Fare thee well, to a cool Scandinavian SUV
VOLVO XC90 D5 R-DESIGN
There comes a time when we must bid farewell to a loved one and, no matter how many times you’ve done it before, it’s always met with some trepidation. Well, here we are, at the end of our three-month test tenure with the Volvo XC90 D5 R-Design. We have driven it in the urban setting, took it on a long trip to the Eastern Cape and subjected it to some slushy gravel roads and it has simply shrugged off each instance and carried on with the objective of premium travel.
Looking back at our time with this premium seven-seater SUV, a few things are more apparent than others. A common thread with the latest crop of Volvos is just how you quickly settle in and feel at home with its minimalist yet logically laid out cabins. Everything falls easily to hand and everything is clearly legible with many of the vehicle’s functions residing in the touchscreen infotainment system, which once accustomed to its functionality, becomes an absolute cinch to operate, even while on the move.
PERSONAL HIGHLIGHTS
Admittedly, I am an audiophile through and through. Our XC90 featured one of the best sound systems in the business by audio purveyors, Bowers & Wilkins. It features a rich sound that transcends the simplicity of listening in stereo, instead giving you a more circular sound that makes you appreciate your favourite artist and their music that much more.
Then there is the sumptuous ride quality – thanks to the air suspension – that simply coped with the rigours of bad road conditions, undulations and potholes alike. The R-Design specification adds some sporty yet elegant items such as carbon fibre inserts, perforated leather chairs with contrasting white stitching that also spills onto the steering wheel and gear knob. It is all tastefully done, though, without detracting from the classy premium aspect that this flagship Volvo SUV represents.
VOLVO ON CALL
In the last throws of our time with the vehicle, we also got to put the Volvo App to the test. It is quite a nifty item, if nothing new to the segment, which gives you information on the vehicle such as its GPS position, making it easy to track where it is. It also gives you information on the duration of your last trip, how much fuel range you have and the ability to seamlessly send your next trip’s address from your smartphone to the vehicle’s navigation system, which saves some precious time.
In addition, you can remotely lock and unlock your car and the system alerts you should you inadvertently forget to lock your car. You can also book your car’s
next service via the App, although we missed the opportunity to experience that aspect of the system to ascertain its efficacy. That said, it is a handy tool to have.
AS A PACKAGE
As an overall package, the XC90 still ticks all the right boxes and then some. It is a classic fullsized seven-seat SUV that is, for the most part, unpretentious about what it represents, and it is that honest to goodness repertoire that I admire about it. The 2.0-litre turbo diesel engine might suffer initial turbo lag, but still manages to pull the large SUV along with much conviction and we managed some relatively thrifty fuel figures, with 8.2 litres/100 km being the average over the test tenure, which is quite exemplary.
LAST WORD
Almost six years since launch and the XC90 continues to be one of those vehicles that has stood the test of time and the recent updates have injected some relevance among newer comers into the segment. It might lack diversity in the engine department, but it more than makes up for it with high specification levels and equally good build quality.
In a segment where badge snobbery and the German offerings continue to be popular in the segment, the XC90 will appeal to the buyer who does not necessarily follow the trends but appreciates a premium SUV with very little in the way of frills. Having spent the better part of three months in our care, the XC90 is, unequivocally, the coolest SUV in its segment and it does this with such grace and panache.