Volvo XC90 D5 R-design Geartronic AWD vs. Mercedes-benz GLE400D 4Matic 9G-tronic vs. Volkswagen Touareg V6 TDI Executive R-line
Just how far out of their comfort zone can three luxury SUVS go? A stern test spanning 900 km of dust, mud and 1 400 m of elevation change awaits
Our convoy advanced inex‐ orably towards its end goal. Three shimmering, low-flying objects stirred up highspeed dust devils as far as the eye could see. At an unspecified point on the R355 that connects Ceres and Calvinia, we crossed the pro‐ vincial boundary to the Northern Cape entering the Tankwa Karoo. To the west, ominous storm clouds engulfed the Cederberg. To the east, the earth remained un‐ erringly parched, with powerful rising thermals painting tell-tale stratus clouds across the sky. Three amigos posed in the middle of this beautiful, turbulent nowhere: the Volkswagen Touareg, Mercedes-benz GLE400D and Volvo XC90 R-design.
The route to the summit of Ouberg Pass mimicked a rugged weekend away that anyone with a luxury SUV could conceivably en‐ joy; although one somewhat re‐ moved from the comfort zone of the shopping-centre car park these vehicles will usually fre‐ quent. We turned off the N1 high‐ way after the Huguenot Tunnel and took Mitchell’s and Therons‐ berg passes in our stride before swapping smooth bitumen for the corrugated gravel of the R355 and the hundreds of dusty kilometres that followed. The end destination was one of the most impressive gravel mountain passes in the Northern Cape. Draped along a ridge of the Roggeveld Mountains, the summit of Ouberg Pass prom‐ ised spectacular, never-ending views of the Tankwa Karoo valley floor below. Assuming we could get there, of course.
The Volvo XC90 is the oldest vehicle of the trio insofar as the current generation was launched back in 2014. In those six years, it has solidified an enviable reputation as one of the few big luxury SUVS without an image problem. Forget big BMWS and Mercedes; if you want to be the belle of the parent-teacher association, arrive in a trustworthy Volvo and enjoy the admiring glances. However, this newly introduced R-design model, which comes in at the top of the existing Momentum and Inscription trim lines, is technically the newest car here. With its more individualistic attitude, according to Volvo, the R-design makeover appears to be mostly aesthetic, with gloss black roof rails, a new front grille with additional detailing to the lower sills and bumpers, and classy fivespoke black diamond-cut alloy wheels. To judge if these subtle additions have in any way altered the unflappable Swede, I started the journey in the Volvo.
As before, the interior is constructed around Volvo’s signature portrait-style touchscreen which is available in every vehicle the firm sells. When this largely buttonless facia first debuted, it was lauded (and maligned by some) for its cuttingedge minimalism, but six years on, it is difficult to remember what all the fuss was about. The interminable forward march of touchscreen technology and digitalisation in modern cars is such that the Volvo’s configuration feels familiar, conventional, maybe even old-hat. The cabin layout is intuitive, to-the-point and opulent with this vehicle’s optional R-design Pack (R72 500) which adds niceties like head-up display, keyless entry, heated seats and steering wheel, and a Bowers & Wilkins premium sound system. Like all XC90S, there are plenty of practical touches for a family vehicle, seven seats come standard; and figure-hugging R-design sport seats up front are perfect for six-foot-tall occupants. It may not be finished with the extravagance of the Mercedesbenz or the gadgetry of the Volkswagen, but it is supremely comfortable. Its ride over rough gravel on its 20-inch rims with
THE BOFFINS FROM GOTHENBURG HAVE PROBABLY NEVER SEEN A ROUTE AS RUGGED AS THE ONE TO OUBERG PASS
45-profile rubber is plush, thanks to optional air suspension (R26 750). This is a must as the regular steel-sprung XC90’S ride is a touch firm. Combining air suspension on the rear end with adaptive dampers at all four corners that can be tuned by the driver (the modes are Comfort, Eco, Dynamic and Off-road), the XC90 provides the best seat at the back of the pack to observe the epic crosscountry trip take shape.
There was good reason for the Mercedes-benz and Volkswagen being out in front. They both boast six-cylinder turbodiesel engines, while the sensible Swede makes do with just a 2,0-litre fourcylinder. Producing 173 kw and 470 N.m, it’s no slouch; however, the torque band is narrower than the others, running from just
1 750 to 2 500 r/min. On the move and in its sweet spot, the smaller motor pulls strongly, equipping itself well against its beefier combatants. Interestingly, in an impromptu decibel test, the Volvo – with a third less cubic capacity than the others – was the loudest under full acceleration, proving correct those who argue refinement is impacted as a consequence of smaller downsized engines working harder to motivate larger vehicles.