In 2002, Volvo entered a not-so-popular class for its time with the introduction of the first generation XC90. The crossover, which quickly became a popular model both worldwide and in our country, was distinguished by a combination of large space, modern technology and safety, typical of the Scandinavian brand. This model remained on the market for 13 years before being replaced by its second-generation successor, which introduced a completely new platform, the new design language of the brand, but at the same time retained and even upgraded the safety that its predecessor offered. Now, 23 years later, Volvo is already successfully selling the third generation of the model, which we had the opportunity to test.
Exterior
The latest iteration of the popular crossover has not changed much on the outside, largely retaining the shapes of its predecessor, and many would probably define the change as a facelift rather than a completely new model, as Volvo claims it is. Distinctive features of the latest generation are the updated lights with a “Thor's Hammer“ design, as well as the new front grille with diagonal slats. Also new are the air ducts around the grille, as well as the overall shape of the bumper.
The overall silhouette of the car remains identical to that of its predecessor, and you can mainly distinguish it by the new wheel options, which vary between 20 and 22 inches. The exterior color options are exactly 7 in number, with no flashy options, which is not surprising, judging by the elegant shapes of the car. From the rear, we can't say that we're witnessing major changes either, and you'll probably have a hard time distinguishing the current generation from its predecessor from last year.
Interior
As for the interior, we can't say that we're seeing huge changes either. New to the model is the 11.2-inch screen, which is noticeably larger than the one in the previous modification, and runs on Google's operating system, which controls everything in the car. Getting used to it can be a bit difficult at first, but after spending some time with the car, using it becomes a bit more intuitive. The presence of Google in the infotainment system allows you to download various applications or games, some of which are active only when the car is stopped.
In front of the driver there is also a display that changes its appearance slightly in different driving modes and allows you to configure its appearance, but unfortunately with minimal options, such as whether to have a map in front of you or not. Just below the central screen are the minimized buttons that control the emergency lights, heated windows, music control and glove compartment opening.
The materials are of an extremely high level, even in places where you don't have to constantly touch them. The seats have electric adjustment, as well as heating, cooling and massage options. The crystal gear selector, which is illuminated at night, also makes an impression.
The space in the second row of seats is more than enough, even for people of taller stature, as you have the option to adjust the backrest and pull the lower part. Passengers in the second row also get the option to control the climate system and seat heating. The third row of seats, which we are often used to being just for beauty, can actually be used here, although we still have to compromise with the space for the second row of seats, which have to be pushed significantly forward, and also with the luggage space. Opening this topic, we can mention the huge tailgate, which is electrically operated, as well as the space of 1856 liters, which unfolds with the seats folded or 302 liters with all seats used.
Drivetrain and technical specifications
Moving on to the drivetrain, we had the opportunity to drive a model with the designation T8, which, to the disappointment of fans, does not hide a gasoline eight behind it. In fact, it means the most powerful version, which combines a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and an electric motor with a power of 145 horsepower. Thus, the system power is 455 horsepower, 285 of which are from the gasoline engine, and acceleration to 100 km/h takes 5.4 seconds.
The truth is that the car feels really agile, especially considering its size, and when driving at higher speeds, you can sometimes get carried away and forget about the road restrictions, but a reminiscent squeal from the infotainment system brings you back to Bulgarian reality. The car we tested was equipped with the optional air suspension, which, although offering comfort, may still seem a little stiff, especially with the larger wheels and the frequent bumps on our roads. On the other hand, the XC90 handles extremely well in corners, especially for its weight and size. The only remark we can have here is about the feel of the steering wheel, which even in its firmest option may not appeal to everyone, but we still have to keep in mind that the car is made for a more relaxed type of driving.
The battery has a usable capacity of 14.7 kWh and, according to Volvo, allows a range of 70 kilometers on electric power alone. We can't say that we managed to achieve exactly this result in our tests, but we managed to drive about 60 kilometers in urban conditions and calm driving without much traffic. The true power of the combination of the electric motor and the engine is in extra-urban driving, where the consumption of this nearly 5-meter car with a power of over 400 horsepower varies between 5 and 6 liters per 100 kilometers, while respecting the restrictions. When the battery is depleted, this consumption increases to about 8 liters per 100 kilometers, especially if you rely on the Power driving mode, which is the Swedes' interpretation of Sport.
Conclusion
Our conclusion is that Volvo has made the few, but expected changes to its largest flagship, to fully bring it into the world of its electric sibling EX90. The premium feel of the model has been preserved, and this also comes at the expected price. The standard model starts at 150,400 leva, and the plug-in hybrid version that we tested starts at 180,100 leva including VAT and can easily reach even 200 thousand leva.
@mobile.bg_official We tested the new Volvo XC90. See more details in the link in the bio #volvo #xc90 #volvocars ♬ Aesthetic - Tollan Kim