(Thu 08 May 08)

The 2009 model year Volvo XC90 and V70 are available to order now, and will officially go on sale in the UK in June and August respectively.

Changes to the existing XC90 models are minimal, the most impressive being the fact that the CO2 rating of the D5 Geartronic has been reduced to 224g/km. That brings it down from VED Band G to Band F, saving over £100 a year in car tax, and avoids the £25 congestion charge due to be introduced in London in October.

The XC90 range also gets new alloy wheels and two new exterior colours (Savile Grey Pearl and Caper Green Pearl). Among the optional extras, the Rear Seat Entertainment system has been revised, with larger display screens and a reduced price of £1350, Digital TV has been added to the RSE package for £400, and there's a new Entertainment Support Pack (basically RSE plus satellite navigation, darkened rear glass and the Blind Spot Information System) for £2850.

There's also the introduction of the new R-Design trim level, which replaces the previous SE Sport and features uprated suspension and various interior and exterior styling tweaks.

The new XC90 price list starts at £32,845 for the D5 manual and extends to £54,550 for the V8 Geartronic Executive.

The V70 range gets the extra colour choice and the revised RSE system (plus additional Digital TV option) as the XC90, along with its own R-Design Trim level, which lies between SE and SE Lux and offers more sporty looks and handling than either of them. R-Design costs £1750 above SE, while SE Lux models are now up to £380 more expensive than before thanks to the addition of active headlights, heated washer nozzles and chronograph instrument dials as standard.

V70 prices now range from £24,995 for the 2.0 SE to £38,515 for the four-wheel drive T6 Geartronic.

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