If there’s one thing you can’t fault Volvo, it’s the fact that it’s perhaps one of the safest – if not the safest – of all cars in the market. It has achieved such status by continuously improving and pioneering safety technologies.
But the 2016 Volvo XC90 is a whole different league. Not only does it score highly in terms of safety, it is also incredibly luxurious, great to drive, and elegantly understated that it can give some of its staunchest European competitors a good run of their money. If that isn’t enough, this new car is priced well.
Design
Many auto experts appreciate the “quietness” of the vehicle as far as design is concerned. Although it has a capacity of seven people – and it can sit them very well – it doesn’t look bulky at all. The seats are even made more comfortable and luxurious with real leather covers that provide a great contrast to the matte wood and textured metal. The same level of consistency and attention to detail can be found all the way to the back of the vehicle, which means it’s elegant through and through.
While the seats already have ample legroom, they can be folded if more space is needed, or reclined for maximum comfort and relaxation, without having to do these things manually as they can now be controlled from the driver’s seat.
Most of the controls of the car are found in a touchscreen that is around 2 inches bigger than a tablet. Although many cars have already let go of knobs, what sets those of 2016 Volvo XC90 is their responsiveness. Users of mobile devices will have a shorter learning curve as the Volvo screen can not only be swiped but also pinched and stretched.
Safety
Volvo claims that this new vehicle features effortless safety, which may be attributed to the Intellisafe technologies. The car comes with City Safety collision feature, which means it can smartly determine the presence of other cars, pedestrians, and bicycles regardless of the road condition to significantly reduce the chances of getting into an accident. It also includes a Run Off Road feature, which decreases the body impact in case the vehicle goes off the road.
Performance
The 2016 Volvo XC90 comes with a twin engine T-8 with a plug-in hybrid. This simply means that users can easily switch between using gasoline and electricity, depending on road conditions, need, and preference. Nevertheless, users can also pick the T6 two-liter engine with four cylinders. Regardless of the vehicle choice, they will run on an engine that provides up to 250 horsepower, 258 pound per foot torque, and up to 4,800 revolutions per minute of torque.
Fuel economy, meanwhile, is pegged at 25 mpg for highway and 22 mpg for city driving. When running on electricity, it may average 25 miles.
At a retail price of around $50,000, this may be very pricey, but when compared to other luxury cars, it may be one of the most affordable, not to mention you get more value for your money.
