The 2017 Volvo XC90, a luxury crossover, comes in nine trims: the T5 Momentum, the T5 Momentum AWD, the T5 R-Design, the T6 Momentum, the T5 R-Design AWD, the T6 R-Design, the T6 Inscription, the T8 Twin Engine Plug-in Hybrid R-Design, the T8 Twin Engine Plug-in Hybrid Inscription, and the T8 Twin Engine Plug-in Hybrid Excellence. The T5 trims have two-row, five-passenger seating. The T6 and T8 trims have three-row, seven-passenger seating.
The roomy interior has leatherette upholstery, a panoramic sunroof, eight-way power front bucket seats with driver memory settings and power lumbar support, 40/20/40-split second-row seats with individual position settings, and a 50/50-split third-row seat in the T6 and T8.
The T6 and T8 Momentum add heated front seats, Napa leather upholstery, flame birchwood trim, and four-zone automatic climate control. The T8 Momentum models also have power thigh support for front seat passengers.
The T8 Excellence models have second-row bucket seats with a seat and beverage cooler adjustment and two folding tables. All four bucket seats in the T8 Excellence are heated, ventilated, have a massage function, and are covered with perforated fine Napa Leather.
The T8 Excellence also has a cooling compartment between the second-row seats that holds two 750 ml beverages and two handcrafted Swedish Orrefors™ crystal glasses. The exterior has LED head-lights with automatic high beams and fog lights, roof rails, and a hands-free power tailgate,
The 2017 Volvo XC90 offers three “Driver Profile” settings that are saved to each driver’s remote key and are applied when the individual key is used. The Driver Profile settings include seat distance, center display brightness, and mirror angle.
Specifications
The 2017 Volvo XC90 is 195″ long x 79″ wide x 70″ high with 85.7 cubic-feet of cargo space when the seats are folded down. It has a 4000-pound towing capacity for the T5 and a 5000-pound towing capacity for the T6 and T8. It offers seven adjustable drive modes including an eco mode, a sport mode, an off-road mode, an AWD mode, a dynamic mode, and an inclement weather mode.
The programmable drive mode has 432 combinations available. To create these combinations, you chose from four powertrain settings, three steering settings, three instrument display settings, two braking system settings, two climate control settings, and three optional air suspension settings.
The T5 Momentum starts at $45,750 MSRP. The T5 Momentum AWD starts at $47,750 MSRP. The T5 R-Design starts at $51,150 MSRP. The T6 Momentum starts at $51,600 MSRP. The T5 R-Design AWD starts at $53,150 MSRP. The T6 R-Design starts at $55,600 MSRP. The T6 Inscription starts at $57,200 MSRP. The T8 Premium hybrid starts at $67,800 MSRP. The T8 Excellence starts at $104,900 MRSP.
Performance
The AWD Volvo XC90 has a 2.0-liter, 316-horsepower, four-cylinder, turbocharged and supercharged engine with an eight-speed automatic transmission.
Along with the 2.0-liter engine, the T8 hybrid has a 9.2-kWh battery pack, an 87-horsepower AC electric motor and a 46-horsepower motor giving it a total of 400-horsepower and 472 pound-feet of torque. The T8 uses RWD in electric mode, and with careful acceleration, it will run 13 miles before switching to the gas engine.
In the battery-saving mode, the T8 uses FWD, and uses the gas engine to recharge the battery. This adds approximately five miles to the range on the electric motor. The battery can also be recharged by both electric motors when power is being sent to the wheels or during deceleration.
There is a coolant loop for the lithium ion battery and to heat the interior when the electric engine is in use. The other coolant loop is heated by an electric emersion heater.
Even with all of these added features, the T8 hybrid still has the third-row seating, the same passenger and cargo space, and the same towing capacity as the non-hybrid Volvo XC90 trims.
Entertainment Features
The infotainment features include Volvo’s new Sensus system, built-in Wi-Fi, a 9″ central touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, a heads-up display, a navigation system, 3D imaging, Bluetooth connectivity, voice command capability, Volvo On Call app, smartphone app integration, Pandora satellite radio, Yelp, a ten-speaker sound system, an optional 19-speaker Bowers & Wilkins audio system, a tablet-style user interface, and an auxiliary audio input jack and a USB port.
Using your smartphone, the Volvo On Call app lets you start your engine, lock/unlock your doors, set the interior climate control, check fuel levels, and call for roadside assistance. The heads-up display projects information on the windshield so your eyes stay on the road. Using any mobile device, you can also plan your trip and send directions to your car from anywhere.
Safety features include energy-absorbing seat cushions within spine support, a rearview camera, lane departure warning, rear parking sensors, large animal detection, Run-Off Road Mitigation, Pilot Assist, and Instant Traction. The Run-out Road Mitigation keeps the QC90 on the road by auto-steering the car.
With the Pilot Assist feature, you can set and maintain your speed or minimum distance to vehicles in front of you. It then corrects steering issues, accelerates and decelerates as needed, and applies the brakes if necessary up to 80 MPH. The Instant Traction feature reduces power to any wheel that has lost traction and transfers power to the other three wheels.
How Does It Compare With Its Competition?
Car and Driver Magazine ranks the 2017 Volvo XC90 second in the three-row Luxury Crossovers and SUV class. Forbes says that its long list of technology makes it the most advanced SUV available.
Fuel Efficiency
The T5 trims get 22 MPG in the city and 26 MPG on the highway. The T6 trims get 20 MPG in the city and 25 MPG on the highway. The T8 hybrid gets 53 MPGe in the city and 54 MPGe on the highway.
Pros and Cons
The 2017 Volvo QC90 has a stylish interior and exterior, lots of cargo and passenger room even in the third-row seating area, and lots of safety features. However, according to Car and Driver Magazine, the extra weight in the T8 hybrid makes it feel heavy while driving and bumps are more noticeable than with the other trims. Car and Driver also said that when using the electric motor in slick conditions, the coordination between the front and rear drive units got a little off causing the T8 to lurch, oversteer due to the misapplied power, and go a little sideways.
The 2017 Volvo XC90 is definitely a luxury crossover and it is no wonder that it is so popular. With its interior, technology, and safety features, it is a superior crossover. It is a great family car for long road trips.