Price | ₹ 80.95 Lakh onwards |
---|---|
Engine | 1969 cc |
Transmission | Automatic |
Fuel Type | Diesel & Petrol |
Seating Capacity | 4 & 7 Seater |
Volvo unveiled its second generation XC90 in August last year, renewing it almost after 10 years. The new XC90 is the first vehicle to follow their new design language and is preview of what future Volvos will look like. The company’s Indian arm has got the big SUV to the country – the one that is expected to be one of the safest places to be if you are on four wheels.
Exterior
The new XC90 has been designed along the company’s new design philosophy which was first previewed in the Volvo Coupe Concept. The front gets a prominent chrome grille which holds the company’s logo, flanked by Thor’s hammer LED headlamps on both sides. The car’s strong shoulder line moulds into the long sculpted bonnet, giving the car an aggressive stance. At the rear, Volvo is one of the few companies to continue the vertically stacked lamps design while the hatch door itself has dynamic creases running under the number plate slot.Interior
The interior gets a clean, clutter-free design for the dashboard with the centre console being dominated by a large touch-screen armed with the latest infotainment software. This panel will control a majority of the functions in the car. It gets almost all the creature comforts for a flagship SUV with leather upholstery, power adjustable seats, adjustable steering for rake and reach, automatic headlamps and rain sensing wipers. For the comfort of the passengers, Volvo has added a new four-zone climate system with clean zone air purification system which offers individual settings for the first and the second row. The second and third row seats are fully foldable to open up a humongous cargo space in case you need to carry your world with you. Being a Volvo, a dense net of airbags, driver aids and stability programs ensure occupant safety at all times.Engine and gearbox
The Volvo XC90 will be offered with the four cylinder turbocharged diesel engine. The 2.0-litre mill develops 225bhp of power and 470Nm of torque with a fuel economy of 17.2kmpl and can be sold in Delhi. The only gearbox option is the eight-speed AT and an AWD system. Volvo has also hinted that it may bring the T8 hybrid petrol version if there is sufficient demand.Price and competition
The Volvo XC90 competes with the Audi Q7, the Mercedes GL and the seven-seater version of the BMW X5 along with the top spec Land Rover Discovery Sport with the seven-seat option.Volvo XC90 price starts at ₹ 80.95 Lakh and goes upto ₹ 1.31 Crore. The price of Diesel version for XC90 ranges between ₹ 80.95 Lakh - ₹ 87.98 Lakh and the price of Petrol version for XC90 ranges between ₹ 96.72 Lakh - ₹ 1.31 Crore.
Versions | Ex-Showroom price | Specifications | Compare | |
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XC90 D5 Momentum | ₹ 80.95 Lakh | 1969 cc, Diesel, Automatic | Show price in my cityGet Offers | |
XC90 D5 Inscription | ₹ 87.98 Lakh | 1969 cc, Diesel, Automatic | Show price in my cityGet Offers | |
XC90 T8 Inscription (7 STR) | ₹ 96.72 Lakh | 1969 cc, Petrol, Automatic | Show price in my cityGet Offers | |
XC90 T8 Excellence (4 STR) | ₹ 1.31 Crore | 1969 cc, Petrol, Automatic | Show price in my cityGet Offers |
The Volvo XC90 has many things to be liked and appreciated. For example, the sophisticated exterior and interior styling is backed up by many practical features inside the luxurious cabin. It's packed with modern safety features, gets hybrid engine options and is tech-friendly even if it goes out of the ordinary consumer's price range.
It is a show of strength, a peek into Volvo’s future, and a very capable luxury SUV. This is the new Volvo XC90 and it can be yours for under Rs 80 lakh for the most expensive Inscription version.
It is a show of strength, a peek into Volvo’s future, and a very capable luxury SUV. This is the new Volvo XC90 and it can be yours for under Rs 80 lakh for the most expensive Inscription version.
Sophisticated. Spacious. Tech-laden. And uncluttered. It only has eight buttons on the dashboard (unheard of in today’s electrically complicated cars), and a majority of those buttons control the audio. The rest are there to open the dash, switch on the hazard light and get the defoggers working.
But, it’s the simple but classy layout of the interiors, the 9in touchpad and the materials used, which give the Volvo XC90 its unique, likeable and sophisticated appeal. The soft and expensive-to-the-touch plastics, the brushed metal highlights, the natural looking wood inserts, and the Nappa leather, all add to it.
Then there’s the touchpad. It helps control the audio, the climate control, the ventilated seats, the car systems and almost everything else. The touch sensitivity is fantastic and the info you need the most – music, Bluetooth, navigation and AC – is always a touch away thanks to permanent shortcuts on the screen.
Space is another huge plus for the new Volvo XC90. Leg, head, and shoulder space is plenty in the first two rows. Plus, it has a large glass area (including a huge sunroof), which not only helps the overall visibility for the driver; it helps with the feeling of space as well for the passengers. Ingress / egress for the front two rows of seating is easy too, but getting into the last row can be a big challenge. But, once you get there, the knee and headroom is more than acceptable especially when you consider it is designed to hold occupants not taller than 1.7m.
A full-sized, plush, and handsome SUV to begin with. The Volvo XC90 also has a very distinct aura. It stands out thanks to its right proportions, its upright stance and some bling (read the Thor-hammer headlamps and that huge satin silver grille). But, it looks tasteful and rich but never ostentatious.
The new Volvo is also packed with technology. It can park itself; it gets colour HUD function with navigation readout; a high-end Bowers and Wilkins with 19 speakers and a trick sub-woofer; a lovely touchpad; and of course, a plethora of active and passive safety kit which has made the new XC90 the safest car of 2015 in EuroNCAP’s books.
What we didn’t get though is Volvo’s choice of sticking with Boron steel when all its competitors have moved to aluminium. Yes, Boron steel is Swedish but when one must choose between weight saving and jingoism, ideally it ought to be the former. As a result, the new XC90 weighs over 2.1 tonnes, which for new generation cars, even SUVs, is a bit much.
Calm. Serene. But, not exactly very enjoyable. The Volvo XC90 feels surefooted and unwavering in a straight line, which should make it great for long distance travel. But, show it some corners and it begins to get uncomfortable. It is a heavy car and as a result, the XC90 rolls around and struggles a bit under braking too. The brakes themselves are great: lots of bite, lots of feedback and just the right amount of travel. But, as you go faster and the momentum builds, it takes more effort to slow the Volvo down. We are also no fans of the XC90’s electrically powered steering; there’s little feedback and a hint of laziness in its reactions.
Selecting Dynamic mode improves the XC’s handling characteristics, no doubt; the steering weighs up better, the suspension becomes tauter still, and there’s an improvement in the throttle response as well. But, it certainly doesn’t turn the SUV into a sports car.
Other driving modes include: Eco (for fuel efficiency), Comfort (for a cushier ride and lighter steering), Off-Road (for taking on the rough with hill descent and raised ride height), and finally Custom (which allows you to take bits and pieces from various modes and come up with your own recipe).
The engine on the Volvo XC90 meanwhile (and there’s only one) is a 2.0-litre, 225bhp, 470Nm four-cylinder diesel unit. Compared to its competition, which get 3-litre engines and more power and torque, it would be fair to assume that the Volvo is underpowered. But, it isn’t.
The torque spread is even and flat, and the 8-speed automatic the engine is coupled to, uses this torque very well. Be it puttering in the city, cruising down the highways or overtaking, the XC90 never feels lacking; the driveability is really well judged. It’s only when you start chasing its top speed of 230kmph in a hurry, that one can feel the lack of power.
The one area where Volvo does need to work on is the XC90’s ride quality. It is lumpy and jiggly, and crashy at times as well.
The Volvo XC90 scores high on style, luxury and desirability. It has some firsts for Volvo and for the segment too. It also shows us what newer Volvos will be like given that the XC90 will be the company’s oldest product on sale even in India in the next three years. We like it. We like it for its interiors, its technology, and of course, its safety. So, yes, you should buy one. It’s a no-brainer.
The Volvo XC90 competes against the Audi Q7 and the Mercedes GL. And all three cost nearly the same for their top of the line models. The Volvo however, comes with more standard equipment compared to the other two. But, this might change with the new generation Audi Q7 due in a couple of months.
Volvo XC90 2021 is available/sold in the following colours in India.