If I told you there was an SUV on the market that uses only a four-cylinder engine but has the size to fit seven passengers inside you might start making jokes about how slow and underpowered this vehicle would be. The funny thing is, the Volvo XC90 doesn’t feel underpowered at all and for the 2017 model year comes to us as an even better version than what the 2016 model was. This gorgeous full size crossover SUV is an engineering marvel and one that has the rest of the market scratching their collective heads.
There’s no doubt you should love the Volvo XC90 and maybe even be a little concerned about the use of small engines. We’ll get to the engine part, but this is an SUV that offers you the name of safety on the market and a ton of great features including a large display in the center of the vehicle. For 2017 the XC90 dropped the Inscription trim from the lineup and added an eight-inch driver’ display, LED headlights, and Apple CarPlay. The T8 adds an Excellence trim that gives you heated, ventilated and massaging rear seats, a built in refrigerator and a 20-speaker Bowers & Wilkins audio system.
The drive of the XC90 is different from anything else you’ve driven, even if you’ve owned a Volvo model in the past. This SUV uses the new Scalable Product Architecture (SPA) that Volvo has developed. This creates a lighter but stronger vehicle to give you a feel on the road of a nimble and capable vehicle that still has the ability to protect you in an accident. The basic setup offers you a firm ride, but you can add the air suspension and have a softer feeling along with automatic leveling to make the ride even smoother in this quiet cabin.
The XC90 uses three different engine setups for you to choose the one that’s right for you. All three make use of the 2.0-liter turbocharged inline four-cylinder engine and all are mated to the smooth shifting eight-speed automatic transmission to give you a fantastic ride. This SUV is rated to tow as much as 5,000 pounds to give you the ability to take along a boat or trailer full of goodies to enjoy at your next destination.
The base engine is the T5 and offers up 250 horsepower and 258 lb.-ft. of torque. This powertrain does offer AWD and an option and returns 22 city/26 hwy mpg in FWD and 22 city/25 hwy mpg in AWD. Stepping up to the T6 the engine is improved by adding supercharging to the mix which increases the power to 316 horsepower and 295 lb.-ft. of torque. This powertrain is AWD only and gives you 20 city/25 hwy mpg of fuel mileage. The T8 takes the T6 engine and adds an electric motor to the mix. This allows you to have a full 400 horsepower and 443 lb.-ft. of torque while giving you a 25 mile electric only range and a fuel mileage average of 24 city/27 hwy to enjoy.
As the largest SUV in the Volvo lineup you expect it to be filled with great features for you to enjoy. The XC90 starts out with the Sensus touch control interface, a GPS navigation system, a ten-speaker/330 watt audio system, quad-zone climate controls with the Clean Zone Air Quality System, a panoramic glass sunroof, Wi-Fi hotspot connectivity, the City Safety System and a USB port. The City Safety System gives you a full menu of great driver assistance features to help you enjoy the information you need to be safe on the road.
Moving up to the Climate, Convenience and Vision Packages you can add several options, other than just the engines and AWD, to this vehicle. These packages give you Surround View Cameras, power retracting side view mirrors, heating controls for the windshield, headlight washers and rear seats, Blind Spot and Cross Traffic warnings, Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Keeping Assistance, Parking Assist Pilot, Four Corner Air Suspension, a 1,400 watt Bowers & Wilkins premium sound system, a Head Up Display, an integrated second row child boost seat, Nappa leather, carbon fiber accents and 22-inch wheels.
The 2017 Volvo XV90 is an amazing enigma of awesome features and technology for you to enjoy with your friends and family. Come see your nearby Volvo dealer today and find the XC90 that’s right for you.
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