VOLVO XC90 test drive since 2007 SUV
Sports and diesel
And please, reader, do not ask me why this AI number has an off -road slope. Just look out the window, and everything will become clear to you. Unless, of course, you are at the moment in the northern hemisphere of planet Earth. Although I would say that in the south all -wheel drive and big clearance will not be damaged. And at the metropolitan latitude, at this time of the year, the good SUV does not dream of only meager with his mind and a driver inclined to suicide. What could be better than moving (if you need to move) in a safe, spacious and warm car? And how in this case to ignore the Volvo XC90? Can't get around in any way. Moreover, the Swedes had just begun to offer the Russians a diesel modification of their SUV, and a little earlier they brought to our market the most powerful gasoline in Sport. Red and safe
Deprived of all modesty thanks to the scarlet body of the XC90 Sport, one might say, is doubly safe. Because it stands out in the stream, as a banner at a parade. After all, it is known that according to statistics, it is red cars less often than others that fall into an accident. This color, by the way, is not suitable for any model, because it is very demanding of design. With Volvo in this sense, everything is in order.
You can also distinguish Sport from any other XC90 by chrome lining on the thresholds and inserts in the front and rear bumers. And also according to the original, accessible only in this version, 19-inch cast discs and chrome-made peaks of the exhaust system. Well, and the diesel modification is excepted perhaps modestly bent down the exhaust systems, and the wool D5 on the lid of the trunk. But even if outwardly the SUV has an aggressive or arrogant appearance, inside it is a home in the best sense of the word. And not without delights. The central part of the seats has inserts in the color of the body (XC90 Sport) or beige (XC90 D5). In addition, in sports modification, the pedals are finished with aluminum, like the entire central console, the seats have developed lateral support. And the instrument shield here is not ordinary, black and white, but blue, with a metal tint. This, according to designers, emphasizes not the triviality of the version and is evidence of its dynamic potential.
The soft chair is ready to take any complexion into its arms, and electrical adjustments allow you to quickly find a suitable landing. The steering wheel, on which the audio control buttons are located, is adjusted both in height and by departure, in any position without blocking the scale of the devices. Ergonomics are generally on top. There are many buttons on the slot of the central console, but it’s easy to understand them. Because they are logical, and on each icon.
Of course, the XC90 is already equipped with a separate system for the driver and front passenger of the climate control. But the electrically folded mirrors and the so -called electric locking of the rear doors are already options. However, there is no doubt about their usefulness. The ability to quickly fold the mirrors often helps out on narrow streets, in addition to the clogged anymores as parked machines, but the CHs90 car is not small. Blocking is simply indispensable if there are children from behind, because they probably want to pull this brilliant lever. In a word, caring for comfort is felt literally in every detail. You can also, for example, connect a cell phone to an audio system. To do this, you only need to pull out the SIM card and insert it into a special slot on the central console. And use a lunch or a separate tube placed next to the cup holders.
There is plenty of space spacious and behind. The seats can be folded entirely or in parts, and in the luggage compartment I found two more chairs of the third row. By the way, five or seven -seater equipment does not affect the price of the machine too much. But it really affects the volume of the trunk, which decreases from 613 to 249 liters. In any case, the owner has an even floor, and the back door that opens in parts (it is divided into the upper and lower block) facilitates the loading of things.
And one more thing: it is in winter that you understand the advantages of Swedish cars. Not only the engine, but also the interior warms up very quickly, and heating the front seats is so powerful that literally in a couple of minutes you start boiling. Salt in the name
Under the hood of Sport version, the most powerful gasoline engine with a volume of 4.4 liters is installed in the gamut. First of all, I remind you that this engine is the first in the entire long history of the Swedish company V8, developed in cooperation with Yamaha. It is unique, because it is extremely small: 74 cm in length and 62.5 cm in width, with an angle of collapse of cylinders of 60 degrees. Which made it possible to install the motor across the motor compartment, preserving the damping zones under the hood and, thereby, providing a traditionally high passive safety level for cars of the Swedish brand. But most importantly, it gives XC90 Sport excellent potential, and it sounds pleasant. The ability to move quickly, even very quickly, is by itself. However, I dare to say that the advantages of the XC90 Sport are not at all.
If we consider the car from the driver’s positions, it should be said that, firstly, the XC90 Sport suspensions are more elastic. The body rolls less than on a standard chassis. Secondly, the 6-band GEARTRONIC automatic transmission is very quick. With a sharp press on the accelerator pedal, the box quickly switches to a lower step. Two more advantages are that the automatic transmission is adaptive, that is, it is adjusted to the individual driving style, and allows you to twist the engine to maximum revolutions in manual mode. Although, it is obliged to note that the designers could not get rid of the automatic transmission, and the box still steals the power of the engine. But, I repeat, all this matters only for an active driver, in everyday operation to the character of XC90 Sport you quickly get used to it.
Finally, thirdly. Due to the installation of a larger diameter of the XC90 Sport, it is much more pleasant to control. The reactions to the turns of the steering wheel are more precise and more acute, and let the pits become more clearly, but the feedback on the steering wheel improved and stability increased both in corners and direct. The brakes remained the same, but the power of the calipers is enough for the driver to feel quite confident at any speed. In addition, ABS and numerous electronic systems are eager to cope with a slippery coating, trying to maintain a direction set by the driver and almost completely excluding possible slipping or blocking.
There is a traction! Finally, Volvo decided to supply diesel versions of her cars to Russia. In the case of the XC90, we are talking about a 5-cylinder turbodiesel, which with a volume of 2.4 liters develops 185 hp. And it has just a steam traction of 400 nm. Therefore, if someone tells you, the reader, that the diesel version is weakly do not believe. Acceleration to 100 km/h in less than 11 seconds is a very decent indicator for a two -ton car. Unless, of course, you do not confess the high -speed driving style, but count on the usual movement, especially with the family. 185 forces are enough for a confident driving, both around the city and on suburban highways. And in any case, the impressive torque allows you to accelerate very quickly both from the place and with quick overtaking on the highways. Moreover, the same 6-speed automatic transmission paired with a diesel engine behaves much more decent: good traction can level the delay of the machine gun. But the most pleasant thing is that inside the tractor rod is practically not heard. Only at high speeds he begins to penetrate the salon, but even does not irritate at all. And finally conquers D5 when you pay attention to the imminent fuel consumption. During the tests, and most of them took place in the city, the consumption was about 13 liters per 100 km.
To the tough joy of the tester, during acquaintance with XC90 D5, a real winter came to Moscow. Therefore, it was possible to check how the all -wheel drive transmission behaves. With the usual XC90 movement mode, a typical front -wheel drive car, the rear wheels enter the work only when the front slipping. He knows all the electronics processes, if necessary, immediately activating all its resources, including the DSTC stabilization system. So, already at the first sharp start from the traffic light, it was worth a little to turn the wheels on the front axle, the computer immediately connected the rear ones. You feel the like on the bends. You turn the steering wheel, add gas, and somewhere in the middle of the turn you feel that part of the moment was already behind, and the demolition of the front axis began to appear immediately extinguished. The main thing is not to overdo it at speed, otherwise you can get a skid, which will have to be eliminated by the steering wheel for discharge of gas, which, in turn, can lead to sliding out of turn. Also not the most pleasant prospect on city streets. On the other hand, everything happens surprisingly predictable. Moreover, the line behind which the loss of stability occurs is somehow groping out immediately. In the most extreme cases, DSTC will enter into business, capable of slowing down one or more wheels and return the controllability to the SUV. But, to be honest, riding a foul is not for the XC90. On this, I just want cars with pleasure and with a sense of confidence to roll along the roads.
What about the price?
The price, from my point of view, is quite competitive and is in full accordance with the class of the car. Volvo XC90 Sport is offered by official dealers for 2,259,000 rubles (5 seats) or for 2,321,000 (7 seats). But the diesel version, which is especially pleasant, is one of the most affordable in the XC90 series. Prices begin at 1,444,800 rubles.
Andrey Osipov
Photo by the author and Volvo
