Volvo Auto India have launched the all-new XC90 in India in two trims levels starting at Rs 64.9 lakh (ex-showroom).
Volvo’s all-new luxury seven-seater SUV, the XC90, is back and is better than ever. The second-generation is leaps and bounds ahead of the model it replaces. First launched in 2002, the Swedish car maker arrived in India in 2008, with just two models – the S80 saloon and XC90 SUV – both of which featured simple but elegant Scandinavian design elements but were packed with practicality. The new XC90 embodies all the company’s values and takes the game forward significantly. The competitive price tag will ensure it holds its own in a segment dominated by the Germans. Pre-ordering has commenced at Volvo car dealers around the country, but deliveries will only begin this September.
The new XC90 has been launched with the D5 engine: a 2.0-litre four-cylinder Drive-E diesel unit with twin turbocharging and direct injection, producing 225 PS at 4.250 RPM and 470 Nm of torque between 1,750 and 2,500 RPM. The company’s new Eisin eight-speed automatic gearbox and next-generation Haldex coupling for intelligent all-wheel-drive. New safety systems, including the run-off-road crash protection to prevent lower back and spine injuries is part of the package.
There are a long list of features too, including the Clean Zone interior package and new seats, as well as the full complement of safety features including but not restricted to front and side airbags, inflatable curtains for all three rows, dynamic stability and traction control, a gyroscopic sensor-equipped roll stability control, ABS with EBD, brake assist, hill start assist, corner braking control and engine drag control among several others. The downside for India is that due to prevalent laws on the uses of radio frequencies, the intelligent autonomous functionalities are limited. For instance, the adaptive cruise control isn’t on offer, though regular cruise control is part of the package. We hope to see that change in the future.
Back to the seats, the same 2+3+2 layout is carried forward but with several changes. The seats are just as ergonomic and supportive but have been made slimmer, freeing up more leg room for rear and third row passengers. We’ve driven the XC90 already and I can tell you that were I a couple of inches shorter in height, I would be comfortable in a third row seat all day long. The XC90 has grown by about 100 mm to 4,950-mm long. It’s also wider and runs a slightly longer wheelbase at 2,968 mm.
The new XC90 has been launched in two trim levels: Momentum at Rs 64.9 lakh, which will be the lower of the two specs, and Inscription at Rs 77.9 lakh (both prices ex-showroom, Mumbai) which adds more luxury and comfort features like air suspension and a 1,400W Bowers & Wilkins 19-speaker audio system. The standard chassis on the Momentum has 238 mm of ground clearance, while the air suspension equipped Inscription offers between 227 and 267 mm of ground clearance depending on the selected ride height. It also has a wading depth capability of 450 mm.
The company will also introduce more variants of the XC90 D5 as well as the absolute top-of-the-line XC90 T8 AWD Twin Engine (which we’ve also driven) in its 2+2 seater configuration with even the Lounge Console option possible. That, however, will be priced at a hefty premium. Look forward to our detailed road test of the new Volvo XC90 in one of the forthcoming issues of Car India. Until then, here’s the first drive review.
