The interior sees a ‘cockpit forward’ design that enables the passenger compartment to be as far forward as possible thus allowing the space for seven full sized seats. The instrument panel plus controls are angled slightly up towards the driver’s eye and together with the high seating position; a ‘king of the road’ approach has been successfully achieved. A host of equipment adorns the XC90 Executive - Rear Park Assist- definitely needed, Climate Control with Air Quality System and Pollen Filter, leather height adjustable electrically operated, heated with memory drivers seat albeit in this test car, a rather unsightly tan colour. The audio is superb with the Dynaudio Premium Sound audio system with 6 CD interchanger, MP3 compatible and IPod connection, which certainly drowns out any other noises going on in the back of the XC90. It evens drowns out the irritating voice of the sat nav girl whom I swear one day I will shoot.
Safety wise, well what do you expect? It’s a Volvo. Roll Over Protection System, includes Roll Stability Control that was very reassuring as on a straight road, the XC90 is great, give it a corner or tight bend, not so good. Don’t forget, it’s a very heavy car so keep on the straight and narrow - or wide. But if the roll angles did become critical, it will automatically apply the brakes and DSTC system to help the driver maintain control. Obviously there are airbags galore, added extra strong Boron steel all around, zillions of crumple zones and added extras like rain sensing wipes, water repellent glass for the door mirrors, bi-xenon headlights and an integrated booster seat standard but on the centre seat of the middle row. I think it should be on the outside so the child can look out of the window and Mum is not distracted by seeing her darling every time she looks in the rear view mirror.
Securing the XC90 is an alarm, immobiliser, remote central locking with deadlocks and Home Safe System that keeps the headlamps on up to 90 seconds after the occupants had left the vehicle, In fact the XC90 has won overall ‘Best Manufacturer’ in the Annul British Insurance Car Security Awards for both 2004 and 2005. But it stills falls into insurance category 19E. Ouch! For environmentalists, the XC90 is ‘clean inside and out’ with 85% of each car capable of being recycled and the interior is free from allergy inducing emissions. Which is more than I can say for external emissions with CO2 figures of 322 thus falling into group G of the vehicle excise duty. As I mentioned, this car is for the seriously affluent clientele.
The new V8 engine is certainly very powerful and mated to a six speed Geartronic Automatic Transmission, takes 7.3 seconds from 0-62, and claims a top speed of 130mph. Even though it was never designed to be as serious off roader, the XC90 has the versatile combination of AWD and a generous ground clearance of 218mm so if the driveway gets a tad too muddy you know the XC90 will not let you down or embarrass you in front of the neighbours. Despite a more substantial suspension, the XC90 can be unforgiving especially on the country roads. The rack and pinion power assisted steering is speed sensitive thus very responsive if not too responsive but luckily all XC90’s benefit form ABS brakes with EBD and EBA as well as DSTC – Dynamic Stability and Traction Control.
I did enjoy the drive of the XC90 at first but as the days went by, I became very conscious of how big she or rather he, was, how I kept finding myself gravitating towards the largest car parking space, extremely conscious of the fact I was unaware of small cars behind me which could in turn be a motorcycle, cyclist, even pedestrian, the unsettling way the XC90 handled the bends and the cost of ownership being very expensive.
Maybe I am getting ‘greener ‘ in my old age.
Jackie Violet