Swedish super-SUV the epitome of Scandinavian ingenuity

If you think of a car that’s super safe, the first name that pops into your head will undoubtedly be Volvo. Did you know that Volvo is responsible for the invention of the three-point seatbelt, in 1959? And even though Volvo could have made obscene amounts of profit with this patent, they chose to share it with the world. Why? So it could save millions of lives, of course.

Sexy Swedishness

Earlier Volvo’s weren’t the hottest cars around. You weren’t going to buy a Volvo if you wanted to ‘pull chicks’, so to speak. Volvos were the logical, grown-up choice, bought for their excellent safety reputation. But Volvo is changing all of that, with design so unabashedly sophisticated that the ladies swoon the moment the door is opened and they lay their eyes on that perfectly polished cabin. That also explains how I felt when I looked at those perforated Nappa leather seats, the dual-tone leather-covered steering wheel and streamlined, centre stack with its iPad-like Sensus interface and Birchwood inlays for the first time. It is just flawless. AutoTrader’s press car, the Volvo XC90 D5 AWD Inscription, was kitted out in this exact colour scheme. Volvo calls it ‘Blond in Blond’, a colour situated somewhere between pale cream and light grey. It makes the cabin as inviting as an ice-cream Sundae during a heat wave.

Tablet technology

Getting back to the minimalistic dashboard, Volvo did away with most of the buttons. Instead, there’s only Volvo’s ‘Sensus’ iPad-like interface in the centre dash. Using it feels much like a high-end phone or tablet. It’s the most advanced system I have ever used - everything is controlled via this large touchscreen, including air-conditioning. And you don’t need to go into multiple menus to change settings - it’s intuitive and simple. Swipe from left to right for the quick menu, and from top to bottom for more detailed functions. (And if you have any trouble at all, there’s a paperless user-manual, also accessible via the touchscreen.) I had plenty of fun entertaining myself with this - I changed the standard Satnav voice to a woman’s (I struggle to obey orders from men), and I also changed the ambient cabin lighting to blue. ‘Sensus’ is voice-activated, and it managed to figure out my Afrikaans friends’ names and continued dialling their numbers – more than I can say for most other brands. It must be because the Satnav lady can speak Swedish!

The XC90 itself can be used as a Wi-fi hotspot, and I connected my iPhone to it with relative ease. If you’re parked in your garage at home, you can connect the Volvo to your home Wi-fi or any network within range, if you have the password.

Space for days

The XC90 seats seven people with remarkable ease. The cabin is so roomy that my six year-old son could stand up straight in the car as we got in. A regular-sized friend on the second row (with her back against the backrest) couldn’t reach the front seats with outstretched arms. Even the two seats in the third row offer decent amounts of head and elbowroom (with armrests in the sides), but limited legroom for adults over 1.7 metres. There are cup holders and clever little storage spaces all around the cabin, including right at the back. As for those beautiful perforated leather seats – they are every bit as comfortable as they are pretty, and the front seats will protect your spine in case of an accident.

No mishaps

Speaking of accidents, Volvo’s advanced safety systems will probably be able to prevent most of them. Standard City Safety includes pedestrian and cyclist detection and a front collision warning, with full automatic braking. Lane Departure Warning will make the steering wheel vibrate if you’re veering from your lane. Every XC90 is issued with this, as well as Vehicle Deceleration Control (includes Anti-lock Brake System, Electronic Brake Distribution & Emergency Brake Assist), Stability and Traction Control (includes Spin Control, Engine Drag Control and Corner Traction Control)
ISOFIX Attachments for kiddie seats (2nd Row Outer Seats)
Hill Start Assist
and Hill Descent Control. There’s a total of six airbags (front, side & curtain). There’s optional safety kit too, of course. The XC90 we had on test, was fitted with the Blind Spot Information System with Cross Traffic Alert, Collision Warning and Mitigation Support (R8 100). My personal favourite would have to be Visual Park Assist with a 360-degree camera, optional at R11 600. It gives you an aerial view of your XC90, displayed in crystal clarity on the touchscreen. Any pesky rocks, holes or poles can also be seen here.

With a body the size of the XC90, some help with regards to parking is much appreciated. Park Assist Pilot + Park Assist Front and Rear are standard on all derivatives, and will park the XC90 with minimal driver input.

It’s pretty, but is it powerful?

But what does it feel like once you’ve left your driveway? The 2.0-litre turbodiesel unit is smoother than a dolphin’s belly. Smaller is better, when it comes to fuel economy, but this can put a dampener on things in the performance department. Not in the XC90. There’s enough power with 165kW and 470Nm, yet the two-tonne Swedish super-SUV only sips around 7 to 9 litres per 100 km. Downsized, twin-turbo engines are the way forward for Volvo, and we can’t wait for all the new models they’ll be churning out shortly.

Pricey, but packed

The XC 90 AWD Inscription variant is priced at R 893 000, and with a few more luxurious bits and bobs added, it can easily amount to a million bucks. But compared to the Germans, it’s almost lavishly equipped.


The XC90 is a difficult car to critique, because it’s so close to being perfect. The standard specification level in this car is unsurpassed. (You’d have to visit www.volvocars.co.za to feast your eyes on everything you get for your money.) We give it nine stars out of ten – it loses a mark for not negotiating the school bumps with as much finesse as I’d hoped. But the low profile tyres on our test model may have something to do with this.

AutoTrader loves the XC90. It does Scandinavia proud.

Facts & Figures

Price	: R893 900
Engine	: 2.0 litre, twin-turbo, diesel
Power	: 165 kW
Torque	: 470 Nm
Top speed	: 220 km/h
0 to 100 km/h	: 7.8 seconds
Fuel tank	: 7.1 litres
Realistic fuel consumption	: 7 - 8 litres per 100 km (combined)
Boot size	: 314 – 692 -1947 litres
Ground clearance	: 238 mm
Warranty	: 5 years / 100 000 km
Service plan	: 5 years / 100 000 km
Also consider	: Audi Q7, BMW X5