![]() The XC90 is big and is in fact larger in every dimension than its predecessor. This time however, it’s significantly svelter: the rear tailgate is now one sleek piece but I wish Volvo had kept the split folding tailgate design. Meanwhile out back, the Volvo has retained the D pillar mounted brake lights found in the previous XC90. Coupled with the front jewel headlights, the new face of the XC90 features just enough chrome bits to exhibit a look that’s both sporty and elegant.ĭonning an Onyx Black Metallic ($800) tux, the XC90 blends in easily with the Range Rover and Escalade crowd found outside the Shangri-La, or – dare I say it – the Ritz-Carlton. Smack dab in the middle of the grille is Volvo’s redesigned signature, the Iron Mark logo. ![]() The front grille has been reshaped and is now one piece instead of the awkward kid-with-braces look of the old one. ![]() The rest of the front fascia certainly looks the business too. Its hammer-like shape is a subtle nod to Norse mythology’s Thor, the hammer wielding God of Thunder – or Chris Hemsworth if that’s your kind of thing. Take for example the LED Daytime Running Lights (DRLs). I love their delicate allusions to its Scandinavian roots, like Easter eggs to really make you appreciate what the company has done. The attention to detail in this car is absolutely exquisite. The Swedes have done something very special with this car, it oozes class and sophistication yet has an ambience of simplicity and balance to it. Yet, somehow there was always an element of intermediacy behind the design, like a stepping-stone to a final destination that was almost within reach.įollowing that analogy then, when you see the new XC90 you know the design team at Volvo has finally arrived. They’ve since introduced a sleeker design language a la V60 and S60. Let’s talk design for a moment here, Volvo has really stepped up their design language from the late 80’s where their cars looked like a hodgepodge of IKEA boxes on wheels. So in theory, consumers won’t have to wait another 12 years to see a refreshed XC90, which is good because we really like what we see after our week spent with our XC90 test vehicle. Whether that means a stiffer chassis, a more powerful engine or new gizmos in the cabin, it is all available for Volvo to change with relative ease to meet the demands of the market. What this offers consumers is a product line that can easily be adapted to the newest technology. Volvo’s SPA goes beyond the platform upon which the cars are built and continues into both powertrain and electrical systems. The all-new Volvo XC90 is built on Volvo’s Scalable Product Architecture (SPA), a modular product strategy akin to Volkswagen Audi Group's MQB platform. In fact, few things were more overdue than the Volvo XC90 refresh - the Leafs taking home a Stanley Cup was one of them.Īlas, after a 12 year hiatus, Volvo has finally done the job and what a mighty fine job they’ve done. Yes, all the way back in 2002 when Avril Lavigne was still cool and No Doubt was still active, Volvo introduced the world to their first luxury SUV.īut time marched on and the XC90 remained relatively forgotten in the Volvo lineup and as with all things automotive, it grew long in the tooth and desperately needed a makeover. ![]() The truth is, the XC90 has undergone few changes since its inception, umm, 12 years ago. What actually happens is that I take a stab at a random year in the first decade and a half of the 21st century knowing that I will technically be correct anyway. Whenever I see a Volvo XC90 on the road, I always make an effort to try and guess its model year. ![]()
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