December 17, 2016 – Volvo has always stood out in the car industry thanks to its swanky and technologically advanced products, and this gave me reason to look forward to one of their latest creations: the all-new XC90 SUV.
Spending a couple of days in the Swedish SUV, courtesy of Volvo Lebanon, helped me better grasp the image that Volvo is trying to convey with its cars: they’re all about going from Point A to Point B in the calmest, safest and most luxurious way possible.
However, focusing on comfort and safety doesn’t necessarily mean that Volvo had neglected performance, because the XC90 delivers ample power from its 2.0-liter turbocharged and supercharged four-cylinder engine that generates 320 horsepower and 400 Nm of torque. This power is sent to all four wheels via an 8-speed automatic transmission.
The XC90’s main selling point, I discovered, is its subtle design inside and out. It’s the Emma Watson of SUVs. In other words, simplicity truly is the ultimate sophistication with this SUV.
The exterior of the XC90 oozes elegance, and the same theme carries over into the interior where the lack of buttons gives the upmarket cabin a spacious and airy feel. Speaking of spacious, there’s enough room to fit 7 adults.
What’s most impressive about the XC90 is the fact that everything has been centralized, meaning that almost every function (e.g: Radio, A/C, navigation, driver aids) inside the car is accessed via a massive 9-inch tablet-like touch screen mated to Volvo’s Sensus Connect system, which I found quite straightforward and easy-to-use.
Safety has always been Volvo’s top priority, which is why you’ll find lots of standard driving aids in the new XC90, including emergency braking, lane keeping aid, adaptive cruise control, automatic parking, blind spot monitoring and cross traffic alert.
The driving experience in the XC90 felt a lot like sitting on a couch at home: it was extremely soft and comfortable with good noise insulation. The engine doesn’t struggle to provide power and the SUV felt fairly planted on the road.
It wouldn’t be wrong to say that the new Volvo XC90 is every bit as good as its German rivals, and if comfort and safety are your number one priority, then the Swedes have delivered a product that you should seriously consider.
Photography by Majd Zoghbi from The Action Crew.
