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Value-for-money SUV

Volvo's diesel XC90 isn't an off-roader but is hard to beat for comfort, fuel-efficiency, safety and price

Published on August 15, 2007

Due to the high cost of fuel, using a large sport-utility vehicle (SUV) may not be an economical idea, because of the hefty fuel consumption of this type of auto, especially if you drive in Bangkok's horrendous traffic.

So what Volvo is offering is a diesel version of the XC90 that helps dramatically in cutting fuel costs because of its 2.4-litre commonrail turbo diesel power plant.

The XC90 is a large SUV. It is more than 4.8-metres long and weighs more than 2,100 kilograms. But with the five-cylinder, 20-valve commonrail engine - capable of pumping out 185 horsepower and as much as 400Nm of torque from 2,000 to 2,750rpm - the maker claims fuel economy averaging 9 litres per 100km. While cruising on the highway, the XC90 D5 uses 7.4 litres per 100km, while in the city, consumption rises to 11.9 litres.

Considering the size of this all-wheel-drive tank, the fuel economy is pretty acceptable, although you should bear in mind that Bangkok's stop-start traffic is capable of raising fuel consumption above the figure stated in the specifications.

During my three-day encounter with "the truck" (the XC90 won the US "Truck of the Year" award when it was first launched years ago), the onboard computer often showed a real-time fuel consumption as high as 20 litres per 100km when driving in the city, and that is something you need to accept if you are planning to buy the XC90. It's a big, heavy vehicle and no miracle is going to give it passenger-car fuel economy.

However, if you are driving long distances, the D5 engine's qualities will start to show. The large amount of torque means you can accelerate the XC90 comfortably for overtaking, and the six-speed automatic transmission offers a pretty high top-gear ratio for cruising.

The engine is responsive, although in operation it is pretty noisy. But it doesn't sound like a diesel engine at all. The roar that comes from the engine is more or less like a powerful petrol power plant rather than a diesel, which adds a little spice to the drive.

Acceleration from 0 to 100kph takes 11.5 seconds, and the XC90 D5 can reach a top speed of 190kph, which is faster than you need to go with a large SUV. The petrol version accelerates to 100kph in 9.9 seconds and has a top speed of 210kph, but petrol consumption rises to an average 11.8 litres per 100km. You can imagine how much fuel it gulps in heavy traffic.

The suspension is tuned for comfort, so cracks and bumps on the road are effectively ironed out, making it a comfortable long-distance vehicle. However, I didn't like the brakes, which are dull and need a lot of foot pressure. This may be due to the weight of the XC90.

The XC90 D5 retails at Bt3.8 million, which is highly attractive considering it is a European SUV. You cannot find this price anywhere else in the market. The petrol version is slightly cheaper at Bt3.745 million.

In terms of design, the XC90 is pretty luxurious. There are several improvements on the original model, including aluminium roof rails, colour-coordinated side mouldings and door handles, new front and rear bumpers with widened skid plates front and newly designed rear headlights and rear light cluster and new 18-inch alloy wheels.

Inside, there is a new "watch dial" speedometer and tachometer design, new leather upholstery, new switches and knobs, a new audio system with MP3 or iPod socket plus six-disc CD changer and automatic door locking when the vehicle's speed reaches 7kph.

These come on top of an already-complete list of features, such as cruise control, multifunction steering wheel, headlamp washers, rain sensor, foldable rear seats and an extra two seats in the cargo area that are also foldable. The cargo-area seats also come with head restraints and air vents, making a total of seven seats.

Convenience features include eight cup-holders, a grocery-bag holder in the cargo area, an inside opening handle for the rear hatch, a retractable luggage cover and a luggage net. There is plenty of room inside, and the comfort level is good.

As with any Volvo, safety seems to be taken for granted. There are front, front-side and window air bags for all three rows of seats, three-point safety belts for seven occupants and the usual whiplash-injury-lessening system and side-impact protection system, plus (exclusive to the XC90) roll-stability control, a rollover protection system and automatic level adjuster. You also get regular dynamic stability control, bi-xenon headlights and - quite helpful for a large vehicle like the XC90 - a reverse parking sensor.

Maybe the Volvo XC90 is not an SUV in which you would go off-roading. But for travelling upcountry with the family, this could be a great choice, thanks to its reasonable long-distance fuel economy, high safety level and convenience features.

And when it comes to the price, the XC90 is probably the most attractive European SUV on the market.

Specifications:

Volvo XC90 D5

Engine: Five-cylinder,

20-valve commonrail diesel

Displacement: 2,400cc

Compression ratio: 17.3:1

Max power: 185hp at 4,00rpm

Max torque: 400Nm at 2,000 to 2,750rpm

Transmission: Six-speed automatic

Performance

0-100kph: 11.5 secs