2016 Volvo XC90 Road Test and Review

The 2016 Volvo XC90 breaks a lot of new ground for the resurgent Swedish automaker. If the full-size SUV truly heralds what the brand's product renaissance will look, then it seems as though Volvo will have finally forced itself into consideration alongside the German triumvirate of Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz that has dominated the past decade of premium product.

The completely-redesigned XC90 sets new standards for Volvo almost across the board. Technologically, this is the most advanced design ever to have left Gothenburg's assembly line, and it also doesn't hurt that inside and out, the people mover has been treated to executive-level styling and materials. Aiming for the sky always brings with it a few risks, however, and there are a few areas where the otherwise-stunning Volvo XC90's reach exceeds its grasp.

It's hard to overstate just how much Volvo has stepped up in terms of cabin accoutrements. The 2016 XC90 is simply light years ahead of the rest of the company's models when it comes to refinement, materials choice, and execution. The T6 Inscription model I drove - one of the plushest in the portfolio - offered wonderfully soft leather, light wood trim accents contrasted against a black dashboard and cream-colored thrones, and a clear attention to detail that was missing from the previous-generation XC90's much older take on the SUV experience. The upgraded gauge cluster, which incorporates a full LCD display, is particularly welcome after years of lackluster instrumentation from the brand.

Almost every aspect of the Volvo's interior experience, from the seat stitching to the tiny Swedish flags attached to the side piping of the front buckets, feels thoughtfully expressed. Are there a couple of areas that come off a little too cute? Sure: the console-mounted engine start/stop toggle is different to be different, and the chrome-textured drive mode select roller is simply weird. That being said, if you sat me in the XC90, covered the badges, and told me I was riding in a vehicle with a $100,000 window sticker, I would have no trouble believing you.

One never felt constricted by the older XC90's interior dimensions, but that didn't stop Volvo from punching out a little extra room for riders for 2016. You'll appreciate the effort the most when sitting in the second row of the seven-passenger SUV, which now offers almost two and a half extra inches of legroom. Parents will be fans of the booster seat that you can order for the middle of that bench, which is adjustable for easy child access while driving.

The third row in the XC90 remains best suited for the younger set, especially on long trips, but there's almost double the amount of storage space between the rear seatback and the cargo hatch as compared to the 2014 model (15.8 cubes in total). Fold down everything behind the first two positions and you're looking at 85.7 cubic feet of room to haul oversized items - roughly the same as the original XC90, and not quite as much as vehicles like the GMC Acadia or truck-based SUVs have to offer.

The 2016 XC90 is still recognizably a Volvo, and indeed it shares a few familial cues with its predecessor, but unlike before you can now use works like 'sleek,' 'posh,' and 'imposing' to describe the SUV. Roll up to the valet station in the XC90 and you'll feel right at home alongside Range Rovers and GL-Class Benzes; Volvo has nailed the truck's grinning maw, slab sides and chrome-trimmed greenhouse. Don't forget the LED taillights and LED lighting up front, either, which help to further modernize the Volvo XC90's first impression.

Currently, there's but a single drivetrain available in the 2016 Volvo XC90 for American buyers: a 2.0-liter, four-cylinder unit that features both supercharging and turbocharging to eek out as much power as possible from the diminutive mill. The end result is 316 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque, numbers which look good on paper but, when thrown into combat with the hefty curb weight of the XC90, deliver only tolerable forward momentum. A 'twin-charged' motor like that found under the hood of the new Volvo XC90 is an unknown quantity in North America, and it remains to be seen just how reliable such a complex arrangement proves to be over the long term.

Fuel economy isn't all that impressive either for such a small motor. Again, this is a function of the physics called into play when accelerating such a massive vehicle. I saw not-terrible 22-mpg in combined driving during my time with the vehicle, which matched the manufacturer rating. Volvo claims you can max out to 25-mpg on the highway with the XC90.

The 2016 Volvo XC90's modest power and bulk inform much of its driving experience. That being said, while the SUV doesn't feel particularly athletic from behind the wheel it does come across as smooth and stable in all situations, which is preferable in my mind for a luxury suv. I don’t think anyone expects their full-size hauler to turn and stop on a dime, and with Volvo aiming for the rare air breathed by the luxury set its dynamics shouldn't disappoint all that many drivers.

All-wheel drive is standard with the XC90, and while decent ground clearance comes as part of the SUV's package (and can increase to 10.6-inches from 9.3-inches if you opt for the vehicle's air suspension system), it's not really meant for all-terrain exploration. Still, there's an 'off-road' drive mode setting programmed into the vehicle, and as such I felt it was my duty to test it out on a rutted series of construction roads and dirt berms. It seems that Volvo's interpretation of 'off-road- means seriously restricting throttle response, but aside from that the vehicle acquitted itself well in the rough stuff.

I'd like to recognize the sheer transparency of the vehicle's eight-speed automatic transmission, which never once caught my attention during our entire week together. This is a respectable accomplishment for any gearbox yoked to a high-strung turbocharged four-banger, let alone one that's also supercharged to within an inch of its life.

There's an enormous caveat associated with the 2016 Volvo XC90, and it's sitting at the center of its dashboard. Volvo has given the SUV a tablet-like, vertically-oriented LCD touchscreen display that serves as the nerve center for controlling almost every important vehicle function. Unfortunately, it's also chosen to make this piece of equipment substantially more complicated to use than any of its rivals thanks to its tiny fonts, the requirement to swipe left, right, up, and down to access various screens, and the decision to hide menus within menus within menus.

There's no question that some aspects of the XC90's infotainment experience work. The satellite radio display - which offers a full channel schedule, something I've never before seen in an automobile - is nice to use. Where, however, are the presets? Why do I have to take off my gloves to adjust the heater or activate the heated seats? And why can't I find various functions without having to refer to the manual? Perhaps the worst aspect of the Volvo's touchscreen is that the fine-point text and numbers and constant swiping make it extremely distracting to use while driving, which seems like an unusual oversight for such a safety-oriented brand.

Volvo's safety reputation took a hit with the old edition of the XC90, which was simply too ancient to incorporate any of the cutting-edge features introduced by the automaker on later vehicles. The 2016 Volvo XC90 rights this wrong by stuffing a fair amount of protective gear inside its premium shell. In addition to the usual complement of airbags, the vehicle features a forward collision warning system as standard equipment that also includes the company's City Safety automatic braking capability, which will stop the SUV at low speeds if an impact is deemed imminent.

A la carte, you can also add a blind spot monitoring system, a lane departure warning system, and a self-correcting lane keeping assistance system. Volvo has additionally included a unique feature that cinches seatbelts if the vehicle appears to have run off the road and is heading towards catastrophe.

The 2016 Volvo XC90 starts at an MSRP of $49,800, which isn't a huge push over the previous base model. Where you start to see the gap widen is with the upper trim levels: the T6 Inscription that I drove, for example, will cost you $5,600 more, and once you pile on the packages you're just under $63k all-in. Of course, should you prefer to wait for the T8 hybrid model that Volvo has promised will be arriving on our shores soon, you'll quickly zoom to $68,100 as the opening salvo in your dealer negotiation, with the potential to surpass $75k on the upper side of the options list.

While the XC90 certainly has the attitude and creature comforts required to command Teutonic pricing - and it's of course possible to spend way more on a comparable Silver Star product, for example - the Volvo name isn't necessarily on the tip of the tongue for anyone looking to depose this much cash on an SUV. It's going to be a challenge for Volvo to convince customers to add them to their shopping list when it comes time to upgrade the family yacht.

2016 Volvo XC90 Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Fantastic interior
• The best materials quality of any Volvo, ever
• Attractive exterior styling
• Roomy, seven-passenger seating
• Improved cargo capacity
• Smooth, quiet ride
• Vast improvement in active safety equipment

Cons:

• Adequate power, but nothing more
• Over-complicated infotainment system
• Expensive models might not register with intended demographic
• Middling fuel economy from four-cylinder engine