Topic: Test Drive: 2016 Volvo XC90 T6 Drive-E Momentum

[ktm525]

The MDX is bloody big too.

In Alberta it barely qualifies as a mid size.  I'll ask again. Any towing figures?

edit. I think towing is mid 5s. Not too bad.  What of this 4 pot motor?  Does it vibrate at idle? Can you tell it is not a big slappin 8?

[roundupready]

I really hope the revived Volvo succeeds this time. I'd hate to see another Scandinavian car maker go down.

[whaddaiknow]

It sounds like a winner for Volvo. Priced well, too.
Given they iron out software glitches, of course.

[Think123]

I've been waiting for this vehicle for soooo long.  It feels like it has been the longest new vehicle launch in history, especially since the old model had one of the longestruns in modernhistory (13 years?).  Apparently the demand to see it was so high in Calgary that the dealer principal aked Volvo to fly the preproduction show car in from L.A. at a cost of $40,000 for the auto show in March.  It was arguably the most clamoured over vehicle at the show; at least by my 50+ year-old demographic.

I bought an '05 in '08 at auction through a buddy who brokers cars and paid less than half of new so the temptation is to do the same in 2 to 3 years - I owned it for 4 years with nary a problem.  However, even after owning five turbocharged cars and currently running two, with no issues, I am hesitant to do the same with this version for similar reasons expressed by others. 

But then I think, the XC90 I had was running a small for its class 2.5L, 5 cylinder with only a 5 speed transmission and it had no trouble getting out of its own way and never let me down.  I'm leaning to leasing and then buying it out IF and ONLY IF the problems are at the most minor. Plus, I haven't bought a new car in 30 years so depreciation be damned.

And then the plug-in version also looks tempting even though it seems to be getting less glowing reviews from Euro sources.

[JacobBlack]

The MDX is bloody big too.

In Alberta it barely qualifies as a mid size.  I'll ask again. Any towing figures?

edit. I think towing is mid 5s. Not too bad.  What of this 4 pot motor?  Does it vibrate at idle? Can you tell it is not a big slappin 8?

It tows 2686 kg (5,900 lb). The engine feels smooth as silk at idle and more than sufficient at "not idle".

(Sorry for the late response, am on an event and missed this question).

[OliverD]

It tows 2686 kg (5,900 lb). The engine feels smooth as silk at idle and more than sufficient at "not idle".

Decent but I think the Q7/Touareg/Cayenne can tow considerably more.

[ktm525]

Numbers I dug up:

MDX: 5000
Q7: 6600*  with opt towing kit
Toureg: 7700
Cayenne: 7716  Porsche beats VW
LR4: 7716

With all of these rigs relatively short wheelbases I am not sure I would want to be at the upper limits anyhow. I see at most potential  XC90 owners pulling a tent or smallish travel trailer. That being said I have seen very few XC90s towing anything..




 

[chignectohead]

Volvo still has the least ripoff shipping cost. Only $1195 from Sweden as compared to $1995 for an MDX from Alabama. That's honesty and an honest $900 buck saving with tax..

Hope it does well on the market. It doesn't seem particularly over-priced for what you get. That engine in that tune in a S60 AWD should provide some scoot without weighing down the front end too much. A few years ago, I read that Volvo actually redesigns the engine's physical shape to match their crash structure, rather than fiddle with the sheet metal:

http://www.autofieldguide.com/articles/designing-safer-bodies-the-volvo-way(2)

Impressive.

[OliverD]

Volvo still has the least ripoff shipping cost. Only $1195 from Sweden as compared to $1995 for an MDX from Alabama. That's marketing and an easy way to increase the base price by $800 and not look bad.

FTFY. 

[ChaosphereIX]

love this thing, except the blatantly obvious fake grills covered in plastic. So tacky, wish that trend would go away already. Make it mesh, put an intercooler behind it, and the car looks so much better.

but nice going Volvo, at your best

[mixmanmash]

love this thing, except the blatantly obvious fake grills covered in plastic. So tacky, wish that trend would go away already. Make it mesh, put an intercooler behind it, and the car looks so much better.

but nice going Volvo, at your best

But, but it's a CUV/SUV and not a wagon...

[ChaosphereIX]

love this thing, except the blatantly obvious fake grills covered in plastic. So tacky, wish that trend would go away already. Make it mesh, put an intercooler behind it, and the car looks so much better.

but nice going Volvo, at your best

But, but it's a CUV/SUV and not a wagon...

dont care, no excuse

so idiotic seeing so much grille area in the front, and 80 percent of it is blanked off.

[mixmanmash]

love this thing, except the blatantly obvious fake grills covered in plastic. So tacky, wish that trend would go away already. Make it mesh, put an intercooler behind it, and the car looks so much better.

but nice going Volvo, at your best

But, but it's a CUV/SUV and not a wagon...

dont care, no excuse

so idiotic seeing so much grille area in the front, and 80 percent of it is blanked off.

My comment was more a sarcastic response to your complaints in other threads about there being more SUV/CUVs versus wagons on the market...

[ChaosphereIX]

love this thing, except the blatantly obvious fake grills covered in plastic. So tacky, wish that trend would go away already. Make it mesh, put an intercooler behind it, and the car looks so much better.

but nice going Volvo, at your best

But, but it's a CUV/SUV and not a wagon...

dont care, no excuse

so idiotic seeing so much grille area in the front, and 80 percent of it is blanked off.

My comment was more a sarcastic response to your complaints in other threads about there being more SUV/CUVs versus wagons on the market...

ah yes i see, sorry low on coffee...

But my issue is not with SUVs like the XC90 - they are needed and people who need to haul a few kids around and tow a trailer certainly need an SUV. The XC90 is a proper SUV and it is not pretending to be anything else. What I have issue with is the fake soft-roaders that are micro-niche-ing the car market that are trying to be sporty, but also SUVs, but cant go offroad or hold more than 4 people and a bag of luggage and certainly are not sporty at all.

My issue really is with the plethora of these vehicles, where you walk into a dealership and there are 14 different sizes and shapes of CUV all from the same manufacturer. Therefore buyers have one kid, and think they need one of these glorified baby strollers.

I am just an enthusiast moaning the clogging of my roads with big crossovers because some couple had a kid. Cars have backseats and trunks, that works just fine.