Car: Volvo XC90 V8 AWD
Prices: £44,330-£54,420 - on the road
Insurance Group: 18
Emissions: 322g/km
Performance: Max Speed 149mph / 0-60mph 6.8s
Fuel Consumption: (combined) 20.9mpg
Safety: Front & side airbags / ABS / SIPS / WHIPS
Dimensions: Length/Width/Heightmm 4733/1860/1562mm
VOLVO ON A ROLL
Our Rating: 7.4 / 10
Does Volvo Really Need An XC90 With A V8 Engine? The Market Would Seem To Think So. Andy Enright Reports
Volvo, that most caring and environmentally-oriented of car companies, would seem a rather odd candidate for developing a hulking great V8 engine. Surely these Swedes with an unimpeachable green reputation would be better served developing alternative fuel technology instead of relying on good old fashioned cubic capacity? On the surface it would appear that parent company Ford has corrupted the Scandinavian gene pool but, as is so often the case with Volvo, not all is as it seems. The XC90 V8 AWD is a luxury 4x4 with a conscience.
That may sound a little trite given that we’re talking about a 311bhp bruiser of a powerplant but this 4.4-litre engine is one of the smartest of its ilk and Volvo almost felt a responsibility to develop it. The market for seriously powerful all-wheel drive SUVs has taken off in the past few years with vehicles like the Porsche Cayenne and the Mercedes ML dramatically upping the ante. Volvo could either sit back and watch its rivals cleaning up or enter with its own take on the genre.
The 322g/km of carbon dioxide that the XC90 emits may not make it quite the environmental poster child but compare it to the alternatives. The BMW X5 4.4i chugs out 335g/km, the Mercedes ML500 emits 339g/km and the Porsche Cayenne S spews out 361. That’s probably not enough to tip the balance in the Volvo’s favour if you’re a sceptic, but consider this. It meets stringent American ULEV II (Ultra Low Emission Vehicles II) standards thanks to four catalytic converters, a lean air/fuel mix for cold starting and a higher idling speed at cold start. Volvo’s engineers had identified that the first 15-20 seconds after starting was when the majority of harmful emissions were created and have worked to quell this occurrence.
Volvo’s philosophy of trying to convert potential V8 customers to their way of thinking instead of plumping for more profligate rivals is a smart piece of thinking. We can but do our bit. After a weekend spent circuit racing and riding a two-stroke motocross bike, I realised I’d probably done more damage to the environment than Virgin’s entire 747 fleet but by using a ‘clean’ V8 on the way home, I was suffused with a rosy glow of environmental smugness. I was also rather taken with the fact that when you’re not so concerned with the limits of winter pack ice, the XC90 V8 will get to 60mph from standstill in under seven seconds with a hefty 440Nm of torque chiming in nicely at 3,900rpm.
The Swedish company’s first V8, this is the same powerplant that’s offered in the S80 V8 AWD and it’s something rather special. Its narrow V-configuration means that it’s possible – as with all Volvo engines – for it to be mounted transversely and still offer excellent crash protection space in the front crumple zone. With the block and the head cast in aluminium, this engine weighs in at just 190kg. Low weight means better handling, sharper acceleration, improved fuel economy and lower emissions.
The introduction of this pivotal engine also coincides with some tweaks to the XC90’s styling that are worth taking another look at. The exterior design of the XC90 has long been one of its strong points. It’s imposing without ascribing to the neo-brutalist school of vehicle architecture popularised by the likes of the Land Rover Discovery and Jeep’s Commander. Instead, it mixes slab sides with smooth curves in a way that’s beautifully resolved. It’s recognisably a Volvo yet remains one of the best looking 4x4s money can buy.
The latest car emphasises the curves of the XC90’s ‘shoulders’ with a redesigned tail light section. There’s also additional chrome detailing, a full-width rear scuff plate and a bumper that incorporates a little more body colouring to visually lower the rear of the car. The front also adds a splash more chrome and colour-coding while revised 18-inch alloy wheels and colour-coding for the side mouldings, mirrors and door handles give the flanks a cleaner look. Volvo is also offering a palette of more modern exterior colours including a very striking White Pearl finish.
The interior has been given a makeover too with the aim of giving the XC90 a more luxurious, premium feel. The cabin was already extremely good in terms of functionality and ergonomics, if lacking a certain elegance that buyers in this market have increasingly come to expect. That’s fixed now. New materials and upholsteries including opulent Sovereign Hide soft leather, Sapele wood
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