The 2017 Volvo XC90, for When Your Cayenne Is at the Shop, Again
What is it that you really expect out of your SUV? Is it body-slamming performance, a plush and queenly ride, or is it whatever the kids in the back want? The answer to this question may very well dictate how much money you need to shell out on your future family SUV.
Personally, I wouldn’t blame you if your answered the latter. After all, for many of us, owning a family SUV is just a simple escape from having to purchase (and be seen) behind the wheel of a minivan. Whether you can spend $20 grand or $90 grand, a saturated market can make it extra-hard to choose.
So what about Volvo? Currently owned by the Geely Holding Group out of China, Volvo is enjoying a renaissance of its own. With the award-winning XC90 SUV and S90 sedan, Volvo is riding high and feeling more Swedish than ever. How can they not? This year I’ve had the chance to spend time with two of their newest vehicles, as well as the outgoing S60, and the differences are of Grand Canyon-like proportions.
While the S60 (pictured below) I recently drove is good looking enough in ‘Passion Red’ to turn heads, it’s the interior, the infotainment system, the cheap plastics, and the “wtf were you thinking?” layout that made me appreciate the new generation vehicles more. Most people would say that Cadillac is one of the biggest ‘turnaround’ car companies of the century, but I think Volvo is well on its way there.
2017 Volvo XC90 T6 Inscription AWD
Let’s start with the stellar and most-awarded SUV of recent times—the Volvo XC90. If you’re looking for the fastest 0-60 mph times, the most lateral g’s, and brake rotors the size of family-sized pizza pies, the Volvo isn’t for you. On the other hand, it might actually make it out of the shop every now and then. Your choice.
The turbo and supercharged 2.0 liter inline-4 engine in the T6 Inscription model is a real gem. A tiny engine that manages to produce an astonishing 316 horsepower, and 295 lb-ft of torque at 5700 rpm through Swedish witchcraft and wizardry. It’s smooth, it’s capable, and combined with Volvo’s 8-speed Geartronic automatic transmission, it’ll also tow the weekend family boat (up to 5,000 pounds).
Another area in which the XC90 is superior to the Porsche Cayenne, BMW X5 and Mercedes GLE, is the styling department. Personally, I feel like it belongs in a damn museum. There’s nothing more rewarding than approaching your vehicle with a smile on your face, only for that smile to carry on as you drive away from your parking spot. There are no gigantic hood scoops or Hercules-like wheel arches; just elegant and subtle Swedish design inside and out.
When it comes to onboard technology, the 9-inch Sensus center screen is a thing of beauty. What resembles an iPad works as the command center for the XC90 and S90 alike. While it takes a bit to get used to the menus and feature locations within the graphic-rich interface, it does a heck of a job at decluttering the center console, and putting a cherry on top of the Swedish-designed cake. Heck, it even features a built-in user’s manual!
When it comes to ease-of-use and family-friendliness, there are many other features that grant the XC90 the title of “Pinnacle of Family Transportation,” which you can read all about here. (Yes, I’m the one that has to consider what the children want in a car.)
So there you have it. If you’ve driven a Volvo prior to a 2017 model, don’t let those old and sad memories ruin your future. Get out there and drive the new lineup. Even if you still choose the Cayenne over the XC90, or a 5-Series over an S90, you need to experience the amazing Volvo renaissance first hand.
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