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| Road Test Volvo XC90 D5 R-Design Premium |
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by Mike Grundon (09 Dec 09)
This was the Volvo XC90 – a classic in its time, now decked out in what's known as R-Design Premium trim and powered by the venerable and trusted 183bhp 2.4-litre D5 turbo diesel engine we've come to know and love over the years (the new D5 unit isn't yet available in this most monstrous car of a monstrous breed). Volvo's biggest SUV is a tank by anyone's standards, with the possible exception of a genuine tank driver. It's got seven seats in three rows, it's almost five metres long, it's over two metres wide and it tips the scales at two and a quarter tonnes. Despite that, it's capable of reaching 60mph about 11 seconds after take-off, running on to a top speed of 118mph, and comfortably towing more than its own weight on a braked trailer. All comforting things as I pulled out into the afternoon traffic streaming out of Heathrow Airport and ultimately onto the westbound motorway. Most things on the road being smaller than my chariot of choice, there was nothing short of a truck was going to intimidate me in the mad three-lane dash away from our nation's great capital.
The XC90 is a mile-eater. The seats are as comfortable and supportive as any I've ever tried in any car, the cabin is roomy and lit with jolly colours in the dials, and dialling up the ideal temperature is a doddle. The satnav is controlled through buttons on the steering wheel and, once you're used to it, it's an easy process. One downside on the motorway is the very light steering. A fraction of a millimetre turn was enough to change lanes and, while in general it only demanded constant concentration, it got almost nerve-shredding in the narrowed-down roadworks sections where you're hub-to-hub with the enemy. The other big downside is the lack of significant storage space for map-books, snacks and things like that. Out of the motorway madness and into the land of corners, cows and combine-harvesters, the pro aspects outshine the cons. Clear views of each corner combined with that light steering mean manoeuvring through tight-cornered Cornish fishing villages or squeezing past oncoming traffic on single track roads between granite walls is confidence-inspiring and doubt-free.
The seven seats are particularly impressive. There's room in the front two rows for five adults to sit comfortably without raising static through their hair on the roof velvet, or sores on their knees from the seat in front. The back two supplementary seats are also big enough for an adult, if they don't have to sit in them for too long. They stow and fold down flat to leave a big cargo-hold with the simple pulling of a couple of levers and canvas tabs. One minor issue is with the rollerblind cargo-hold cover. When you put up the rear two seats, you have to remove the contraption and there's nowhere in the boot big enough to stow it. It's fine if you're planning ahead so you can leave it at home, but not if you suddenly find yourself with a car-full. For all its practicality, torque and physical presence, it's surprisingly a car with very little character. I never found I warmed much to it, despite having taken it on a little autumn odyssey through some of the prettiest coast and country lanes of the far south-west. I listened to Vaughan Williams on the excellent sound system, looked out of big windows at choppy bays, swept along woodland drives followed by a vortex of gold and red leaves, yet the shared experience never sparked up an emotional attachment.
I never went seriously bog-splashing or dune-hopping but I did run it along some steep, rubbly and rutted tracks, twisting it up a little over the stones and slopping through mud and gutter. I was very impressed by the way the car kept going and the way it remained unflustered. So in conclusion, the big Volvo is still a serious contender, despite the continuing rise in the popularity of big 4x4s. It's got a universe of useable space inside, it has an engine that's reasonably economical and torquey enough, and it has enough presence for you to be proud of it. Looked after properly, evidence suggests it should go on and on with minimal fuss for years. Comment on this story on Facebook or Twitter. Price: £38,745 |
