Refreshed Volvo XC90 offers better battery power and safety features.
I have met the car of my dreams. He is sleek, handsome, protects me without me even knowing and keeps me safe, and what’s more, he’s green-savvy. What’s there not to like about the refreshed Volvo XC90?
The second generation XC90, introduced in 2014, was one of my girlfriend’s dream cars. Being the modern (and chic) soccer mums that we were, it was the perfect SUV as it offered the space and safety which we valued, and yet looked rugged and cool enough to take on the guys and their mean machines.
Enter this new charmer, the refreshed XC90 comes with new bells and whistles that demonstrates why it should retain its position as Volvo’s top of the line flagship.
At the launch of the Volvo XC90 recently, media members were invited to take the seven-seater SUV for a short spin to Janda Baik to experience the vehicle firsthand. While it was less than an hour’s drive from Saujana Hotel, Selangor where we had congregated in the morning, to Tiararasa Escapes, a glamping resort just at the edge of Pahang bordering of Selangor, it offered the opportunity to briefly test the new model’s performance on the winding Karak Highway.
“The launch is a special initiative by Volvo to further focus on eletrification, apart from our usual attention to safety and personalisation. The XC90 should resonate well with people who care about the environment,” said Nalin Jain, Volvo Car Malaysia Sdn Bhd’s managing director during an interview.
“The recharged XC90 drive means a lot to Volvo as it signifies the company’s new emphasis on sustainability, among others. Earlier, our concentration was on safety and we have worked on this successfullyfor many years, coming up with the safest cars. Now, our new passion is sustainability and we want to work towards zero carbon footprint.”
Equipped with a turbocharged and supercharged 2.0-litre engine, the XC90 T8 Twin Engine is capable of a maximum power of 407 hp and 640Nm maximum torque. What’s new in the flagship T8 Plug-in Hybrid Electric model is the battery capacity that has been upgraded from 10.4kWh to 11.6kWh, improving the pure electric driving range up to 50km.
For the T5 model, the battery comes with third-row air conditioning with c-pillar vents, road sign information system (RSI) and fourzone electronic climate control with cooled glove box, previously was only found in theT8 model.
It was interesting to note how the battery held up driving past the meandering roads to the resort. On the way back, we drove from Kampung Janda Baik past the winding part of the highway, with no signs of strain or lag in power, before the SUV went into fuel mode past the Genting Sempah Tunnel.
With the facelift 407 hp/640 Nm total system output, facelift goes up to 420 PS), but there’s now a bigger 11.6 kWh lithium-ion battery (up from 10.4 kWh), which offers 50 km pure electric driving range, up by 15%. It also features the new brake-by-wire advanced battery charging. Some other markets get new ‘B’ badged mild hybrid powertrains (B5 and B6) that feature a KERS function.
On Pure Eco Drive Mode, the XC90 T8 and T5 Hybrids should prove especially useful and more economical when driving in city driving conditions.
“Volvo has great penetration in Malaysia and customers understand the sustainability issue. I’m truly excited about this drive and ‘glamping’ (at Tiararasa) is the perfect place to launch our product. It is green, takes us back to nature and connects to our brand message well,” he added.
Tiararasa, spread over 2.8ha on the foothills of Janda Baik, provides guests a chance to camp outdoors in luxurious tent and treetop villas equipped with all the comforts of modern living within a jungle setting. Without TVs in the tents, guests find entertainment by picnicking by the adjacent river, enjoying an open air movie on the lawn, joining nature walks or riding the ATVs offered nearby. Those of us who were game enough to rough it out on the ATVs had new-found appreciation for Volvo’s safety features. Besides, with access to Wifi, one is never really cut off from the world anyway.
A quick glance at the exterior and the most distinctive difference is the new modern grill with curvier edges above the lower bumper, giving it a classier and more elegant look. The inscription grille with fully chromed bars adds to its luxurious feel. Newer Volvo brand cars are characterised by the cool T-shaped signature headlights with Scalable Product Architecture (SPA) platform.
Other upgrades to the original XC90 include new exterior colours and new wheels. In true character with Scandinavian design, the SUV displays clean lines and a stylish shape that makes it so much more than just a functional family car; it screams action and adventure.
Inside the spacious cabin, the award-winning design remains untouched. The fully updated Sensus infotainment system unique to Volvo is a standard feature, compatible with both Apple Carplay and Android Auto as well as being integrated with the Spotify Music streaming service. The attractive dashboard has the centre console as the power seat as this is where everything is controlled, much like scrolling on a Smartphone except on a bigger screen.
The electronic gearshift lever has been redesigned in Orrefors crystal, fitting nicely in a woman’s hand. I much prefer this traditional position of the gearshift, rather than a hand gearshift on the steering.
In terms of active safety technology, the XC90 now offers drivers help with steering on both the City Safety and Blind Spot Information System. City Safety with autobrake is the only system in the market to recognise pedestrians, cyclists and large animals. The Oncoming Lane Mitigation system first introduced on the XC60 is now available in the XC90 as well and the Cross Traffic Alert Technology is now equipped with autobrake. Together with the safety cage that forms the core of Volvo’s passive technology, the Volvo XC90 is one of the safest cars you can drive.
The refreshed Volvo XC90 is priced from RM373,888 (on the road, without insurance) onwards and is available in Crystal White Pearl, Denim Blue Mettalic, Onyx Black Metallic, Pebble Grey Metallic and Thunder Grey Metallic colours.
