As I mentioned in my preview post last week, there were several cars I drove at the IMPA’s Test Days that I would be featuring more in-depth driving impressions of. Considering it was the vehicle I was most excited about test driving (you heard me, not the Mustang, Corvette, or AMG GT S), it’s only appropriate that I start with the all-new 2016 Volvo XC90.
Beyond the fact that I was certain the XC90 was going to be present at the event (there was no way Volvo was not going to bring it, as opposed to other manufacturers that have many all-new models), the reason I was so eager to get behind the wheel of the new XC90 is because I’ve literally been anticipating it for years.
The first and previous generation XC90 was introduced way back in 2002, with the last model rolling off the assembly line in Torslanda, Sweden in July 2014 (production continues in China, as the “XC90 Classic”). Although it exhibited somewhat more chiseled styling and little in the way of significant facelifts, typical of most Volvos, the original XC90 aged fairly well over its twelve-year run.
Even in its final years, the addition of body color lower trim, bigger wheels, and additional chrome and satin aluminum trim helped the XC90’s exterior look remarkably up-to-date among competitors and newer Volvos. Despite this, twelve years is a long time for a single vehicle generation with minimal updates, especially in the ever-important crossover segment. It’s rather profound to think that the original XC90 came out when I was in elementary school and was still in production the year I finished college.
Furthermore, while the added bling to the exterior somewhat did the job of holding the XC90 over for a few more years, its interior and powertrain weren’t doing it many favors. Apart from some additional wood trim pieces on the center console and new leathers over the years, switchgear, controls, and technology features evolved little in this time. While the engine lineup initially expanded to include the 4.4L Yamaha V8, this engine, along with the twin-turbo T6 six-cylinder were ultimately dropped, leaving the somewhat weak naturally-aspirated 3.2L I6 as the only engine.
Well, after much waiting and anticipation, the all-new 2016 XC90 is finally here. As the first production model using Volvo’s new Scalable Product Architecture platform, the new XC90 rides on a five-inch longer wheelbase, and is six inches longer overall, two inches wider, but several hundred pounds lighter, even with its now standard all-wheel drive.
Engines are exclusively four cylinders now, although through the use of both turbocharging and supercharging in the standard 2.0L I4 (somewhat confusingly named “T6”), output is up considerably over the old 3.2L I6, and fuel economy has improved as well. The 8-speed Geartronic automatic delivers smooth shifts, and the steering is precise, if not a little too over-assisted. The XC90 I drove was fully-optioned, and featured the available air suspension system, which electronically adjusts the dampers based on calculations it makes up to 500 times per second according to Volvo. Translation: the XC90 delivered a very smooth ride.
Stepping up into this Onyx Black XC90 revealed extraordinarily comfortable seats, with more available power adjustments than I knew what to do with. So many in fact, that some require use of the nine-inch iPad-like “Sensus” touchscreen to adjust. Once settled into the rich looking and feeling “Amber” Inscription Leather, I turned the XC90’s innovative console-mounted start/stop knob to the right as I would with a key to fire this seductive Swede up. The 2.0L I4 gave a purposeful grunt and classical music began pouring out of the XC90’s nineteen Bowers & Wilkins sound system speakers, highly appropriate for the occasion, so I left it on. Unfortunately, the only interior picture I took came out with a horrible glare. This professional picture gives a good idea of the interior though.
Driving the XC90 was a joy. It’s by all means a heavy-feeling vehicle, and it doesn’t handle with the same athleticism as say, an X5 with the 4.4L V8, but for all intents and purposes, the XC90 handles more than competently for its intended mission as a luxurious family hauler. The turbo and supercharged four-banger’s 316 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque deliver plenty of power, and driving through the hilly back roads, adequate pickup was there whenever I needed it, effortlessly rising from zero to 65 mph, even on steep grades. Despite my somewhat aggressive motoring through the twisties, I was shocked at the minimal body roll the XC90 exhibited for such a tall vehicle. Speaking of height, the seating position is excellent, giving a commanding and undeniably empowering view of the road.
I didn’t get a chance to explore much of the XC90’s plethora of high technology features and various menus and sub-menus of its Sensus infotainment system, as that could easily have taken hours (the very reason why luxury car makers are adding product geniuses to their sales and marketing teams to go over all the various tech features with customers upon taking delivery). What I did get from my approximately 12-mile test drive of the new XC90 was an overwhelming feeling of pleasure and relief, as the XC90 lived up to all my highly built expectations.
The 2016 Volvo XC90 is a breathtaking automobile, and a poised car to launch Volvo’s rebirth under its new owners. It has the performance, luxury, and technology features that will make it a true competitor in the mid-to-large luxury CUV segment. With its powerful new styling and increased amount of content, the XC90 has also closed the prestige gap between it and cars like the BMW X5, Mercedes-Benz ML GLE, and Range Rover Sport, greatly leveling the playing field.
This move upmarket certainly has its benefits, as aforementioned. However, it is also in many ways the XC90’s biggest weakness. For decades, Volvo has unofficially prided itself as a luxury car for those who choose understated simplicity over flashiness. But with newfound snob appeal and flash, not to mention a significantly higher price point, has the new XC90 become too extravagant for the humble Volvo faithful? Only time will tell, but for now, it’s a new dawn, it’s a new day, it’s a new life for the Volvo XC90, and after driving it, I’m feeling good about its fighting chances.
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Why do new vehicles often have to be so ugly? ( although beauty is in the eye of beholder ) . The ‘snout’ of this one looks to my eye over prominent – but I suppose it helps brand recognition in an increasingly homogeneous marketplace.
The snout designs are quite limited by European and US pedestrian safety standards. Note nearly all new vehicles have the very blunt snout these days.
It’s not easy to come up with a timeless design in this changing world.
Gracie called it ‘morning maniac music”.
on Saturday Afternoon?
Not sure this will be too extravagant for the Volvo faithful; the previous XC90 has enjoyed a strong (though not overwhelming) presence amongst the Cayenne/RR/X5 multitudes in my suburb. I do think it has lost its predecessor’s distinctive looks.
As an aside, those autumnal backdrops in your photos, Brendan, are exquisite.
I mostly like the looks of this, but keep feeling that the front is missing something. As much as we gripe about the giant bumpers from the ’70s I think maybe things have gone too far in the other direction these days.
Also, I can think of worse songs to have stuck in my head.
You certainly have a valid point about bumpers. At least the grille isn’t a giant mesh piece taking up the entire front end (Lexus).
It’s a good song, and I like the Avicii version Volvo uses. Seriously though, the commercial is on so much I don’t think I will ever be able to look at this car without the song popping into my head.
Yeah, that grill must be twice as big as the one on its predecessor. And the interior looks bloated with worse visibility.
Not bad overall by modern standards, but also not something that impresses me in any way. I do think we have reached a point where design is regressing across the industry.
I agree that it will be fascinating to watch how this new Volvo does in the marketplace. I haven’t driven it, so all my comments come only as an observer, but several things jump out at me:
1) It will be a challenge for Volvo to sell a 4-cylinder premium SUV, no matter how good and smooth the motor.
2) The migration of too many controls into the touchscreen could also be an issue, especially for Volvo faithful.
3) Speaking of Volvo faithful, not sure who they even are anymore. 14 years for the last XC90 was entirely too long in a fiercely competitive segment, so the base is pretty thin at this point. Volvo sedans don’t seem to be setting any sales records either, so no major source of switchover sales there. “Old school” Volvo fans might find this one too glamorous, and the competitive set for premium SUVs is so good it will be hard to conquest sales from them.
4) It will sell well in New England.
I’m not sure that non-enthusiasts would care about the cylinder count. My GF has a Cayenne. When I asked her if it’s a V6 or a V8, she said she does not know nor care.
It will be interesting to see how the super-turbo four ages. And the rest of the car, too. Of course, NewVolvo is interested in buyers of new cars now, not the reputation that these will have in 10 years. Yet.
It will also be interesting to see if this vehicle can thrust the company legitimately into that top tier. Resale value is going to be a major concern, as it is low lease payments that seems to drive volume in this segment today. High residuals will make that happen.
I still wonder if these high output-small displacement engines will be popular in a world of dropping fuel prices. But everyone has to play by CAFE’s rules, so. maybe this is the way to go for now. If anything happens to roll CAFE back, Volvo could be at a disadvantage compared to those who can compete with more cylinders and displacement.
I too was wondering about the reliability of that super/turbo four as it ages. Something that complex would have to be hard to repair when something goes wrong.
I thought they might offer other engines in other markets that tax fuel prices instead of having a CAFE, but here in Australia it’s either that four or a diesel. Probably most here will go for the diesel.
GN, do you read the British magazine CAR? When they tested this car about 2 issues ago they pretty much said exactly what you did as far as the possible “drawbacks” to sales success.
It could almost be said that Volvo has returned to it’s roots….to a time when you chose a color, sedan or wagon, and automatic or manual…..only now it’s exclusively automatic, too. With competitors still offering 6 cylinder engines, it’s going to be a tough next few years for Volvo.
I am WAY too tight with my money to buy or lease one of these new, but for giggles I “built” one on the website…$65k is a lot of money for a Volvo…and $560 for metallic paint on a $65k vehicle is silly.
If they ever come up with a new V90 wagon I’d be all over that…
One is on the way. An employee at a Chinese manufacturer of die-cast cars leaked a photo (Volvo commissioned a run of diecast before the reveal of the design…and while they haven’t been released yet either, one of the employees let it slip.)
I had seen the diecast model, wasn’t sure how real the possibility was of a new V90 going into production.
I am a little put-off by the tiny little engines with forced induction…makes me wonder how durable they will be. Reality being what it is, new cars are SO elaborate, and so laden with electronics, that everyone will be nudged toward leases…dump it while it’s under warranty.
I do miss torque too…I’d rather have 50 fewer horsepower and 50 additional pounds of torque, but these little engines don’t seem able to do that.
I’m troubled by the whole ‘lease it and dump it before it plays up’ idea. So many of these ever-more-complex things, be they appliances or cars, wind up being dumped because they’re too costly to repair, even though (in the case of cars) there are still many parts that are in good working order.
In an age where we’re supposedly more concerned for our environment, I’m not sure this is the way to go.
Yep. We pay a premium for energy-star or otherwise highly efficient…yet disposable…products. We have talked before about the trouble with keeping old high-tech cars going, like the mid-80’s Riviera with the touch screen controls. ALL new cars are like that now. .
$65K? Ouch! I dunno. At that price you’re in MB GL450, BMW X5 and Range Rover territory. Volvo is going to have a hard time prying those status conscious customers away for a 4 cylinder SUV with less cachet. Likewise, the value seeking luxury SUV buyer will not pay 20 grand more for this over a very nice Acura MDX or Lexus RX. This Volvo is a nice looking and no doubt excellent SUV, but the competition is tough in this market segment. Don’t know who will wind up buying these.
$65 is the high end with all sorts of goodies. I think it starts around $50k-ish.
When you spend this kind of money on a vehicle I have to like the looks. I’m not sure I do with this one especially it’s Buickish grill.
While not as distinctive as the previous generation, I do quite like the looks. Other than that bold grille, it’s an understated design that carries the brand identity quite well. And that interior looks absolutely gorgeous. I don’t know how I feel about *everything* going through the touchscreen, but the lack of any other buttons/knobs on the dash does certainly look clean and very Scandinavian.
Has anyone ever put an engine both supercharged and turbocharged into production before? It’s a concern, both for reliability, and for the huge gamble that is releasing an SUV this size without anything larger than a 2.0 I4. The fact that they have managed to wring 300+ HP and almost 300 lb-ft torque out of a 2.0 is extremely impressive though.
VW has been building engines that are both turbo and supercharged for years, and BMW has joined them. I’m not sure either brand sells a car with both “chargers”, yet, in the U.S. However, IF I remember correctly, the base engine in some models of VW switched to this engine this year. So not exactly “new” but not real “mature”, either.
Volvo is a dead brand. It’s not a true luxury mark and not a sporting mark. For what it is, a Volvo, it’s priced out of its league.
The fact that it is now a Chinese company should give buyers pause.
Volvo V8 racing and Polestar?? Are you sure about this? Do some more research before writing Volvo off ..it is certainly noticed in V8 racing downunder ..lol
And Jaguar/Land Rover are owned by an Indian company…I’m not sure I care about ownership as much as where it is assembled. For that matter, the Chinese are capable of producing really high-quality goods. My concern would be that the labor would have to be cheaper than Swedish labor, so in theory there should be added content or lowered retail price…but we all know better than that.
There’s a reason we all have Sony, Panasonic, LG, and other Asian brands of electronics, not Grundig, Becker or other European brands…Asians build nice, reliable electronics, no reason they can’t do the same with cars.
You’ve just described a fundamental principal of economics right there. Countries should specialize where they have a comparative advantage. Trade makes everyone better off.
As long as the car is screwed together well, it really makes no difference to me where and by whom it was made and who owns it.
Economic theory works beautifully at the macro level, but at the micro level, it can be problematic…like if you’re an autoworker whose job goes offshore.
Back to the subject at hand…I stuck my head inside a customer’s brand-spankin’-new XC90 the other day…First Edition limited production vehicle…allegedly each dealer got one. The perforated amber colored seats were stunning, and the light, matte finish wood trim with the diagonal graining was out of this world. Looks like something from House of Denmark Furniture in St. Louis.
http://www.houseofdenmarkfurniture.com/
…yes v.true .. 🙂
>> the XC90 has also closed the prestige gap between it and cars like the BMW X5, Mercedes-Benz ML GLE, and Range Rover Sport, greatly leveling the playing field.<<
There's no evidence of that. Volvo is not anywhere near the Germans or Range Rover in prestige and this model (like Jaguars forever) can try to claim that but never achieve it in reality.
THere’s no place for Volvo trying to compete against the established luxury marks – they’ve been failing at that for years. Heck, Cadillac is trying to do the same and making little headway w/ products that actually outperform the Germans.
Yow! Starting price of $60,700 in Canada. Guess I’ll keep on driving the ol’ $9,000 Caravan. I’m glad so many other folks seem to have that kind of money.
I’d rather have my 2 motorcycles and VW and retirement plan and kids activities…
Nice work (again), Brendan. I have no idea why I like this vehicle, but to quote another song, I can’t help myself. And yes, now I associate “Feeling Good” with those spots, just as I still can’t hear “Don’t Stop Believing” without recalling Tony Soprano.
Having owned three Volvos, an 82 DL (mechanical disaster!), a 95 960 (one of my favorite cars) and presently an 06 XC70, I was anxious to see the new XC90.
My thoughts are that it will be pretty speedy with depreciation, so they will probably be somewhat of a bargain used in a few years. Volvo seems to have among the greediest dealers, both parts and labor, and that would certainly influence my decision to buy one.
If I couldn’t do most of my wrenching it would be unlikely that I would have bought the XC70. I’d have to bend over and pucker up at the dealer when buying parts for the 95, but it is much easier to buy online and not get screwed on the price now.
I’ll be buying a new vehicle this year, but it will likely be a highly optioned Toyota Highlander. I’ll take the Toyota reliability over Swedish styling almost anytime.
I have only ever owned two Volvos, both of them T5 C30’s, the present one upgraded by Volvo’s Swedish tuning partner Polestar for quite a sum of dosh (complete with a manufacturer’s certificate aligned with the VIN and Polestar Racing re-badging and even a small template for aligning the new French blue badgeware). I did this to have a unique Volvo. No-one else in Australasia has apparently been stupid enough to do so lol and have probably spent this sort of money on a set of beautiful BBS wheels, if at all!
However, having said that, there is nothing on this earth that will ever induce me to buy a four cylinder Volvo no matter how many turbo’s or superchargers it may have to drag a heavy body around at a semi-respectable pace!
The whole thing of Volvo for me is(was) it’s mechanical variance and the particular song of the 5 cylinder engine is unique these days. Well who else has been currently using them since Audi and Honda desisted?
GM actually used an inline 5 in the first generation Colorado/Canyon pickups. Not sure if that powerplant survived their hiatus and embiggened re-release (I suspect not). I also do not know from whence that mill came, as I can’t think of anywhere else it got used in the North American market.
The current Audi RS3 Sportback has a 2.5 liter 5-cylinder engine.
And Ford builds a 3.2 liter 5-cylinder. A diesel, I must add.
A variant of that 2.5 I5 was the standard engine for US-market VW Golfs for a while. Might still be, not sure. I’d forgotten that until you mentioned the Audi.
I have concerns about how successful the XC90 might be, I told about how I don’t care for the looks in another post, nor will I go the route of being concerned about an Inline 4 with a turbocharger being put in a big SUV (although my concerns with that are not only reliability, but also having the sheer grunt to push the thing, despite Volvo being better experienced than most with being able to refine a four-pot engine with a turbocharger). My concern is with one thing.
Prestige. Or rather, if Volvo has enough prestige to sell this thing.
I’m just wondering if Volvo has the power that they had back in the 70s, 80s, and 90s to sell one of these things in the uber-competitive world that is luxury crossovers and SUVs. The days of Volvo being able to rest on its laurels that made it popular during its heyday (Reliability, safety, appealing to Democratic New England WASPs) is done now that most cars have caught up with it, and while I have no doubt that the previous XC-90 was a well regarded car that was popular, considering that so many competitors have come out from more “luxurious” makes during it’s 12 year run, it can be difficult to tell people to come back a second time for this brand new model.
As for the Volvo Faithful? They’ve gone onto other status symbols that project the “acceptable” social image they wish to project. Do you really think they would be caught dead in a Luxury SUV?
But I think the bigger problem is, I’m not sure if anyone considers Volvo a luxury brand anymore. Sure, there are plenty of guys here who have been alive much longer than I have who do remember Volvo as a luxury brand, but the vast majority of my friends and family don’t really think Volvo is particularly luxurious. (I myself didn’t even know they were considered a Luxury brand until July of last year and it took me even longer to come to grips with that notion, because it just seemed unnatural to me. I grew up thinking they were just boxy cars that were like used Honda Accords, Volvo as a brand seemed more like Toyota or Honda rather than particularly upmarket) That’s another hurdle you’ve got for anyone to go over, not just in the face of the German Triumvirate, but also in the face of other luxury makes that either make similar products that are considered proven (Lexus RX, Land Rover, GMC Yukon) or alternatively from makes that still have some luxury credentials to them.
For example, I’ve been in SoCal for five years, so I see plenty of Luxury SUVs and Crossovers being driven, as well as standard luxury sedans. In addition to the German models and some of the stuff I mentioned, I see more new models from Cadillac, Lincoln, Acura, even Infiniti all the time. The Lincoln MKC is one of the most surprisingly popular Luxury CUV models I’ve ever seen, from a company that had two things immediately spring to mind when it’s name was heard, “Town Car” and “Old Person”. I’ve seen more of Infiniti’s bulbous looking, Beluga Whale with a thyroid condition resembling, crossovers being driven around here. I’ve never seen very many Volvo XC90s and if I have, they were not brand new in anyway, I’ve yet to see a brand new Volvo in this state for a while now.
Now of course, this is all anecdotal evidence and observations that I’ve personally seen Just because it’s what I’ve seen doesn’t make it necessarily true, I’m sure there are plenty of people who buy (or more likely lease) new Volvos and drive them everywhere. But, from what I’ve been seeing and observing, it doesn’t look good. Even with all the positive experience I’ve been hearing about it, ultimately the new XC90’s popularity will lie in the hands of the public. I just don’t know if it’ll be enough to become a popular choice, let alone be what I’ve heard many of my internet armchair generals at Jalopnik and Oppositelock call “The car that will put Volvo Back on the map”.
To make a long story short, I don’t know if the Volvo XC90 will be enough to lure people back to the brand. If it does great and becomes really popular, then my doubts will thoroughly be squashed, but for now, I’m just not sure if its going to be enough.
I think your questions about prestige are legitimate ones. Volvo has become something of a brand without a market. Back in the 80’s and 90’s, I’d say that were sort of the Swedish equivalent of Chrysler or Oldsmobile–priced at a “near luxury” level with a commensurate level of equipment in their higher-end cars. The vast majority of 240s were not really luxurious in any way but they had a very clear reputation as a premium vehicle due to reliability, longevity, and safety. They were cars that would be accepted at the country club or in wealthy neighborhoods, though not ones that really competed head-on against the true luxury makes.
In the mid 90’s they kind of lost their way. As the old-guard RWD cars were replaced with the front-drivers–850 replaced 240 and S80 replaced 960(S90)–the reliability slipped. So there went part of the premium appeal. And even though the higher-trim S80 was a very nice car, and the more powerful variants of the 850/S60 were competent sports sedans, they never fully graduated into a true luxury category. Not sure if Ford didn’t want them to compete with Jaguar/Lincoln, or if it was just misguided planning coming out of Gothenburg. And, moving into the mid-late 2000s, around the messy Ford divestment and Geely’s eventual purchase, product stagnated, sales shrank and the brand nearly faded away.
So now they’re back, with more relevant product, and trying to rebuilt their image. Near-luxury is a category that is increasingly irrelevant (witness Oldsmobile’s disappearance, Buick’s recast as a captive import lineup, and more recently Chrysler’s move downmarket) so they’re aiming to take on the luxury brands while still retaining a large dose of Traditional Volvo Qualities that might retain or bring back some of their current/former owners. This is a step in the right direction, but will the market agree?
The main appeal (at least down under) is SAFETY ! Volvo’s have been synonymous with crash ruggedness and passenger safety (and just plain engineering reliability), rather than as has been said ‘snob’ a la prestige/luxury appeal. If folks want to wow their neighbours they would be better off buying Bentley, Maserati, S Class Merc, or even 7 Series Beemer for that matter, but a Volvo is about as safe and well engineered as any of these in my humble opinion.
Safety is definitely something they’ve built their reputation on, and I probably gave that somewhat short shrift. They’re still known as very safe vehicles, and as Subaru is actively marketing as a safe vehicle (example, the “They Lived” TV spot) that is also something Volvo can still stake a very valid claim to. However, in today’s era of 52 airbags in every car, anything less than a four star (out of five) crash test rating becoming unacceptable, and all sorts of driver aids becoming commonplace, I don’t think they have the same kind of lead in the category as they used to. There have to be other factors too.
Volvo invented the three-point lap/diagonal seat belt, right? And then forewent the patent holder rights and freely encouraged all auto makers world wide to adopt the system across the board
…when i bought my first Volvo the sales guy said that there was no going back ..once you’ve tried Volvo you’ll want it for life – lol …it DOES seem to have strong sheet metal (a thicker gauge?) that does not take dents easily ..one lovely bloke bashed the engine hood five times with his closed fist when the car was parked up somewhere and it only left five shallow depressions which would pop back out easily enough with a vacuum dent puller ..but there is no point ..so will just leave them ..another mystery parker banged hard into the right front guard and all that did was to break the plastic retaining clips inside the vehicle structure ..a simple repair that re-aligned the guard again with the door and hood gaps ..now a jap vehicle would be severely knackered by vandalism like this .. 🙂
I think it looks great, although I’m not into this (Inscription-specific) grille either. Base and R-Design trims look far less Buicky. In addition to the “T6” turbo + supercharged four, there’s also a “T8” turbo + supercharged plug-in hybrird model that adds electric motors at both ends for 400HP / 472lb-ft. That’s pretty sweet. Also verrry expensive… you can get the price up to about $80,000 (!) with every option checked off. BMW, M-B and Porsche all have plug-in SUVs (or will soon) that cost even more, though, and if I had that kind of $$$ I think I’d still rather have the very complicated/untrustworthy Chinese (according to the internet) XC90.