Displaying items by tag: Volvo

 

► 400bhp, 100mpg, 0-62 in 5.8seconds
► Swedish seven seater
► Frugal and fast - but not at the same time

Back when Elon Musk was merely known for crashing his McLaren F1 and Jeff Bezos was a bookseller, Volvos were safe and sturdy cars made for ferrying around your offspring.

Fast forward to today and the brand has evolved into a stylish desirable car marque that no longer just trades off being the safest around.

Keep hitting the fast forward button and you'll see that a new Volvo XC90 is due in 2021. It'll be a hybrid and EV only affair.

With this in mind - is the XC90 worth buying still? Or should people wait for the new car?

The best hybrid SUVs - on CAR

The XC90 T8 hybrid, or Recharge for short, is the most expensive, cleanest, frugalist, and quickest car of the XC90 range. Its raison d'etre is that it's a seven-seat plug-in hybrid - something of a rarity still.

It's aimed at the middle classes who can't quite commit to a fully-electric car, but still want the tax breaks and street cred associated with one.

While there's also a hint of the Q-car about it. Lovers of stealthy performance cars will be salivating at the thought of a 2.3-tonne family-hauler cracking the 0-62mph sprint in less than six seconds.

A 400bhp, £60k Volvo hybrid with a crystal gear selector

Expensive, fast, stylish and beautifully crafted, it’s a standard-bearer for the Swedish marque in its assault on the premium establishment, a move that’s being met with more success than Volvo dared hope.

The XC90 uses Volvo’s SPA scalable product architecture. It also underpins the S90 saloon and V90 estate, while the chassis was designed from the outset to package electric powertrains. In the T8 a petrol engine in the nose drives the front wheels via an eight-speed auto gearbox. A generator sandwiched between the two rapidly cranks the petrol engine into life, boosts torque and charges the battery as required.

The cells, housed in the central tunnel a propshaft normally calls home, feed a large single electric motor on the rear axle that also generates electricity under braking. A control unit in the engine bay synchronises the two power sources, ensuring happy, efficient collaboration and all-wheel drive when required.

Does the XC90 Recharge feel 400bhp fast?

Not quite – think effortless performance rather than unlikely dragster. Mash the throttle to the carpet in Power mode and the T8 launches pretty smartly, the battery pouring power into the electric motor as the turbocharged and supercharged direct-injection 2.0-litre four slogs its guts out. As a performance powertrain it’s undoubtedly effective, the claimed 5.8sec 0-62mph feeling entirely believable, but the car’s not inconsequential weight (2343kg) blunts performance.

This kind of heavy-footed tomfoolery also feels pretty inappropriate, not because the chassis can’t cope – far from it – but because the petrol engine’s strains lack charm, shattering the XC90’s otherwise very endearing serenity. Volvo insists a more sonorous higher cylinder count would have been incompatible both with the firm’s product architecture and the wants of environmentally responsible consumers. Certainly the four-cylinder engine contributes much to the T8’s headline figures of 63-76g/km of CO2 and 83.1-100.9mpg on the combined cycle, though, after running one for six months, we can safely say the latter is an almost impossible figure.

The obscene three-figure MPG rating is synonymous with the plug-in hybrid car. We reckon if you charged religiously, and never drove more than 100 or so miles, the figure might be someway achievable. But the real hindrance to the XC90 is that when the battery is bereft of charge, you're realistically looking at a sub 30mpg car.

Volvo quotes an official electric range of 31 miles, but with day-to-day mixed driving expect more like 20.

Back to the drive modes. It's better to select the Hybrid and trade a little of Power’s throttle response and poke for improved economy and some far more agreeable peace and quiet. Either way the integration of electric and petrol power is almost seamless. At smaller throttle openings the petrol engine chiming in and out is almost undetectable, and the brake pedal is similarly well resolved, passing through the regenerative phase and into hydraulic braking with no discernible shift in resistance.

The usual PHEV functionality ensures a good degree of control: choose Pure mode to use only electric, select Braking on the gear selector for stronger regenerative braking on downhill runs, or even a lower gear for increased engine braking; use the instrument display or the dead-spot in the throttle pedal’s travel to stay on electric power, rather than accidentally triggering the petrol engine’s assistance.

High-rise limo or lively steer?

Air-suspended XC90s deliver an impressive drive, blending a cosseting ride with impressive body control. Appropriately there’s a little initial roll before the outer air struts take up the slack, lending the 5m-long seven-seater the wieldy feel of something much smaller and lighter.

Conventionally sprung XC90s manage a good impression of the same body control but lose a good deal of the ride quality, occasionally running out of answers on the kind of weather-beaten roads the UK does so well. So budget for the air suspension, which also drops the rear of the car by 50mm on demand for the easy loading of heavy furniture and arthritic dogs.

Back to that crystal gear selector

Curious timbers, machined aluminium and acres of beige leather don’t sound too promising but, almost irrespective of colour choice, the XC90’s is one of the finest interiors out there, certainly in anything like a comparable price bracket.

Fit and finish are exemplary, the design striking in a very pleasing, understated way and the overall sense of light, space and uncluttered calm the perfect ally to the T8’s potential for 31 miles of near-silent pure electric transportation. Additional NVH work has banished much of the background chatter of fans and compressors a combustion engine’s machinations normally mask, leaving an impressive and luxurious absence of noise.

Although the heating/cooling functions are controlled via the car's touchscreen. Which is annoying and fiddly on the move. Turning the heated seats on to their full power requires three stabs at the screen, for instance. And we can't help but the crystal gear selector is a bit...much.

Verdict

The XC90 is fundamentally a very fine SUV, and the hybrid powertrain has much to recommend it, not least the tax breaks afforded by its miserly CO2 output. While obviously 400bhp means it shifts like a V8.

However, for most people a diesel-engined XC90 delivers comparable if not superior economy, particularly if the battery’s never charged from the grid (50% of its existing PHEV owners don’t, according to Volvo) but the T8’s potential for both lunging bouts of acceleration and silent electric running is hugely attractive. Much like the car itself.

Since being launched, other manufacturers have caught up by offering plug-in hybrid SUVs. Audi, Range Rover, and BMW all have these in their arsenal - and all are newer too. Yet, the XC90 still delivers in being devastatingly fast and handsome, and nowhere near as audacious and flashy as them.

Source: carmagazine.co.uk

Published in Volvo
Sunday, 15 November 2020 06:04

Volvo XC40 Review

The Volvo XC40 is quite a head-turner. Its tough, chunky SUV styling blends typically Scandinavian minimalism with eye-catching cues, such as an optional two-tone paint scheme where the roof contrasts with the rest of the body.

It also blends typical Volvo virtues like comfort and space with the high driving position and in-town manoeuvrability of a small SUV. Unlike small SUVs from other manufacturers, which have a tendency to be a little like scaled-down copies of larger models (the BMW X1 and X3 spring to mind here), the XC40 its own distinctive style.

In fact, it’s more youthful-looking than its more mature big brother, the XC60 – think of it as funky tee to the XC60’s tailored shirt.

The XC40’s interior still delivers on the minimalist cool you’ve come to expect from modern Volvos, but in this case, there’s a more contemporary tone. Examples of this include the door trims, armrest and handles, which are made out of a single piece of plastic and have colour-coded felt-lined inlays. This design not only adds a dash of vibrancy to the cabin but also frees up space for larger capacity door bins.

Cleverly thought-out storage solutions are a bit of a theme in the XC40 – the central armrest features a removable section that can work as a small waste paper bin, while the large, well-shaped boot offers a pop-up divider to help hold shopping bags in place. Both front-seat and rear-seat occupants will have plenty of space, too, and as a driver, you’ll find it easy to find an ideal driving position whether you’re small or tall.

There are some imperfections, though. Poke around a bit and you’ll notice some trim pieces feel of poorer quality than you might find in an Audi Q3. And, while the portrait-style infotainment system may look smart, being a touchscreen, it isn’t as easy to use when you’re driving as the rotary controller you get in a BMW X1.

Speaking of which the BMW is the slightly more fun car to drive. Yet that doesn’t mean the Volvo XC40 leans like a listing ship in the bends – it handles as well as you need an SUV to handle. And it gets the basics spot on. It’s comfy over bumps, effortless in town, and relaxing on the motorway.

Okay, so the engines and gearboxes in the XC40 aren’t quite as good as those in the comparative German models but this shouldn’t be a dealbreaker. The entry-level T3 petrol is punchy enough for town use and, if you do lots of miles, the economical D3 diesel is more than up to the job. You don’t really need to pay extra for the more powerful engines, although company car drivers should keep in mind the Recharge plug-in hybrid models because they’ll be the cheapest to own.

There are some upgrades worth considering though. The Volvo XC40 is one of the safest new cars on the road as standard, but it is available with extra kit such as blind-spot monitoring. You can also get an advanced cruise control system which will keep you a safe distance from the car in front, will steer to keep you in lane and even work in stop-start motorway traffic.

Of course, all this adds to the price, but the XC40 is still quite competitive for a posh small SUV – but check out our Volvo XC40 deals to see how much you can save on one. Or click the links below to get offers on our recommended XC40 model.

How practical is it?

The Volvo XC40’s interior has room for four adults and an impressive amount of storage space in the doors. The boot isn’t the largest, but it is well designed and packed with features

What's it like inside?

The Volvo XC40’s interior has a classy minimalist design and an eye-catching infotainment screen. Sadly, it’s not the easiest system to use and the XC40 also suffers from patchy build quality.

 Volvo XC40 interior

The Volvo XC40’s interior has a classy minimalist design and an eye-catching infotainment screen. Sadly, it’s not the easiest system to use and the XC40 also suffers from patchy build quality.

Style

The Volvo XC40’s interior has a premium look and feel that marks it out from well-built but dowdy mainstream alternatives such as the Volkswagen Tiguan. In fact, it’s classy enough to be considered an alternative to posh SUVs such as the Mercedes GLA, Audi Q2 and BMW X1.

That said, none of them have the Volvo XC40’s portrait style, 9-inch infotainment screen. It means that conventional buttons are kept to a neat single row in the centre of the dash, including a large volume knob in the centre that is easy to reach for when you’re on the move.

The infotainment system’s design is exactly as you’ll find on larger Volvos, but the XC40’s youthful, bright Lava Orange carpet and door trims (available as an option on R-Design models) certainly aren’t.

That’ll help the XC40 appeal to you if you’re young. You’ll also like its soft-to-the-touch plastics and expensive-looking trims. The only problem is the construction, which has inconsistent gaps between panels that you wouldn’t find in an Audi Q2.

On the upside, even entry-level Volvo XC40 Momentum models get textile-vinyl (friends will assume they’re half-leather) seats and Urban Grid Aluminium trim pieces that look very nice.

Sportier-looking R-Design models get leather-nubuck upholstery, a leather-trimmed steering wheel and gear knob, as well as aluminium inlays.

Inscription models are the poshest, and come with a full leather interior and unvarnished wooden trim pieces that looks as good as anything Mercedes has to offer.

If you’ve ever used an Apple iPad then you’ll have no problem operating the Volvo XC40’s 9-inch infotainment display. It lets you swipe between menus and pinch to zoom in on maps, and has a conventional ‘home’ button at the bottom of the screen so you can skip quickly to the main menu.

Entering a postcode is easily done while you’re parked – either by writing in the letters with your finger or by typing them in via the onscreen keyboard – but it’s fiddlier to do when you’re driving than it is in the BMW X1 or Audi Q2.

In fairness, the Volvo XC40 wins some points back by offering an app for your smartphone, so you can programme the sat-nav without even having to leave the house. You can also use it to preset the cabin temperature or open the car remotely.

On top of the central infotainment screen, you get another 12.3-inch digital driver’s display that’s an option on the BMW and Audi. It’s customisable, so you can flick between conventional dials or having a large map display for the sat-nav right in front of your eyes.

Completing the Volvo XC40’s audio-visual package is a standard stereo that has a very healthy 250W output and eight speakers. That should be enough for casual music fans, but if you’re a full-blown enthusiast you’ll want to tick the box for the 13-speaker, 650W Harman Kardon system that can envelop you in a wave of sound.

 Source: carwow.co.uk

Published in Volvo
Tagged under
Tuesday, 29 October 2019 05:15

2020 Volvo XC70

The company from Sweden plans to expand its range of car models. The 2020 Volvo XC70 will be a positioned between the XC60 and XC90. According to information, it will move to a medium size segment, luxury and comfort. Top safety scores and continual updates to safety features put the Volvo Xc70 among the safest cars in its class.

2020 Volvo XC70 Engine
The compact XC60 and XC90 medium sizes use the T5 and T6 engines, and there is no reason to exclude the Xc70 from the power of one or both models. The basic T5 is a four-cylinder four-cylinder 2.0-liter unit. It generates 250 hp and 260 Ib-ft of torque. It has a standard front-wheel drive, while the four-wheel drive is optional. The automatic gearbox with eight speeds is a power router, while there is also a fuel saving plug in the form of a Start / Stop function. The T6 is a powerful car that delivers 316 hp and 295 Ib-ft of torque at the exit. 2020 Volvo XC70 will only be available with AVD. The T5 and T6 are very capable of driving, and the new 2020 Volvo XC70 can count on a £ 5,000 pound capacity. It will offer its customers a plug-in hybrid T8 engine, which can break 400 hp and 470 pounds per minute. The fuel economy is increased to 25 mpg or 60 MPGe. The PHEV model can only be powered by electric power, so be sure that the new 2020 Volvo XC70 comes much better than its predecessor.

The new look of XC70
The company is one of the leaders in electrification, so it would not be surprising that the new XC70 will come up with an electric battery that will be able to get up to 500 miles and headlamps up to 400 miles.

2020 Volvo XC70 Interior
The company works to increase quality, and the new model Xc70 will have Auto Drive features of Level 3. This self-driving system gives drivers the ability to do something else while driving while safely reaching their destination. Also, there will be a function of maintaining the lane with automatic braking and steering, as well as a great parking system. We expect a full leather upholstery, a large screen for information and entertainment that will be located in the center of the dashboard. There will be elements and elements from your Ambience Interior concept. The combination of visual and sound as well as scented effects, but the easy access from a phone or sound application allows you to choose the ambience according to your mood.

2020 Volvo XC70 Price
The price on new Xc70 will not be below $ 80,000. Of course, the price will grow if you add certain details like the Ambience interior system. In case you decide to drive for conventional drives, the cost will be between $ 40,000 and $ 50,000, while the Plug-in hybrid T8 engine will be available for about $ 65,000.

Published in Volvo
Tagged under
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