2005 Volvo XC90 V8 First Drive

SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ. - Everyone knows Volvos are safe. The Swedish car company practically invented the idea of occupant safety, introducing a long line of innovative safety features - including three-point seatbelts and rear-facing infant car seats - in the process. But can a Volvo be more than the automotive equivalent of bubble-wrap for you and the ones you love? If the introduction of the new Volvo XC90 V8 sport-utility vehicle is any indication, the answer is a resounding yes. Once known as a builder of sturdy and practical vehicles, Volvo has in recent years enhanced its reputation with a slate of handsome new models. Now, the company is out to prove that its products can deliver world-class levels of luxury and performance that the company's founders could scarcely have imagined.

Overview

Volvo's first SUV, the midsize Volvo XC90, was a key salvo in Volvo's latest product offensive. Designed to be more refined than rugged, the XC90 has since become the best selling European SUV in the U.S., winning dozens of awards along the way.

The family-friendly XC90 earned those accolades for its car-like ride, top safety ratings (including a "Best Pick" recommendation from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety), long list of standard equipment, and features like an electronic stability control system specifically designed to reduce the likelihood of rollover crashes. Built on the same underpinnings as Volvo's flagship S80 sedan, the XC90 is a crossover vehicle in the best sense of the phrase, combining many of the better qualities of minivans and SUVs.

For all the XC90 has going for it, however, there are still a sizeable number of SUV buyers who apparently aren't interested. Sales figures showing that 30 percent of luxury suvs sold in the U.S. are equipped with V8 engines leaves the original XC90, powered by its five- and six-cylinder inline engines, at a competitive disadvantage in the eyes of at least some potential customers.

The introduction of the 2005 Volvo XC90 V8 aims to change all that. With its new 311-horsepower, 4.4-liter V8, six-speed automatic transmission, and standard all-wheel-drive system, Volvo's sophisticated trucklet is now suitably equipped to go toe-to-toe with the most highly regarded V8-powered luxury crossovers on the market. With the XC90 V8, the Volvo suv lineup now includes three distinct models. The 2.5T, powered by a 208-horsepower inline five-cylinder engine, is the entry-level choice, while the 268-horsepower, inline six-cylinder-powered T6, which yields its place at the top of the line to the new V8, still remains a good option for those looking for an upscale sport-utility vehicle.

At the head of the class, the XC90 V8 is offered in a single well equipped trim level that has essentially all the same bells-and-whistles as the upscale T6 model. A few added features - including standard all-wheel drive and seven-passenger seating - and a handful of cosmetic changes inside and out are all that set it apart.

V8 Engine

Once the decision had been made to offer V8 power, the challenge for Volvo engineers was to figure out how to squeeze those two additional cylinders into the tight confines beneath the XC90's hood. Add the fact that this would be the first eight-cylinder engine in Volvo's 75-year history, and the company decided to seek outside help.

They found it in an unlikely place: Japan. But with decades of experience making pint-sized powerplants for motorcycles and having built a similar V8 engine for Volvo's parent company Ford in 1996 (for the Taurus SHO), the engineers at Yamaha know a thing or two about designing powerful engines that are still compact enough to squeeze into small spaces.

The V8 engine that sprang from this collaboration between Volvo and Yamaha is a bit unusual. For starters, the engine features a 60-degree angle between its two banks of cylinders (compared to the more familiar 90-degree spread of most V8 engines). The two cylinder banks are also offset from one another by the width of half a cylinder to clear the XC90's existing crossmembers.

Shoehorning the V8 into the XC90's engine bay also required relocating space-stealing items like the alternator and starter motor into unused voids on the engine itself. The whole arrangement was then mounted transversely (sideways) so as not to interfere with the energy-absorbing crumple zones built into the XC90's body.

At less than 30 inches long and just 25 inches wide, the result is the most compact V8 engine on the market. Weighing in at just 419 pounds, the all-aluminum motor is lightweight as well, making the curb weight of the XC90 V8 identical to that of the six-cylinder T6.

Performance

The new V8's 311 horsepower and 325 lb.-ft. of torque are routed through an all-new six-speed automatic transmission. From there, power is distributed to all four wheels by a standard all-wheel-drive system that's been upgraded to handle the additional power of the V8 engine.

The AWD system also features a new "Instant Traction" design that automatically transfers power to the wheels with the best grip even more quickly than the previous generation. Like most AWD systems, however, this set-up is designed more to provide added peace-of-mind in inclement weather than it is to tackle serious off-road excursions.

The new drivetrain package gives this sophisticated SUV a healthy kick in the pants. Volvo claims the XC90 V8 will accelerate from 0-60 mph in a very respectable 7 seconds - about 1.5 seconds quicker than the six-cylinder T6. Maximum towing capacity remains unchanged at 5,000 pounds, though it's safe to assume the V8's added torque would allow it to pull that load with a good bit more authority.

All those SUV lovers with a vaguely guilty conscience will also be glad to know the new motor is the cleanest eight-cylinder engine ever offered in an sport-ute. Using four catalytic converters and adjustments to idle speed and air-fuel ratios, the new Volvo V8 earns an impressive ULEV II certification from the Environmental Protection Agency, a rating no other V8 powerplant has achieved. Even fuel economy is reasonable -Volvo estimates 17 mpg city/20 mpg highway - though the engine does require pricey premium fuel.

Design

Much of the XC90's popularity has to do with its handsome styling, so the fact that the XC90 V8's exterior remains largely unchanged is welcome news.

Visually, subtle details distinguish the XC90 V8 from its five-and six-cylinder siblings. Chrome "V8" badges on the grille and tailgate are the most obvious differences, but other unique design details include color-keyed door handles and body-side moldings, a graphite-colored grille, and dual exhaust outlets. The overall effect is that of a sharply dressed businessperson in a well-tailored suit.

That class-leading act continues inside, where the XC90 V8 is virtually identical to the existing models, with comfortable seats and well laid out controls.

Comfort

The XC90 V8 includes a standard third-row seat for seven-passenger capacity. There's plenty of head, hip, and legroom up front and in the second row of seats, but the flat-folding third-row is another story. While the second-row seats slide fore-and-aft to give those in the way-back a bit more legroom, make no mistake that this third row is no place for adults. At least not for adults you like.

One particularly nice touch is the inclusion of the integrated child booster seat, which is built into the center section of the 40/20/40-split second-row bench, as standard equipment. In one of the neatest seating tricks going, that center section then slides forward to put junior within easy reach of Mom and Dad.

Cargo space is a respectable 32 cubic feet with the second-row seats in place and the third-row seat folded down, and a very usable 85 cubic feet with both rows down. To make the interior that much more practical, the front passenger seat can also be folded forward to carry items up to 9.5-feet long inside with the tailgate closed.

Like most vehicles with luxury aspirations, the quality of the 2005 Volvo XC90 V8's interior materials and fit-and-finish are all first rate. The interior is a tranquil place with just a touch of wind and road noise, and the subdued burble of the V8 making its presence known only under hard acceleration.

That quiet atmosphere is all the better to enjoy the standard 160-watt eight-speaker stereo with in-dash six-disc CD changer. Audiophiles will likely prefer the optional premium sound system that features 305 watts of power, Dolby surround sound, and 12 speakers. Rear audio controls and headphone jacks, which let parents and kids listen to a different entertainment source, are standard with both systems.

The XC90 V8's interior boasts a long list of standard amenities including eight-way power-adjustable front seats, leather seating surfaces, dual-zone automatic climate control with pollen filter, steering wheel-mounted audio controls, auto-dimming rear-view mirror, and a power moonroof. The short list of options includes such niceties as ultrasonic rear parking assist, a DVD-based navigation system, wood steering wheel and dash inlays, a subwoofer, and heated front seats.

Given that mobile video entertainment seems to be the hottest automotive gadget going, Volvo is introducing a new, optional rear-seat DVD-entertainment system that trades the familiar single ceiling-mounted drop-down screen for dual seven-inch monitors set into the back of the driver and front passenger headrests. The system can view two different video sources at once - think a DVD movie and video games here - and includes a pair of wireless headphones, remote control, and auxiliary inputs.

Driving

While it might not seem that swapping out a single component, even one as significant as an engine, could make all that much difference in a vehicle's personality, the reality is quite the opposite. In fact, the addition of this sophisticated new V8 motor thoroughly transforms the character of the XC90 from that of a slightly high-strung teenager to that of a mature confident adult.

Where the turbocharged engines in the 2.5T and T6 models briefly hesitate until the turbochargers kick in, the XC90 V8's engine provides authoritative thrust from the moment you step on the gas. There's nothing brutish or crude about it, just the instant availability of abundant amounts of power wherever and whenever the situation demands.

As with the previously released XC90 models, the ride is smooth and well controlled even over washboard sections of graded dirt road. Thankfully the fully independent suspension doesn't entirely isolate you from the road beneath your wheels, it just smoothes things out to a degree where an all-day drive would be a very agreeable proposition.

Handling is on par with ride comfort. While the relatively high center of gravity definitely makes itself felt in tight turns, the XC90 V8 impressed us with its capacity to indulge spirited driving. Add strong four-wheel-disc brakes and precise rack-and-pinion steering to the V8's plentiful torque and the XC90 V8 is our hands-down favorite among Volvo's three SUV models.

Safety

When it comes to occupant protection, there are few sport-utility vehicles that can match the XC90 V8's long list of safety features. For starters, there's a full complement of airbags including multistage front units that adjust their deployment to match the force of the impact, torso-protecting side-impact airbags for driver and front passenger, and head-protecting side-curtain airbags that cover all three rows of seats.

Anyone who's ever seen the havoc rear-end collisions can wreak on the human body will appreciate Volvo's attention to whiplash prevention. In addition to head restraints at all seating positions, the driver and front passenger seats get Volvo's WHIPS technology that helps support the head and neck to minimize the potential for injury.

For greater peace-of-mind, the XC90 V8 also gets electronic stability and traction control as standard equipment. The system, which uses a number of sensors to compare the driver's intended course with the vehicle's actual path, can detect an impending skid in fractions of a second and activate the brakes on individual wheels to bring things back under control just as quickly.

Anyone concerned with an SUV's propensity to tip over during extreme maneuvers will welcome an offshoot of this stability technology known as Roll Stability Control, which uses the same basic components to sense and try to correct an impending rollover. If the worst-case scenario should come to pass, Volvo's use of super-strong Boron steel to reinforce the XC90's roof and passenger compartment provides a reassuring backup.

While all these safety features are designed to protect the XC90 V8's occupants, Volvo has taken a broader view of what it means to build a safe vehicle. In order to help protect those outside the vehicle as well as those inside, engineers have included a special lower crossmember to help make the XC90 more compatible with smaller cars in a crash, and have designed a special human-friendly front-end that's meant to help minimize injury to pedestrians.

Wrap-up

Ultimately we came away from our daylong drive convinced that the Volvo XC90 V8 transcends its safety image and hold its own against some of the best car-based sport-utility vehicles in the world, but with the added refinement that only a V8 engine can provide. The fact that it delivers all the luxury trimmings and everyday performance most upscale shoppers could ever want makes it a strong contender in this highly competitive class.

That being said, we suspect you already know the real reason to choose the XC90 V8 over its admittedly attractive eight-cylinder rivals: Because, at the end of the day, it turns out that a bit of bubble-wrap can be a very good thing indeed.

Specifications

Test Vehicle: 2005 Volvo XC90 V8 Engine Size and Type: 4.4-liter V8 Engine Horsepower: 311 horsepower at 5,850 rpm Engine Torque: 325 lb.-ft. at 6,500 rpm EPA Fuel Economy: 17-mpg city and 20-mpg highway Max. Towing Capacity: 5,000 lbs. Max. Seating Capacity: 7 Competitors: Acura MDX, Audi allroad, BMW X5, Cadillac SRX, GMC Yukon Denali, Infiniti FX, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Land Rover LR3, Lexus GX 470, Lincoln Aviator, Mercedes-Benz M-Class, Porsche Cayenne, Saab 9-7X, Volkswagen Touareg

FAQs

Why should I buy the V8-version of the XC90? The addition of the V8 engine gives the XC90 an added dose of refinement and performance, along with "V8" badges to tell the neighbors that your practical choice in SUVs gives up nothing in power and prestige. Plus, this version includes an updated AWD system that reacts to wheel slippage quicker than before. Can adults comfortably fit into the XC90 V8's third-row seat? Adults should not be consigned to ride in the XC90 V8's rearmost seat. It should be used for children only. Will the XC90 V8 really get 17 mpg in the city, like the EPA says? EPA fuel economy ratings are notoriously optimistic. Even with a light foot on the throttle, we'd guess that most suburban dwellers will get around 15 mpg with the XC90 V8. Photos courtesy of Volvo cars North America