2016 VOLVO XC90 Review

The high driving position gives you a good perspective, while the visibility is better than you’d expect, especially if you go for the optional camera system, which gives you an excellent all-round view of the car for parking.

Speaking of which, we tested the Park Assist Pilot that can automatically reverse the car into an empty spot. The car will only park itself under ideal conditions, so it’s best to train and handle this bit of the journey yourself.

As for the way it visually integrates into a modern metropolis, the styling will benefit the city, especially if the car comes in a light hue such as the Luminous Sand on our tester.

Volvo has decided to adopt a strict downsizing policy, so from the entry-level D4 to the range-topping T8 hybrid, the all-new diesel and petrol engines on the 2016 XC90 come in four-cylinder form only.

We drove the D5, which is the entry-level diesel on many markets. This means the hefty engine compartment holds a 2-liter diesel delivering 225 hp and 347 lb-ft (470 Nm) of torque.

Our tester was halfway-loaded and you can read the review for a T6 model loaded with options here. More importantly, our T6 tester has the optional dynamic steering, as well as the optional active suspension. The latter includes both the active dampers and the air springs, as you can’t order them separately.

Speaking of which, you can get the driving mode controller as a distinct option, even if you don’t go for the intelligent suspension.

We applaud Volvo’s powertrain efforts. For one thing, you don’t get to feel the two-liter diesel and the Aisin 8-speed automatic at work while driving inside the city. Since the revs never climb too high, everything happens seamlessly.

When I first thought about how ZF doesn’t make an 8-speed auto for transversal engines and that Volvo would go for Aisin, I feared the gearbox might not raise up to the refinement standard of the car. But this is far from the truth.

Once you get out on the open road, you’ll notice the engine does have some turbo lag, as you need to go over 2,200 rpm to get things going. But you can easily live with it, as the SUV accelerates decently up to about 100 mph (160 km/h) or so.

Of course, the main purpose of these downsizing efforts is the fuel efficiency. So can you put a four-banger on a two-ton SUV and expect to avoid the pump? Yes, but obviously only if you drive the car in an efficient manner.

Having settled that stepping on the gas makes this Volvo just as thirsty as any three-liter diesel SUV, we set to obtain some reasonable driving figures. We got 10.4 l/100 km (22.6 mpg) inside the city and 7.4 l/100 km/h (31.8 mpg) at 130 km/h (112 mph) on the highway.

The XC90 is stable at highway speeds and thanks to the massively isolated driving experience, which owes a lot to the hefty soundproofing. This adds up to the fine-tuned ride-handling balance. And speaking of the sound insulation, we've detached an element in trunk, exposing the thickness of the material - you can see this in the image gallery.

While some of our editors appreciated the serenity of the SUV, others experienced a lighter version of the problems they’ve had in the Mercedes-Benz S-Class. The overall driving experience keeps you far away from exterior stimuli, which leads to a state of light nausea after a few hours of driving. As strange as it might sound, this is somewhat similar to jet lag.

Everything about the XC90 exudes peace. Remember how the cruise control in German cars can sometimes accelerate violently? Well, the Volvo XC90 is gentle even when it comes to this part, with its cruise control accelerating smoothly. Even the speedometer has a 6 km/h (3.7 mph) error, which is greater than what we’re used for - all with the aim of keeping you safe.

Through the bends, we were surprised to notice the XC90 is somehow more agile than a BMW X5 - the BMW loses due to its nose-heavy feeling while the Volvo feels neutral with only slight traces of understeer.

But you’ll never get to feel that, simply because you can’t drive an XC90 aggressively. This is an extremely precise relaxation tool, but it only works if you handle it the Volvo way. The best way to illustrate this is to talk about the relationship between the driver and the array of safety systems. Volvo has set itself a no-fatality goal for 2020 and you can feel it.

The safety precautions start right from your seat - the seatbacks have a metallic deformation element that’s prepared to absorb the energy of an impact that would see the car landing after a jump. Such a scenario would be recognized by the car, as there’s a dedicated feature that senses when the XC90 goes off the road and makes all the necessary safety preparations.

And this car isn’t just safe for its occupants. It also features autonomous braking for pedestrians, cyclists and animals.

In the real world, the systems work brilliantly, but, as we said, only if you’re the restrained kind of driver. Attempts to mix enthusiastic driving with these safety systems, which can not be turned off, may result in the car deciding to slam on the brakes in the middle of a rushed maneuver you were making.

We don’t have to wait for the XC90’s Euro NCAP ratings or for 2020 to see if Volvo achieves its goal. When the car determines you to adopt a safe driving style, the result is predictably positive. Just keep in mind this is like signing an unbreakable contract. It sort of feels like autonomous driving, but with you controlling nearly everything.

The only safety-related complaint we have is about the brakes. Yes, the initial response is overly sharp, but the stopping power itself could’ve been superior in a car with such a noble purpose.

Off the road, the XC90 feels limited and it's mainly due to the all-wheel drive system. The Swede is on part with BMW's SUVs and SAVs as far as this chapter is concerned. The video below shows how slowly the system reacts (switching torque between axles), so while the ground clearance and the suspension can face rugged terrain use, you'd better watch that traction.

When Volvo introduced the XC90, they didn’t rush to call it the best car in its class or anything of the sort, using the opposite of the forced marketing attitude we see more and more these days. Instead, they used an honest approach, explaining this is the best they offer. And they were 100 percent right about that.

In a way, this limited appeal of the 2016 Volvo XC90 is also the SUV’s greatest flaw. The 2016 Volvo XC90 might be all new, but Volvo didn’t set out to reinvent itself here. Sure, the technology is all new, but the pathway is the Gothenburg traditional one.

As for the premium sensation, the XC90 feels somewhere in between Lexus or Infinity and the German triumvirate or Range Rover. In terms of pricing, the 2016 Volvo XC90 starts at $49,895, including the destination taxes. The price can climb up to $82,695, for a T8 petrol-electric hybrid that’s fully loaded.

In Europe (German market, 19 percent VAT included), the XC90 starts at EUR49,400, while it can climb all the way up to EUR91,440. The idea is that the Swedish SUV costs a few grand above its German competitors, but offers standard equipment worth more than that.

The downsizing has paid off, so now the Volvo elegance means you’ll feel good about yourself thanks to protecting the environment. That and less time spent visiting gas stations.

The 2016 Volvo XC90 offers the kind of experience that can be compared to sharing the wheel with that angel that’s always guided you from the comfort of your right shoulder. For people who want this, the car is brilliant, since no other carmaker caters to such needs with this much attention.