The SUV market is seeing a sharp increase in the number of products being launched and the enthusiast traveler whom the wild outdoors beckon is completely spoilt for choice, In the present market scenario there is an SUV for every budget and the latest to enter this fiercely competitive segment is none other Volvo with the XC90. The XC90 us as if date Volvo’s highest selling model globally and now plays a crucial lead in taking forward Volvo’s aspirations to establish itself as competitive player in the domestic market. On test here is the diesel variant dubbed the XC90 D5 and which we expect will receive the most attention.
STYLE & BUILD
Stargazer not star studded
No matter how many times I looked at it from as many angles as possible and in varying shades of light, the XC90 simply does not come across as a good looking vehicle. It is devoid of personality and character and placed amongst the existing crop of SUVs would certainly attract no more than a cursory glance. But on the flip side, the lack of sensational bits gives it an uncluttered visage. It certainly does not belong to the breed of SUVs that scream ‘Look at me’ from rooftops, preferring a rather muted existence., Expect when decked in black in which case the front headlamp array, the bulging crease lines running form the hood to the windshield and the aluminum like sump cover gel splendidly to lend it a very sporty aura. For a crossover the XC90 is pretty large, though its length overshadows its height. Ground clearance is also not too impressive lending it a stocky stance but which I presume would preserve its on-road dynamics.
On the other hand I was quite pleased to see the sparse and well laid out interiors. Moving away from the decadence exhibited by several other SUVs, the SC90 us refreshingly clean to behold and simple to use. However the two-tone upholstery feels almost perverse in these almost virginal climes. Passengers at the rear get their own entertainment system with a separate DVD controller and cordless headphones, which is standard spec across the range. In the not too distant future Volvo will also offer a seven-seat option though with the five-seat spec there’s acres of space in the boot.
The horizontally split tailgate is quite innovative, with the larger upper portion opening on top and smaller lip which when opened increases the cargo area to fit in longer objects. Volvo will also be offering the XC90 with two spare wheels, a full size spare slung under the rear floorpan and a space saver inside the boot, ?Which I think is a completely pointless exercise since it will hardly be used off the road and especially where the terrain could damage the tyres.
ENGINE & TRANSMISSION
Refined slagger!
The XC90 D5 employs the very same engine as the S80 that displaces 2400cc. It has the same undersquare bore stroke configuration C81x93.1Smm) and the same compression ratio (17.3:1). Fuelling is by a common rail injection unit and the boost is delivered by a variable geometry turbined turbocharger. Max output is 189PS at 4000 revs and torque is a mighty plot-saving 400Nm between 1980 and 2760rpm. Plot-saving because for this two-ton plus SUV, 189PS feels like it lacks some vital nourishment. This effectively gives the XC90 a power-to-weight ratio of under a 100PS per ton. And that is definitely not such a good thing especially for a vehicle of this rank and order. Where this affects the XC90 is in its performance and mileage, which I will pore over during the course of this test.
The XC90 by default has an all-wheel-drive power train but does not come with low ratios. The automatic transmission with manual override has six speeds including overdrive. The ratios for the 1st and 2nd gears are quite tall which in some ways make up for the lack of flow ratio 4WD, with the rest of the four gears spaced a little more closely to provide better drive ability and for a refined character on road. I also noticed that the XC90 lets you hold the gear when in manual mode, a vital trait needed by off-roaders for better driveability and increased road hugging prowess when hitting the beaten track. Shift quality is seamless and you barely feel the transition through the gears be it on the upshifts or down.
CHASSIS AND SUSPENSION
Lots of room for improvement
The XC90 is no pretentious hardcore off-roader, though it can handle a bit of the rough. The electronically controlled AWD program basically powers the front wheels during normal running cycles on tarmac and only transfers power to all wheels if it detects wheelspin. The XC90 is based on the chassis of the S80, S60and V70 and thus is more inclined to tarmac hugging than rock climbing. The suspension is however tweaked a bit and with the 148mm ground clearance tolerates mild off-road exercises.
The all-independent suspension consists of a multi-link rear set-up and Macpherson struts at the front that is completely insulated with dampers and springs directly to the sub frame. This helps in filtering out road and transmission noises. However the set-up does exhibits some sogginess and despite the stay bars has a body roll.
The 360mm discs at the front and 308mm discs at the rear sit on 16” wheels to provide stopping power. The 235/65 R16 tyres further provide a contact patch wide enough to maximize braking efficiency.
RIDE & HANDLING
Competent road manners
Having focused more on building better road manners, Volvo has spruced up the suspension to handle any tarmac eccentricities well as provide a good handling package. So despite being built on the same platform as the S80, it has small changes incorporated into the track and wheelbase that enable it to exhibit competent dynamic ability. The track is essentially widened at both the front rear (1634x1624mm), while the wheel has been lengthened to 2857mm to provide a wider footprint. The changes brought about by minor alterations to dimensional trim do give it respectable dynamism.
The XC90 also comes with a unique Roll Stability Control (RSC) program that uses a gyroscope to sense if the vehicle is tipping over too hard. It then controls flow of power by either cutting it, increasing it or even applying brakes to reduce centrifugal forces and regain control. However driving on a series of twisties. I still found the XC90 had a lot of roll, and perhaps the system only cuts in if lean exceeds a certain limit, which had not discovered. Still with a bit of throttle control the XC90 is as impressive as any of the modern day SUVs that are better at corner carving than mountain climbing.
Ride quality is a bit better than on the S80 though even the XC90 was loath to absorb shocks transmitted by potholes. Even at high speeds every rough patch did make itself felt distinctly throughout my spine even though the suspension absorbs most sounds, except the ones rising from my gut!
PERFORMANCE, BRAKING & EFFICIENCY
Watch your weight
With a lower power-to-weight ratio I hardly expected to see the XC90 post quick acceleration times. Nevertheless driver aids such as the traction control kick in to minimise wheelspin when launching the car thereby ensuring most figures posted are respectable. The dash to 1km is achieved in 33.02 seconds which is not certainly not bad considering its sibling, the S80 was just a couple of seconds quicker to the same mark. In the same breath the Speedo also licks 100kmph in 11.54 seconds while the quarter mile is achieved in 18.13 seconds.
The linear torque spread also ensures it accelerates rapidly in kick down mode, accelerating from 20 to 80kmph in just 6.41 seconds and from 40 to 100kmph in 7.34 seconds. By this time I am impressed that despite the higher kerb weight the XC90 is closely matching the pace set by the S80.
The large brakes, EBD, ABS and EBA modulate braking forces ensuring emergency braking maneuvers are executed with no fuss whatsoever. In this regard she also posts simply marvellous braking figures, 80-0kmph being accomplished in just 27.88 metres in 2.44 seconds and from 100kmph, the brakes requiring just 42.45 metres and 2.99 seconds to come to dead halt.
The only aspect where the 2-ton plus kerb weight of the XC90 affects the car is its efficiency. The highway runs managed to stretch the litre to just around 9.9kmpl, while heavy traffic snarls get her grinding the distance down to 5.7km to a litre of petrol. This effectively gives her overall average of 6.75kmpl and an operating range of 459 kilometres.
SAFETY
Incredibly indelible
Everything you can ask for or think of and more is available on the XC90. Traction control, ABS, EBD, EBA, airbags all around, crash absorption cells, side impact protection, etc all come as standard whether you like it or not. And this attitude of Volvo alone is half the battle won towards safer driving environments. I would however further like to see the blind spot indicators and the active suspension being employed as these further enhance the safety and comfort aspect.
What I found most interesting however is the Roll Stability Control program that prevents the XC90 from leaning over dangerously. For innovative safety programs it would be hard to find fault with a Volvo. Euro Ncap in fact has awarded the XC90 the full five stars, the highest rating achievable in the crash tests. In fact the XC90 is a unique car since it can accommodate ISOF X seats of varying sizes. It has also received high praise indeed from Euro Ncap for its active and passive safety features.
SUMMING IT UP
The XC90 comes as a pleasant surprise especially when compared to its sibling the S80. Since the XC90 is an SUV expectations aren't very high but it manages to surprise on every count be it performance or fuel efficiency' braking or safety. While ride is not too impressive, handling gives it some credibility. Over and above which it has every conceivable safety feature and more than what you could think of, which only means I could attempt to push my luck further. At an ex-showroom price of Rs 45 lakh, which is around Rs 7 lakh costlier than the S80, she may not exactly seem great value-for money but the ability to go further outdoors than the S80 is surely worth the sticker. And while there is a better option in the V8 (await a road test in a future issue) that is definitely more rewarding for the enthusiast driver, the diesel XC90 D5 is a fairly competent SUV and one that truly XCeeds all expectations.