Posted by admin | articles | Tuesday 29 December 2009 7:00 pm
When Volvo Cars sent out its share of top vehicles that offered much safety, the world went for them. When the company sent out the quality Volvo S70 performance parts and other Volvo parts, the industry was more than grateful. But when Volvo Cars ushered in their Volvo XC90 vehicle, the world was astounded and made a huge rush to own one of these.
There would not have been such a huge commotion if the company had been able to supply the market with sporty vehicles like the Volvo XC90. But this SUV was the very first of its kind in the Volvo range that took the fancy of those Volvo lovers who were sporty drivers as well. With that, the sales surged and more people were clamoring for the Volvo XC90.
What does Volvo do when the automobile industry is asking for more Volvo XC90s? Well, what the company does is to expand its range by adding in variety which comes in the form of the new Volvo XC90 V8 sport. After all, the company does say that this one has got an even more dynamic chassis setting. Its appearance is unique and catching. The interior has been upgraded. Plus, the suspension is sport tuned so as to give its driver that sporty feel.
Susanna Johnsson is Volvo Cars Corporation’s product manager for its special vehicles department. And she has got something to say about the new Volvo XC90 V8 sport: “We have had numerous requests for a sportier XC90. They are from customers who appreciate the versatility and comfort of an SUV but who also want a bit more driving pleasure. We have developed the Volvo XC90 V8 Sport especially for them, with a dynamic sport chassis, stiffer anti-roll bars, firmer shock absorbers, a sport-tuned speed-dependent steering system, and larger, 19 inch wheels.”
However, that is not only where the fun can be found. You see, the company’s president and CEO for their North American arm, Anne Belec, also wanted to add something more. She said, “Pricing and positioning in this extremely competitive segment are integral to success. Volvo redefined the SUV segment with the introduction of the XC90, and we have continued to refine the process.”
Posted by admin | articles | Sunday 13 December 2009 5:01 pm
Volvo XC90 – What the Auto Press Says
The XC90 is a family-friendly SUV with a comfortable interior, adequate performance and an excellent safety record.
Reviewers agree that the 2009 Volvo XC90 offers a good value for its class.
“Earning XC90 kudos are car-like road manners, rock-solid feel, and numerous safety features,” says Consumer Guide. “While none of these Volvos tops the class for agility or outright utility, prices are competitive, provided you keep a lid on option selection.” Despite its strong points, the XC90 is in a very competitive class and buyers have several other good options, including the Acura MDX and Lexus RX 350.
For 2009, the XC90 gets an optional R-Design package that includes performance, interior and exterior enhancements. The XC90 comes in several trims — the base 3.2, new 3.2 R-Design, V8 and V8 R-Design.
perhaps the R-Design will invigorate U.S. XC90 sales when the 2009 arrives here later this year. XC90 sales were extremely low last month [in April 2008], despite over $4,000 in incentives per SUV.” — Edmunds
“Well-to-do families pair naturally with the XC90, as it offers the perfect blend of safety standards, exquisite ride and handling, luxury features, and class. It is also darned comfortable, making it great for long road trips. Many European motoring journalists consider the XC90 the best 4×4 by far.” — Car Gurus
“Volvo’s unibody sport-ute is solid and drives remarkably carlike. There’s plenty of space and a clean and well-styled interior inside. The base engine is best avoided as it struggles to move the heavy XC90 around. The V-8 sounds great and offers much more power.” — Car and Driver
“Attention to detail and a new drivetrain make the Volvo XC90 a first-rate luxury crossover SUV.” — The Auto Channel
XC90 Performance – 7.4 (Good)
The 2009 Volvo XC90 offers good performance, but it doesn’t stand out within its competitive class. With six-cylinder and V8 engine options, the XC90 offers buyers a choice between a fair amount of power at a low price or abundant power at a premium. Forbes says it offers “an appealing blend of comfort and handling that will satisfy most drivers.”
XC90 Exterior – 7.7 (Good)
The 2009 XC90’s exterior design is neither cutting-edge nor particularly daring. Road and Track says the SUV “has a rugged appearance but one that’s not extreme.” A plus is the XC90’s easy-to-use tailgate.
XC90 Interior – 7.5 (Good)
The Volvo XC90’s cabin is very comfortable and kid-friendly, but it’s not as luxurious as others in its class. “The XC90 feels less luxurious inside than just plain solid,” says BusinessWeek. Though the first row is considered comfortable, reviewers have mixed opinions on comfort in the second row and optional third row.
XC90 Safety – 9.9 (Excellent)
The 2009 Volvo XC90 does well in federal government crash tests. Carrying on Volvo’s reputation, it is widely regarded as one of the safest luxury SUVs on the market. The XC90’s impressive crash protection features all come standard.
Posted by admin | home page | Wednesday 2 December 2009 5:26 pm
Volvo’s XC90 is perhaps somewhat of an enigma. When it first skidded out onto the street in 2002, it represented a new market segment for the Swedish automaker. Bigger and heavier than any Volvo before, it was designed specifically for North American buyers, yet incorporated a good deal of Scandinavian sensibilities.
As initially launched, the XC90 was offered exclusively with turbocharged engines – a five-banger as the base engine, and an inline-six as the step up. A 4.4-liter V8 joined them for 2005. All were teamed with automatic transaxles, the turbo motors with a five-speed and GM four-speed respectively, the V8 with a six-speed unit. For 2007 the turbo engines were dropped and the styling of the XC90 updated. The new base engine became a 3.2-liter normally aspirated inline-six with 235hp, while the V8 continues as the top power option. Both are coupled with a six-speed automatic transaxle. U.S. models are offered in either front drive configuration (3.2) or AWD (V8 only).
Volvo XC90
Solid Standard
Mercedes-Benz used to state that their vehicles were “engineered like no other car” and perhaps to a certain extent the same is true about Volvos. While there are other SUVs that dwarf the XC90 in stature, there are few that actually feel as substantial. The panels on this one are made from good thick steel. Touch any aspect of this truck and you’d think it could rip through one side of a house and out the other with minimal damage (it likely can, but we’re not going to put it to the test).
Inside, we find a well-trimmed cabin, even on the base 3.2. A low cowl height and fairly large greenhouse (by modern standards), results in excellent outward visibility. The dash and controls are well laid out, with everything in easy reach of the driver. Like the exterior, nearly every aspect of the cabin, from the seat cushions, to the center console, function stalks and HVAC controls have a solid, substantial feel that’s carried over to the nicely finished door panels and seats.
Volvo XC90 Interior
Passenger room is also excellent with plenty of space above and in front for both rows of seats, plus on all but the base model there’s a third set of jumpers for an extra pair of bodies. If there is one complaint, it concerns the head rests – the front one aren’t adjustable and maybe positioned a bit far forward for some tastes. The second row seats are excellent and can be moved independent of each other. In terms of cargo space, with second row seats folded flat, the base, 3.2 XC90 can swallow a whopping 88.8 cubic feet of gear (the stowable third row seating on the upper trim levels, gives up less than 2 cubic feet of space when folded flat).
More Muscle
Volvo XC90 v8 Engine
One of the biggest criticisms of the early XC90; was that the turbo charged five-cylinder engines, weren’t really up to hauling its considerable 4,500 lb mass around. On anything other than flat highway conditions, the truck felt rather tough going and the five-speed automatic didn’t exactly do wonders for fuel economy, especially the AWD version. With the 2007 freshening, 2009-volvo-xc90-06Volvo instigated a number of improvements and these become evident out on the open road. The base 3.2-liter in-line six, with 235 horsepower and 236 ft-lbs of torque is much stronger, with better throttle response, particular on inclines and when passing. Fuel economy is also much better. On the highway 20-21 miles per gallon is easily possible and around town it doesn’t drop too much – expect around 14-15 under normal conditions.
The V8-powered XC90 is quite a different animal. The engine may be relatively small in displacement compared to some other V8s powering current SUVs, but boy does it go. The Ford/Yamaha based dual overhead cam motor delivers 311-hp and satisfying wallop of torque – 325 ft-lbs. It’s well matched to the six-speed slushbox, particularly in 3rd, 4th and 5th gears. Overtaking is effortless and if you plan on towing, we’d suggest opting for this engine.
Fuel economy practically rivals the six with 14 mpg in town and around 19-20 on the highway, plus thanks to its tubular dual exhaust system; the sound resonating once you step on the throttle is just fantastic.
Numb Steering, and Lots of Body Roll
In terms of ride quality, the big Volvo is actually rather cushy. It soaks up crater lined streets and freeway expansion joints extremely well, but it isn’t so soft to feel like you’re riding on a water bed. Wind noise is also very minimal and from behind the wheel, there’s no question that you feel safe and secure in this vehicle.
The 2010 Volvo XC90 is a full-fledged SUV
Much has been made about the handling of car based sport utilities like this and while the XC90 isn’t likely to win any awards on the slalom or skidpad, it does well enough in view of its size and weight.
Generally speaking, the tires respond enthusiastically, assisted by the standard Roll Stability control and the Haldex AWD system on V8 models. The steering is, however, numb, reeling more like it belongs on a ’76 Cadillac De Ville than in a crossover utility with semi sporting pretensions. Braking is another area where the XC90 could use some improvement, as the heft SUV feels its weight. There’s quite a bit of front-end dive as the anchors do their thing, making the DSTC anti-skid system and four-wheel ABS with braking assist welcome additions.
THE VERDICT
As briefly mentioned above, Volvo Cars North America currently markets the XC90 in four trim levels in the U.S. The entry level is the 3.2, with a MSRP of $37,000. Upgrading to the R-Design package adds another $1,250 to the sticker price; while the all-wheel drive V8 begins at $46,300, the R-Design package version going for $47,550 before options and taxes. That’s quite a difference in price, but given the level of performance and improved grip offered by the V8, we think it’s well worth the extra, especially if you’re planning on using your XC90 as true family hauler/vacation machine.
It might be getting on in years but in our opinion the XC90, helped in part by great build quality, outstanding safety features and sound ergonomics, still compares favorably against some of the Johnny come latelys. Plus, being a Volvo, used residuals are likely to remain stronger than most rival crossover-utilities against which it currently competes.
The XC90 is a family-friendly SUV with a comfortable interior, and performance and an excellent safety record.
