2015 Volvo XC90: His Turn-Her Turn™ Car Review

Car experts Lauren Fix, The Car Coach and Paul Brian test drive the 2015 Volvo XC90. Watch the video His Turn-Her Turn™ car review to learn more about this leader in safety, technology and styling.

2015 Volvo XC 90 T6 and T8 PHEV

Launched in 2002.
#1 selling European Luxury SUV in 2004
Now owned by Geeley

First edition cars – 1927 cars sold – 2192 sold in U.S., 30,000 sold world wide

XC90 Mission: leading in safety, leading in design and leading human machine interface.

Cars built in Sweden

Crystal gear knob
Comfortable seating
Efficient design
New driver environment – full digital, heads up display, 12″ screen in front of the driver. Everything you need is on the heads up display to keep your focus on the road.

The center stack is for entertainment and not for driving. About the size of an iPad, 9″ display, but they claim it’s better than an iPad. Can be operated with gloves, uses infrared technology. The screen doesn’t reflect color like many others. The filter effect has 2 modes, dark and light. You can even see it with polarized lenses. A new level of digital craftsmanship.

You can add weather or news apps but also music all in the prime spot.

Apple type gestures for navigation. Bowers & Wilkins sound system, 19 speakers with a sub woofer located in the rear wheel house so the whole car is the subwoofer for a more life-like sound.

Seating is stadium style, each row is slightly higher. Seats 7 people. Very versatile seating, individually adjustable and reclining. Heated 2nd row seating. 3rd seats are designed the same as the 2nd row. Good for people up to 5’6″.

Inside there’s lots of glass with a panoramic roof, resulting in a nice light and bright feeling.

SPA platform, battery in the center between the 2 engine types. Hybrid engine with a gasoline powered motor.

Recognizes speed limit in the U.S. and notifies drivers.

Power train:
T6 – 2.0L super and turbo charged
Wide span of power and torque
Fuel efficient and decreased weight
Both turbo and super charged

T8 400 hp – 2.0L – twin engine
0-60 5.6 seconds
Hybrid engine – 33hp electric engine with regenerative brakes and with the gas engine.

World’s first 7-seat plug-in hybrid

Safety:

First seatbelts were developed by Volvo in 1959.
By 2020, their vision is that no one gets killed or seriously injured in a new Volvo car.
Volvo Call – notification system
Double 3-leg support structure made of alloys and high strength steel.
XC is designed to give itself up to protect the passengers. This reduces lateral forces on occupants’ spines. In addition to whiplash protection, the seat frame has a unique design to take the impact instead of the person. Makes Volvo cars safer.

Standard: Lane departure warning, active cruise control, rear collision warning uses radars (tightens belts), pilot assist detects all cars around it (the basis of autonomous driving), 360 degree around view camera, park assist pilot (parallel and perpendicular).
Auto brake at intersections- when making a left turn, if oncoming traffic is coming, it stops the cars. Pedestrian and bicycle riders. This is standard on all the XCs.

Driving impressions:

Precise handling – comfort, dynamic and eco modes.

Marketing:

150,000 SUV customers will leave one luxury brand for another.
Young affluent families and affluent empty nesters.

3- trim levels
Momentum, color coordinated, 19″ wheels, leather, heated seats, rear view camera and hands free tail gate – $48,900
T6 – $48,900
T8 – $68,100

T6 Inscription level $54,500
T8 Inscription level $71,600

T6 R-Design – $52,900
T8 R-Design – $70,000

Maxed out

Vision package has rear collision
Convenience package has park assist and pilot
Momentum plus – upgrade to lighting and wood inlay.
Addition options – Bowers and Wilkins audio, 4-corner air suspension, heads up display, 20″, 21″, and 22″ wheels. Wood steering wheel and integrated child booster seat.

Competition:

Audi Q7
Infiniti QX50
Acura MDX
BMW X5
Mercedes ML
Volkswagen Tourag
Porsche Cayenne – 6-cylinder
Land Rover Discovery Sport

Urban luxury

June – July 2015
R Design arrives in October

Watch our other His Turn-Her Turn™ reviews:

2015 Chrysler 300
2015 Ram ProMaster
2015 Ford Mustang
2015 Ford F150 Aluminum
2015 Dodge Charger Hellcat
2015 Nissan Murano
2016 KIA Sorento
2015 Land Rover Discovery Sport
2015 Jeep Renegade
2015 Fiat 500X
2016 Honda HRV
2015 BMW 2 Series
2015 Ford Edge
2015 VW SportsWagen
2015 BMW X6M
2015 Acura ILX
2015 VW Golf R

For more automotive industry news go to laurenfix.com
For breaking news:
Follow Lauren on Twitter @LaurenFix
Follow Paul on Twitter @ThePaulBrian

Listen to Paul Brian – Drive Chicago Saturday mornings at 8am central on WLS 890AM or iHeart Radio. Subscribe to the podcasts at www.WLSAM.com

Car Courtesy of Volvo
Destination: Santa Monica, CA
Music: by AudionautiX.com
Disclosure: Free Royalty Music

His Turn-Her Turn™ is a production of Automotive Aspects Inc.

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