Once the icon of restrained luxury and bank-vault safety, the Swedish automaker Volvo fell on tough times, seeing sales slump because of an aging, uninspiring model line. Now flush with an $11 billion cash infusion from its Chinese owner, Geely, Volvo's XC90 flagship SUV represents a make-or-break moment, its executives admit. The XC90 could be the vehicle that wins back those who walked away and attracts those who never thought they would find a Volvo in their garage.
When automakers say that a car is "all new," they're usually fibbing. It can mean just a nip and tuck of sheet metal or some refined interior-trim pieces. In the case of the XC90, though, Volvo is boasting about a new vehicle platform that will spawn a slew of other models, a new engine and transmission family, and a new infotainment system that could pass for an iPad by Ikea.
Volvo has bet the farm -- and all of the moose that graze on it -- on a three-row SUV that could find a place on many luxury shoppers' consideration list. Think Range Rover luxury for tens of thousands of dollars less.
How did it stand up to our scrutiny? For all of its imposing heft, this Viking-shouldered SUV is powered by a mere four-cylinder engine. The 2 liters under the hood don't seem very muscular compared with the predominantly six-cylinder engines that populate this segment. But the XC90 is equipped with a turbocharger and a supercharger that help generate an astonishing 316 hp. Despite its seemingly meager displacement, it certainly doesn't lack power; an eight-speed automatic and all-wheel-drive system put it to pavement.
Still, even with this smallish engine, we measured only 20 mpg overall. And for a $57,000 vehicle, the engine should sound and feel polished. Instead, the XC90 feels and sounds gritty. The big Volvo's responsive, planted, and secure handling belies its size; the adage "quick for a big man" comes to mind. But the stiff suspension seems best suited to computer-generated roads in ads. In the real world, every road imperfection and ripple is fed to the cabin.
What really wowed us was the quiet and impeccably finished interior. Take the easy step up into the cabin and you're welcomed with soft leather and beautifully finished wood panels, plus nice touches such as a knurled ignition-switch knob and a drive-mode selector. The front seats maintain Volvo's tradition of extremely comfortable chairs; the roomy second-row perch offers lots of leg room. And Volvo is among the only manufacturers to offer a built-in child booster seat.
Volvos have tended to make occupants feel nestled in safe cocoons, but the XC90 is spacious and airy. The big windows and relatively thin roof pillars make it among the best SUVs for driver visibility.
Our love of the interior cooled when we engaged the large touch-screen console, which looks dazzling until you have to operate it. Almost all audio, climate, navigation, phone, and vehicle settings are integrated via swipe-and-tap commands that are frustratingly unintuitive. If you buy an XC90, insist on a tutorial.
On a bright note, the optional LED headlight high beams are the best we've ever tested. You feel like you're sitting in the front row of a rolling movie theater. Volvo calls the daytime running lights "Thor's Hammer." Get them. You'll be able to spot the Norse gods picnicking in Asgard.
The XC90 comes standard with a safety suite of forward-collision mitigation and lane-departure warning systems. Blind-spot monitoring, rear-collision warning, cross-traffic alert, and lane-keep assist are optional.
Volvo's Pilot Assist system combines steering assistance and adaptive cruise control to try to make driving easier. It has no proven safety benefit, but can make driving more convenient in stop-and-go traffic. Drivers still need to constantly pay attention and be ready to take over when needed.