Walking up to the XC90, the SUV exudes a Teutonic European
handsomeness, though with a very blatantly Volvo feel. At the front, the large pronounced snout with bold black
egg crate grill surrounded by a chrome strip lend to the muscular feel of the car, and draw a connection to similar
grill designs found on the XC70 as well as Volvos of old like the 740 turbo and more. There is a strong weight
line that begins at the front of the vehicle at the headlights, carries along the side, partitioning the windowed
cabin area and the main body of the new SUV and continues on through the lower segment of the taillights.
The taillights themselves, while maintaining a shape similar to those on the V70, go a different direction at the
same time. Unlike current Volvo taillight design with a single clear rectangular segment where turnsignal and reverse
lights shine through, the units on the XC90 have two round clear segments that serve the same task, but in a more
dynamic way. Volvo has succeeded in differentiating their taillight design from other rivals that employ the same
rectangular lens pattern and moving toward a more fashionable look while maintaining their own distinctive shape.
The taillights themselves also sweep up along the D-pillar for maximum light communication to traffic that might
be following the XC90. This design was first seen on the 850 stationwagon, though it's evolved along the way.
Also on the D-pillar is a very subtle crease that follows the car's lines even further. This particular aspect
that bestows the C-pillar with more of a muscular and less bulbous appearance can also be seen in a similar position
on the S60.
A whole new body crease line can be found back at the front of the XC90, on the center segment of the hood. An
indented area of the center of the hood is defined by this crease that travels parallel to the base of the windshield
at the back of the hood, rounding as it nears the front quarter panels and then follows parallel to the sides of
the hood itself and comes to an end just aft the top outer boundaries of the grill itself. Something about this
element in the XC90's design gives it a decidedly more truck-like feel, and it'll be interesting to see if similar
design begins to be seen on other off-road inspired Volvos such as the rumored XC50.
Within the XC90
Inside the XC90, the SUV's all-new interior is a more radical departure from current Volvos than any recent Volvo
design since 1999's S80. The dashboard, while distinctly Volvo and using a traditional Volvo instrument cluster
and button designs, is most obviously different in the center console. Aspects such as the interior temperature
control center or the inboard entertainment controls are distinctly different while maintaining the same basic
tenets of current Volvo systems. Think of it as a rather aggressive evolution rather than something totally new.
Someone familiar with current Volvo products will find themselves quite at home in the XC90.
This feeling of familiarity also carries forth in the look and feel of the interior. Colors such as dark anthracite
gray and light beige are offered and complimented by handsome wood finishes and even more handsome satin silver
finishes. The door handles look as if they were cast in aluminum, though appreciative hands will notice on a very
hot or cold day that these are simply a very well engineered and finished plastic component that will not burn
under a hot sun or subject a driver to near frostbite in severe winter conditions.
Aside from the look of the interior, there's also the versatility. As previously mentioned, Volvo planned from
the beginning to build the XC90 in such a way that it could be outfitted with a third row of seating providing
for seven passengers. The company known for safety went one step further by making sure that all seven seats were
equipped with three-point seat belts and belt pretensioners. Further, an airbag curtain system that has been fitted
for all three rows of passengers can be deployed in the case of an accident.
Taking a page from the highly successful Honda Odyssey minivan, Volvo made it so that the rear seat can be folded
flat into the floor. But wait, there's more. Not only can the third seat be folded flat on the same plane as the
trunk floor, so too can the second row of back seats and even the front passenger seat. This means, with the exception
of the driver's area, the XC90 can be transformed into one very large storage area.
In the second row of seats, Volvo has engineered a three-segment front-to-rear adjustable bench seat. This allows
for the third row to be accessed from either side of the vehicle and additional leg room to be provided for passengers
in the third row. This also means that the second row seats can be folded in a 60:40 fashion to either side, and
even more importantly it leaves the center section of the seat fully independent. That last part is significant
because Volvo has engineered the remaining center section to not only have their unique built-in child's seat,
but it also slides forward so that a young child sitting in the back of the vehicle can be kept closer to their
parent who might be driving or in the front of the vehicle.
Technology - Five World Firsts for Passenger
Cars
With such an important new vehicle for Volvo Cars, it's no surprise that they chose to make the vehicle quite ground-breaking
on a technology level, much of this revolving around safety. The XC90 represents no less than five new world-firsts
in the automotive industry.
First, and most interesting of the group is Volvo's new Roll Stability Control System (RSC). This all-new system,
developed in conjunction with Ford, operates much like Volvo's DSTC, but on a different axis. In laymen's terms,
it senses the pitch of the vehicle vertically and when it detects a potential roll of the vehicle, it applies the
corresponding brake to keep the vehicle from doing so.
We tested the RSC program in action by performing the infamous Moose Avoidance test that got the better of early
Mercedes Benz A-class models. One drives in a narrow lane defined by cones and is forced to change lanes and change
back again. The Volvo technicians suggested that we attempt to do so without applying the brake or the gas, so
that we could feel the system work. Obviously in performing this task with no additional gas, the car was pitched
hard on its front left tire as the driver attempts to bring it back into its original lane. This triggered the
RSC and applied brake to the right wheels, and allowing the XC90 to regain its composure.
The second groundbreaking technology in the XC90 is its use of side airbag curtains. While airbag curtains are
not new to the industry, a system that provides coverage for three rows of occupants is.
Third on the list of industry firsts is an integrated sliding center seat with booster cushion. This particular
setup is quite an attractive feature for owners who are also parents of small children. The seat can be adjusted
forward so that the child is closer to the parent who is presumably in one of the front seats. It also makes use
of Volvo's built in booster cushion for children too large for a baby seat, but too small to get optimal use from
a standard seat & seatbelt setup.
Fourth, each seat is fitted with a seatbelt pretensioner. This mechanism provides split-second tightening of a
seatbelt just prior to an airbag's execution. In most cars, all occupants are not provided with this safety technology.
However, in the XC90, all occupants get a seatbelt pretensioner, even in the case of the optional third row seat.
The final technological first to be found in the XC90 is not a safety feature, but an entertainment feature. The
XC90 is the first production vehicle to be fitted with a Dolby Pro Logic II Surround Sound system. As of late,
Volvo has been known for some of the best stereos in the industry and the XC90 makes a move to keep that trend
going.
