Refreshed Volvo XC90 brings a new dimension of safety

Image by Naresh Maharaj

Impeccable Safety

Volvo and safety go hand in glove. The XC90 has been at the forefront of SUV safety. It was the first SUV in the world to be fitted with Roll Stability Control, which measures the car's roll angle in extreme manoeuvres and activates the stability control system to reduce the risk of a rollover accident.

The second-generation XC90, launched in 2015, came with two world-first safety aids: Run-off Road Protection and automatic emergency braking at junctions. Should the car inadvertently leave the road, Run-off Road Protection automatically tightens the front seatbelts to keep occupants in the safest possible position.

To help prevent spinal injuries, a collapsible energy-absorbing section between the front seats and seat frame cushions the vertical forces that can occur if the car lands on a hard surface. The XC90 was also the first car in the world to feature automatic emergency braking that activates if the driver turns into the path of an oncoming vehicle at a junction.

But it does not end here. There is a slew of safety features including Adaptive Cruise Control, Distance Alert, Lane Keeping Aid, Run-Off Road Mitigation/Protection, Driver Alert Control, Road Sign Information, Electronic Stability Control, Emergency Brake Light, Brakes with Hill Start Assist and Automatic Hold, Automatic braking after a collision, Roll-Over Protection System, Roll Stability Control, reinforced passenger compartment, side-impact protection system, collapsible steering column, side and dual-stage airbags (for the driver and front passenger), inflatable curtain, whiplash injury protection system and City Safety with Autobrake (which recognises pedestrians, cyclists and large animals).

Never get lost with Volvo on Call

We all know that even with the latest Satellite Navigation technology that comes standard in most new vehicles these days, there is still a chance that you can go astray and get lost. Not with the Volvo XC90. If you are indeed lost, all you have to do is press a button that will connect you to a dedicated South African based Volvo Call centre. The personnel will pick up your exact location and then guide you to where you ought to be. Looking for a night-club in a specific area?

Ask the personnel at the call centre and they will recommend a few. The access to Volvo on Call comes standard for five years with every new purchase of the XC90. But there’s plenty more.

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With Volvo On Call, motorists can lock or unlock the doors to their car, check the fuel level and cool or heat their car – and they can do this all via their smartphone, smartwatch, tablet or desktop.

Hence your XC90 becomes far more than just a means of travel. South African motorists will particularly appreciate the associated safety and security benefits.

“Motorists who forget to lock their car will get a notification message. And Volvo On Call automatically contacts the emergency services if you are involved in an accident and tells them where you are,” Maruszewski explains.

Anyone who has ever lost track of their car in a huge parking lot will also welcome Volvo On Call with open arms. The app will show you the location of your car on a high-definition map, and then provide directions on how to reach it. You can even ask your car to hoot and flash for five seconds to identify itself and guide you to its location.

Plush and luxurious interior

“The interior is pure and uncluttered, while still radiating the sophisticated confidence and formality that luxury SUV customers expect. The interior opens up to generous surfaces and gives us the opportunity to create a modern, luxurious interior architecture,” says Maruszewski.

Image by Naresh Maharaj

Simplicity is the keyword here. The most striking feature is a tablet-like touch screen control console, which forms the heart of the in-car control system. This system is virtually button free and represents an innovative way for drivers to control their car and access a range of Internet-based products and services. It also helps create an interior that is modern and spacious.

The XC90 can be ordered with a range of different seating configurations. From the seven-seat family SUV, to the brand new six-seat configuration, the XC90 has been created to best fits people’s preferences and lifestyles. New interior materials including a slate grey upholstery and new décor inlays offer further options for personalisation.

Wired for Sound

You are going to love the sound of the in-car entertainment system. The XC90 features one of the top audio systems available in the automotive world with Bowers & Wilkins speakers. The top-of-the-line system in the XC90 features a 1 476-Watt Class D amplifier and 19 Bowers & Wilkins speakers. The subwoofer design – is integrated into the car, which means that the volume of the passenger compartment is used as a resonance chamber. The subwoofer is located in the right rear wheel well and the air for the speaker element is taken from the wheel well.

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In practice, the passengers are sitting inside a speaker enclosure. Using this design, a speaker does not need to take up so much space within the car. According to Maruszewski, this sound system is right up there with the best in the world.

Power and fuel efficiency: A rare combination

The new XC90 offers a range of two-litre, four-cylinder powertrains, all of which provide an outstanding combination of performance and fuel-efficiency. These powertrains are coupled to an eight-speed automatic transmission. The turbocharged diesel engine equipped to the Volvo XC90 D5 Geartronic AWD delivers 173 kW at 4,000 r/min and 480 Nm of torque at 1,750–2,250 r/min. Fuel consumption – at 5,7 litres per 100 km (combined) – is impressive.

The XC90 T5 AWD is equipped with a 187 kW petrol engine, which features a high-pressure turbo. It delivers 350 Nm of torque at 1,500 to 4,800 r/min. Fuel consumption is a commendable 7,6 litres per 100 km (combined).

The supercharged and turbocharged petrol engine equipped to the Volvo XC90 T6 Geartronic AWD delivers 235 kW of power at 5 700 r/min and torque of 400 Nm at 2,200–5,400 r/min. It consumes 8,0 litres of petrol per 100 km (combined).

The range-topping Volvo XC90 T8 Geartronic AWD has a 300 kW (235 kW + 65 kW) petrol engine that is also supercharged and turbocharged. It works in conjunction with an electric motor, delivering power of 300 kW (235 kW + 65 kW) and torque of 640 Nm (400 Nm + 240 Nm. Fuel consumption is a remarkable 2,1 litres per 100 km (combined) while emissions are a low 49 g/km.

All Volvos come standard with a 5 year/100,000km Warranty and Maintenance Plan (Volvo Plan) and 5 year/unlimited mileage Roadside Assistance.

Contact your nearest Volvo dealership for prices.