BY THE HAMMER OF THOR: Volvo XC90 D5 AWD Road Test

Volvos have been known to offer amongst the best seating and the XC90 continues this trend. The new front seats have slimmer seat-backs, but are just as plush and supportive as one would expect from this class of SUV. The result of that is the added rear leg-room. The second row now offers more space, and the sliding function adds to the flexibility. Furthermore, it frees up even more knee-room for third-row occupants. The last two seats now comfortably hold passengers as tall as 170 cm or 5′ 7″: the average height in India. In its class, it offers the most spacious third row; one that properly seats full-grown adults.

Another focal point of designers was to endow the XC90 with as much natural light as possible. The large glass side windows and infrared-protected windscreen help let in a lot of light, while keeping the heat at bay. The addition of the panoramic sunroof further adds to the airy nature of the cabin. Another big plus is the four-zone auto-climate with the Air Quality System (AQS); ideal for polluted major cities. Not only does it keep the cabin fresh and cool, but it also prevents particulate matter and other pollutants and toxins from entering the cabin.

Then there’s the safety aspect. This is a Volvo, after all. The passive safety feature kit includes curtain airbags that protect all three rows, with the front seats also getting side airbags or, as Volvo call it, SIPS (Side Impact Protection System) bags. There are a plethora of active safety systems to prevent an accident in the first place, including standard anti-lock brakes with EBD and hydraulic brake assist, with stability and traction control. Even with the radar-frequency controlled aids deactivated for the Indian model, there are still loads of assistance systems. Lane departure warning and hill hold assist are useful, but speed-sign recognition and adaptive cruise control aren’t on the list; while the former doesn’t make sense, the latter is prohibited. Even so, it means complete peace of mind on the move.

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