Test drive Volvo XC90 2002 - 2006 SUV

On the verge of possible

Some of the abilities of the first all -terrain vehicle Volvo will no longer meet any of the competitors.

Stable in three dimensions
I am ashamed to admit, but I was afraid. I go to the turn specially a little faster than the permitted. The high heavy collapse obeys the steering wheel perfectly, clearly writes the desired trajectory and suddenly begins to go more and more. How to convince yourself that this is not scary? You think a little more ...
 
However, the next second is almost incredible. When it seems that you are about to turn over, the Swedish giant begins to slide out at first with the front, and then with all four wheels. And then smoothly, but very diligently, it is taken to brake the necessary wheels and strangle the engine, turning sliding into confident dangling into a turn. Eka Nonvidal, the reader wise in modern security means will say, this is how any stabilization system can.
 
Do not rush with conclusions. In addition to the electronic watchman who has already become ordinary on expensive cars (Swedish, by the way, can be turned off by the button on the front panel), the creators taught the XC90 to control, and if necessary to adjust the angle of lateral roll. They called their RSC scheme Roll Stabilization Control, or a control system for overturning. Moreover, as the designers certify, thanks to it, the car is practically guaranteed from the coup. So I was afraid at the wheel of this extremely safe car completely in vain. Because the limit of his abilities lies far beyond the line, which could initially suggest.
 
It all started with the seeker
The prototype of XC90 The conceptual ACC ACC ESCOSE Car concept (ADventu-RRER of the adventure) showed more than two years ago. The basis of the concept was the platform of the largest sedan from Gotheborg Volvo-S80, and its appearance could be made solid and elegant at the same time. And although the car appeared with a glass roof, a 4-seater futuristic salon, immediately with the advent of a serial machine it became clear that some details of the seeker migrated to XC90 almost unchanged.

Swedish giant
And yet, after several of these turns, I instinctively began to do the way most drivers do speed before turning. Moreover, at whatever pace he rode, attention was provided to me. It is not surprising, because this is only the chief designer Volvo Peter Horbury believes that the cos-90 is by no means formidable. For me, so on the contrary.
 
He's how huge he is! Wider, higher and longer BMW-K5 and Mercedes M-class. Even the newcomer toileg, with the same almost sizes, seems to be a modest one nearby. It is difficult to immediately determine what, but the Swede looks much more aggressive than his classmates. So he plays with muscles on the sidewalls, circling the world with huge complex headlights, and look, he will dust with the heat from the black pharynx of the radiator lattice.
 
And the consciousness that 272 liters are hidden behind this predatory appearance. With. One of the most powerful engines ever created by the Volvo engineers for cars only enhances the overall impression.
 
I'm not a sprinter, I am different
And here is another surprise. Each pressure on the gas pedal is accompanied by a juicy roar and far from sprint acceleration. Rather, not at all that which you expect from such a motor. The Swedes say about 9.3 seconds to hundreds, and the impression is that the herd of horses adjusted to the turbine for some reason is in no hurry to run out of jumping. The reason for the melancholy in the far from a new 4-speed automatic transmission. Only this fit next to the transverse (!) In -line six. I had to ride the S80 with the same engine and a 4-speed automatic even with longer gear ratio. A 300 kg sedan is easier and runs much more fun.
 
In fairness, it is worth noting that if on one side of the scales a subjective feeling of slowness, then on the other very smooth switching and excellent sound insulation. The tongue will not turn to call this car a soft -proof. There is an impartial speedometer shooter at 140 km/h. Is it more? Easily. True, I don’t know how many people who want to rush in this giant will be in full aging, resting against the forced 210 km/h.
 
In any case, increasing the speed to 160, I caught myself thinking that I did not want to go faster. And not because the car cannot. No, under a barely audible whistle of turbines, she is ready to continue to continue her leisurely acceleration. The helm is still clearly obeying, it holds the line well, if you need to slowly slows down. It’s just that the feeling of speed here is still not as well as on expensive sedans. High landing and imposing suspension did their job. I did not want to nimble, and that's it. Fighting priorities in XC90 were far from the first place. But peacefulness, excellent ergonomics and security are these traditional values \u200b\u200bof Volvo and here are fundamental.
 
Swedish priorities, annoying trifles
You look in the rear view mirror and you wonder. Isn't you in Minivan? As if there is no end to this expensive carriage. To achieve such an effect, the designers of XC90 as far as possible moved the front row of seats forward (that is when the trump card of the cross -line location played!).
  
In addition, from the first seconds of your stay in the driver's seat, you understand everything here has a very comfortable and serene pastime. Each dash of the salon is as if penetrated by solidity and thoroughness.
 
Judge for yourself. The traditionally massive front panel is the focus of the most necessary functions. The most convenient, simple and at the same time very effective climate control, a magnificent stereo system. And how good the chairs are! It seems that the Swedes decided to prove that they are able to perfectly cut the skin of expensive dressing. With every minute you are affirmed in the opinion that this is not a car seat, but a cozy soft home chair. Very nice. And at home everything is at hand. Even the phone. Insert into a special nest on the front panel of the SIM card, and the whole world is in touch.
 
 
A tall passenger will be placed on any of the seats with decent comfort

 
As in a real minivan, each of the seats of the second row can move
    
By order of the XC90, it is equipped not only by the usual phone of the GSM standard, but also by the Hands Fri system
 
For passengers of the gallery, there is a separate remote control of the stereo system, and in the upholstery of the wheeled arches there are spacious secretaries and a couple of dummies
 

Only two things fall out of this idyll. Firstly, a suspension that transfers completely unnecessary information about potholes in the asphalt on the steering wheel is much less comfortable than I would like. Strange, but built on the same platform, the S80 behaves on our bumps much softer. And secondly, the gearbox lever that did not indulge in the clarity of switching disappointed. It is not possible to learn how to fix it at the mark D far from the first time. I went too far with an effort, the lever slips to the mechanical gear mode. I had to learn to treat him with the greatest tenderness.
 
And then it dawned on me: maybe with the lever it was so specially conceived? After all, it harmonizes with a rather light steering wheel, soft pedals for an all -terrain vehicle. Such a symbiosis will surely like any lady. Moreover, the Swedes are not hiding, when designing the salon, they relied on the opinion of whom you would think? American housewives.
    
So far only the most powerful
XC90 is available with three types of engines: 163-horsepower diesel, gasoline 2.5 liters, 210 hp, 2.9 l., 272 hp So far, Russian dealers of Volvo are imported only by all -terrain vehicles with the most powerful of them. The price of basic, very generously equipped machines with a 57-seater interior $ 63 900 and 65 900, respectively. ABS, a system of dynamic stabilization and traction control, an active system for ensuring stability, as well as 4 pillows, inflatable curtains, security alarm and central castle all these safety products are already on such Volvo. The huge list of basic equipment includes not only hydraulic power steering, electric windows, driver's seat, hatch and heated mirrors, fog lights, light alloy wheels, on -board computer, audio system with four speakers, but also decoration of the salon with skin, aluminum and wood, headlight vehicles and much Other.
 
The same single specimens that have already been brought to Russia, as a rule, were even more stuffed with options (bixenon headlights $ 653, parking sensors $ 437, air conditioning for passengers of the third row $ 1127, the phone $ 784, heat -reflecting side and windshield $ 541, improved stereo $ 911) and are worth Not less than $ 70 thousand. If you want to build a car on an individual order for you, get ready to wait 2.53 months (at the end of April, dealers received orders for July). However, it makes sense to be patient until the fall. Then in Russia, more accessible from $ 53,000 210-horsepower modifications with a 5-speed automatic transmission should appear.

The dream of a housewife
In a matter of seconds, in the cabin you can arrange the most convenient place for the child. From the central seat of the second row, a children's pillow is advanced. So beloved child will sit higher. Now this leather chair easily moves close to the backs of the front seats, and so that the child was where to put the legs, the central armrest (he is also part -time boxing) is made unfastened. Naturally, the seat belts are provided for the chair. Very impressive care.

   
Built-in-built children's pillow basic equipment of a 7-seater machine

The Swedes came up with an original folding system of seats, the pillow moves under the floor, and the back lays flies with a trunk floor

If desired, a large central armrest is also a roomy boxing can be easily unfastened
 
In this barred Konura, you can even transport a couple of huge labradors

 
With the chairs folded in this way, a three -meter long -in length will fit in the cabin
 

On the seats of the third row (they are supplied by order and, if necessary, with bribing lightness, forming an even floor) will be placed a couple of adolescents, even if they already waved with dad. At their services, a separate air conditioning system with a condenser intensity control panel. To make it earned, the driver needs to press a special button on the front panel. There is also a separate remote control for managing the stereo system. And of course, armrests, cup holders, containers for small things. In a word, the creators tried to take into account the interests of all and support complete harmony. However, how is this harmonious and Sibaritic comfortable Swede with off -road abilities?
 
Extreme on rough terrain
The sight, probably, was quite funny from the outside. And it could well serve as an illustration for some guide of Jeeper as you do not need to travel on an all-terrain vehicle.
 
A large, muscular look of a rogue with a stylish black trunk on the roof, just famously shifted through the hills, playfully climbed into slippery herbal slopes, jumped over rather deep ruts and suddenly found himself in a completely helpless position. With the right front wheel, the car climbed onto the tubercle along the tangent, hit it in a very small fossa, the rear right, choosing a short suspension stroke, came off the ground, and my warrior hung helplessly. Neither back nor forward.
 
 
With such small moves of the rear suspension on the off -road, you can't make a hassle
 

I repent, a burdened engine, all-wheel drive, a 22-centimeter road clearance euthanized my vigilance. But it turned out that from such a delicate position, when only the right front and left rear wheels, XC90, not endowed with differential blocking, would not be discharged for the ground. Here, the torque between the wheels is distributed by the multi -disc sleigh of Haldex, supplying up to 95 percent to the front axle under normal conditions. If the front tires slip, the electronics can automatically redistribute up to 65% of the thrust on the rear wheels.
 
That's just now these same interest worried me the least. It only remained that to try to add one human strength to 272 Swedish horses. Fortunately, it was necessary to push the car for some ten centimeters. An attempt, one more. Somewhere under the bottom, something is striking intensively, the wheels were able to tightly grab the earthly firmament. A small jerk, and now Volvo is firmly standing on all four legs. I will not experience fate anymore. Although, I must admit that if I had not demanded from XC90 skills, which only full passes have, like Pajero or Cheroki, I would not have found slack.
 
The most expensive Volvo
So what do we have as a result? Perhaps, in no parkingate, I had not had to meet such a concern for the passenger and such a convenient, amazing the transformation of the salon. This is, of course, a plus, and very large. In the disadvantages, we will bring far from the most friendly suspension, too openly reporting all the charms of the road. The car has excellent, but, alas, so voracious motor by current standards. With solidity and grandeur, she appeals of admiring glances to her owner, but not every parking lot will come to her. No SUV is able to accommodate seven with the same comfort. However, is it not too much to remember the big sacrifice that the designers went far for the sake of this designers? The Swedes did not endow the XC90 or more and more often encountered by the descent system from the mountains, nor electronic locks of differentials, but it correctly felt for the limit of all -resistant abilities that the majority is needed in ordinary life.
 
The balance turns out to be quite positive. If not for the last BUT. So far, for some reason, for some reason, they decided to import exclusively top 272-horsepower modifications, and even prices (ours, terribly, cost $ 71 thousand) assigned those that seem to even seem to be possible. Is it worth such money comfort, safety and image to decide to the consumer. Moreover, in the next months.
    
American favorite
Approximately 50 thousand XC90 will find their owners during this year, says President Volvo Kars Hans Olof Olsson. Given how popularity is the ninetry gaining in the States, in their main sales market, these plans do not seem unrealistic. The Swedes calculated that 65% of all XC90 at a price of $ 34,000 to $ 47,000 will remain there. Everything is different in Russia. So far, we even have the most affordable Khy90 for $ 63,900, it will have to be tight among competitors such as Mercedes-Benz-ML350 (53,760 euros), Volkvagen-Tweg-3,2 (46,500 euros), Lexus-RX300 ($ 55,000), BMW -X5-3.0 (75 900 euros).
 
PER
the painful engine, a clear steering wheel, reliable controllability, excellent brakes, rich equipment, high level of safety, huge possibilities of transforming a comfortable 7-seater salon, courageously salt and at the same time intelligent appearance, good geometric cross-country ability
AGAINST
the suspension is insufficient enough with minimal loading, the absence of rigid locks of differentials, mediocre for such a powerful engine dynamics, stretched transmissions in automatic transmission, unreasonably high price in Russia, high cost of fuel, fuel consumption
 
Volvo XC90 T6
common data
 
Body (number of places/doors)
Universal (7/5)
 
Equipped mass, kg
1900
 
Complete mass, kg
2250
 
Length x width x height, mm
4800x1900x1740
 
Base, mm
2860
 
Track, mm
1630/1620
 
Road clearance, mm
220
 
Radius of turning, m
5.95
 
The volume of the luggage compartment*, l
249/613/2490
 
Speed, km/h
210 **
 
Acceleration time 0-100 km/h, with
9.3
 
 
Fuel consumption, l/100 km
18.5/9.6
 
Fuel supply, l
70 (AI-91-98)
 
 
Engine
 
Location
Front transversely
 
Design
gasoline, in-line, 6-cylinder, with turbocharged
 
Diam. cylinder/piston stroke, mm
83.0/90.0
 
Working volume, SMZ
2922
 
Compression ratio
8.5: 1
 
Power, L.S. (kW) at rpm
272 (200)/5100
 
Torque, kgsm (nm) at rpm
38.7 (380)/1800
 
 
Chassis
 
Drive unit
Constant on all wheels with a multi -term clutch Haldex
 
Transmission
Automatic, 4-speed
 
Suspension
 
independent, with reptile stabilizers, hydraulic shock absorbers, springs
 
front
Type McEzerson
 
behind
Mollycent
 
 
Steering
 
rhealenic type with hydraulic power steering
 
 
Brakes
 
hydraulic, disk, ventilated
 
 
Tires
 
235/60 R18
 
Alexey Sergeev, photo Maxim Goncharov
 
 

Source: Magazine "Limousine" [07/03]