Are you in the market for a 2.2-tonne SUV that can accelerate from 0-100km/h in just under six seconds, all while carrying up to seven people? This is Volvo's XC90 T8 Ultra - a jack of all trades.
The XC90 is first and foremost a posh three-row, seven-seat family car. The second row can be individually folded and adjusted while the third row falls completely flat to provide 668-litres of boot space. Drop the second row and this increases to 1,959-litres. The second row sees most of the action really, as there is an integrated child-seat for the centre seat and ISOFIX anchorage points on the outer second row. There are several clever hooks and straps in the boot for shopping bags.
When considering a family car, crash protection should be the number one priority. As with every Volvo, the XC90 is one of the safest cars available. It is equipped with an advanced safety cage, as well as a comprehensive suite of active safety features. Using radar and a front camera, the XC90 can detect if you have drifted into the oncoming lane and steer you safely back into your own lane to avoid a collision. It will also help you avoid inadvertently running off the road. Volvo even claims it can use braking and steering to help avoid collisions with other vehicles, pedestrians, cyclists and even the odd deer.
Given the performance figures of the new Volvo XC90 T8 Ultra, a solid shell is certainly needed. All four wheels of this plug-in hybrid version are powered by a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, paired with an eight-speed automatic, 107kW electric motor and 18.8kWh lithium-ion battery pack. The output is 455hp, 709Nm of torque and a towing capacity of 2,400kg.
My maiden voyage in the XC90 saw a return of around 50km of all-electric driving before the petrol engine fully kicked in, which is probably shorter than desired. Quoted fuel consumption can be as low as 1.2l/100km if the battery is charged accordingly. I went a few days running solely on petrol, which bumped that figure up to a thirsty 9.0l/100km.
As a package, the XC90's driving dynamics are anywhere between brilliant and adequate. On motorways or any stretch of main road, the car's improved suspension and upgraded dampers come to the fore, but around narrow bends its steering becomes slightly vague and light. Volvo should have done better in that regard. The petrol engine has a nice soundtrack while road noise atop the 22-inch wheels has been kept to a minimum.
The cabin of the new XC90 is sublime. The dashboard has a more horizontal shape than before and incorporates premium recycled materials and the perfect dollop of ambient lighting at night. Central is a modest and user-friendly 11.2-inch touchscreen with Google Maps and apps built-in. Apple CarPlay is not wireless, however. The brilliant Bowers & Wilkins audio system adds to the theatre.
It goes without saying that all of this comes at a price; €95,595 to be exact, or in the case of the tested T8 Ultra version, €111,645. The €140 per annum road tax should take the sting out of those prices.
