THEGAYUK

Tag: Volvo

The latest car reviews from the Volvo manufacturer. We review their petrol and diesel offerings.

  • CAR REVIEW |Volvo V90 T8 Twin Engine AWD R-Design Plus

    CAR REVIEW |Volvo V90 T8 Twin Engine AWD R-Design Plus

    Volvo V90 T8 Twin Engine AWD R-Design Plus | The Versatile Rapid Tourer

    Everyone is going hybrid these days and Volvo are no exception to this. The Swedes have been looking at ways of propulsion and with the help of sister company, Polestar, there is pretty much a T8 twin-engined model in every sector Volvo have entered. We look at the V for versatile V90 estate with the T8 setup.

    Let’s get my issue out of the way first. This model is Volvo’s largest of the ground-hugging saloon and estate cars and comes in R-Design. For a Luxo-barge, I had my reservations of the R-Design. It’s not a bad model in the range, but does this ‘sporty’ model get ruined by being made to feel dynamic for reasons that we Brits like it and more importantly, will I like it?

    The V90 comes with just 5 power sources across the range and the T8, with its 87hp electric motors powering the rear wheels is the most powerful out of them all. It’s available across the range except in the Cross-Country models. Those use a full 4WD system for obvious reasons. 

    The petrol unit powering the T8 is a 303hp petrol 4 cylinder. Combined with motor assistance on the rear wheels it will project the Volvo estate from 0-60 in just 5.0 seconds. In practice, it feels a touch more lethargic than that though this can perhaps be attributed to the beautiful way the car can glide away from a standstill without much noise at all. The electric motors go some way to eliminate the throttle lag of the petrol engine. It’s still a little hesitant but just enough to be worthy of a mention. 

    And 5.3 seconds 0-60mph isn’t to be scoffed at. Until recently it was the time set by the superstars like Lamborghini. Imagine the fun of being able to blow away a Countach with your 1,526-litre load-lugger with more space than a double bed in the rear. Admittedly you wouldn’t. You’d want to hear the sound of that Lamborghini V12 pull away.

    And here is the key to the V90 T8. Serenity. So perhaps it might come as a surprise that even in R-Design, the UK’s market leader in the range with dynamic feel, has this ability in almost any drive mode you select to isolate you from the harshness of what a 15mm lowered suspension set up could bring. From a spec sheet at least, it all seems superficial except for the said lowered sports suspension and 18-inch alloy rims.

    Inside is typical Scandinavian elegance. Ergonomic cockpit set up for driving pleasure and ease of use. The infotainment system allows for multiple changes and adaptions to suit you the driver and not the R&D departments preferences. And this allows you to set the car up to become more of how you want it and it’s A) surprising how specific we all are when given the chance and B) why more don’t offer this. This is your car after all. There ends up being very little to annoy and dare I say it, as a motoring journalist, not much to say any more about the insides of Volvo’s.  

    Driving is a pleasure and getting the best from the twin-engined set up is ease itself. The use of “twin-engine” is perhaps a little misleading when there is in-fact only one engine up front and two small electric motors at the back. By this calculation alone it should then perhaps be called a tri-engine. Anyway, I digress because the art of the system is beautiful. 

    Now 21 miles on the battery might not seem much distance at all but it’s more than you think. A drive home from visiting my father in Bognor saw me empty the battery packs by the time I arrived in Storrington. That was 22.1 miles of non-sympathetic motoring. The V90 T8 had the ability to carry itself quite rapidly at legal speeds on battery power down the A27. Not necessarily designed for rapid motoring over a distance like this, the batteries side of things did very well. And it’s this ability to have full use of the electric motors that makes it such an easy system to use. I do however struggle with its lack of ability to charge the batteries adequately when on the move unless you select it too. It’s sort of self-charging but by-passes the ability to use the hybrid system. 

    That said, I did calculate my fuel economy with the XC90 T8 being most favourable. With my daily commute now being just under 10 miles each way with the return drive home mostly being downhill (I’m not making that up), I could go for years without actually using petrol. But that really is exceptional usage.

    The Volvo V90 T8 is quite the Q-car then in terms of looks over function over ability. It carries stuff, lots of stuff. Cossets occupants in tranquillity and yet is as far removed from what you’d expect a Volvo estate to behave like. Forget the mind-blowing 850 T5R from the 90’s and their wake up call to the world as to what Volvo could do. That’s power dressed and old news. The V90 T8 is the future. For the moment at least.  

    Love

    Ease of use of the hybrid system

    Intelligent interior

    Serenity

    Loathe

    Unable to self charge adequately unless selected

    Aggressive pilot assist

    Some throttle lag from standstill

    The Lowdown

    Car –  Volvo V90 T8 Twin Engine AWD R-Design Plus

    Price – £ 67,500 (as tested)

    MPG – 97.4 – 117.7 mpg (WLTP combined)

    Power – 317hp (petrol) + 87hp (electric)

    0-62mph –  5.0 seconds

    Top Speed –  115 mph

    Co2 –  49 (g/km)

  • CAR REVIEW | Volvo XC 60 T6 R-Design

    CAR REVIEW | Volvo XC 60 T6 R-Design

    Volvo XC 60 T6 R-Design : The Blocky Volvo.

    Rating: 3 out of 5.

    Volvo are on full assault for every market they can reach with their current range of saloons, estates and SUV’s. Their keyword is premium and they arrived here quite quickly. Very soon they are to be joined by their premium Polestar brand that’s above premium with prices to match. 

    In the meantime, I’m here with their XC60 T6 R-Design AWD from their SUV range. It’s a petrol 4 cylinder producing 310bhp mated to an 8-speed automatic gearbox.

    Quite often you’ll find motoring journalists bemoan about the lack of difference, if any, between the drive modes. The XC60 gives you five. Eco, Comfort, Individual, Dynamic and Off Road. All five feel different and the last two offer notable differences in road height. 

    The difference comes at a cost and it isn’t perfect. Comfort is your standard set up though with the plethora of onboard options and set-ups Volvo gives you, any of the drive modes can be set as your preferred reset choice the moment you turn the ignition key. 

    I’ll start with the niceties first and that’s the ride. Body control is controlled well. In Comfort mode, you will have little problem with the serenity it affords you even on its largish alloy wheels. The quietness in the cab is eerily quiet like an electric vehicle. It almost makes a mockery of Volvo’s own hybrid drive systems for silent running. It becomes taught and lower in dynamic and it allows the large bulk of the XC60 to be driven with some serious gusto. And thankfully it does and you’ll discover why next.

    My problem is with its T6 drive train. It kicks you all the time unless you are gentle with the throttle. Its 310bhp comes in from 5700 rpm but this isn’t where we have a problem. It’s the 400Nm of torque. It just doesn’t feel like it’s there when you press the throttle. Considering it’s available from a lowly 2200rpm, its prowess is also thwarted by a hesitant gearbox. It takes the gearbox a noticeable amount of time to respond. Dynamic mode does go some way to eradicate it but it doesn’t totally vanish. Instead, it makes it a little more snappy. The two combined don’t make for a fluidity and serenity that the XC60 gives you in its ride. 

    The inside is all very Volvo. The interior fit and finish are above the expected and there are nice silver accents around to lift the dark R-Design interior. I can’t really enthuse any more than I have previously about the XC60 range so I’ll go straight to another area that Volvo does really well.

    The home screen of the infotainment system is pretty standard stuff. Swipe left and depending on your options, you are greeted with lots of safety equipment to switch on and off. These can be moved around to suit your own preferences for items you need to select quickly like parking assistance. 

    Swipe down and you get another set of options and these allow you to further adapt and personalise the vehicle set up to your requirements. These are then saved and won’t revert unless there is a system reset. 

    That in itself is an area many manufacturers don’t think about. There is nothing worse than setting up a car and then having to do it all again after the ignition has been switched off.

    Volvo set out to make their range feel premium and many little things that further make it a car that feels like a quality product. Puddle lights set in the door handles dim down in sync with the sidelights when you lock it on the remote.

    The XC60 R-Design does a lot of great things in the popular market of the sporty SUV where it seems acceptable to compromise the ride quality. The XC60, however, is more than acceptable in its ride set ups with its differences being noticeable.

    It might come as a surprise that I’ve been quite harsh with handing out my stars to this XC60. Considering we gave the XC60 D4 Momentum Pro 5 stars, I just cannot rave about this XC with the T6 engine and gearbox. It doesn’t do what it says on the box and ruins an otherwise splendid vehicle. 

    Love

    Quiet cabin

    Parking heater system

    Details

    Loathe

    Hesitant gearbox

    Throttle input reaction

    Rear occupant heater fan noisy in the front

    The Lowdown

    Car –  Volvo XC60 T6 AWD R-Design

    Price – £ 59,485 (as tested)

    MPG – 28 – 31.7 mpg (WLTP combined)

    Power – 310hp

    0-62mph –  5.6 seconds

    Top Speed – 140 mph

    Co2 –  181(g/km)

    All Photos (C) Stuart M Bird

  • CAR REVIEW | Volvo XC40 R-Design Pro Automatic AWDSwedish Seduction 

    CAR REVIEW | Volvo XC40 R-Design Pro Automatic AWDSwedish Seduction 

    REVIEWED: Volvo XC40 R-Design Pro Automatic AWD, Swedish Seduction

    What Have We Got?

    Having recently tried Volvo’s smallest SUV offering with the competent XC40 Momentum Pro, we now jump seats and try their sporty XC40 R-Design fitted with the same 190hp T4 petrol engine.

    I’ve not been a fan of the R-Design spec Volvo’s, so does this R-Design “do it” for me?

    Driving

    First thing you notice about the XC40 R-Design is its ride. It’s notably firmer in its springing rates. Something you would expect from the sporty lineup. 

    Strangely I’m rather won over by it. For a high sided car, It felt composed and taught. And despite what I said about the Momentum and its perfect choice of gearing, the R-Design gives you wheel paddles that allow you to engage in a more enthusiastic driving experience.  The only problem with the sporty model is the throttle response to gentle pressings just didn’t feel as progressive or fluid. Here is where it encourages enthusiasm by having adopting its own driving style. 

    Adhesion, already impressive with FWD, is further boosted in this AWD system. It encourages you and rewards you with a drive that you should expect from a small SUV.

    Inside

    One thing that is worthy of note is the use of recycled bottles, turned into fluffy material and used in the door cards and transmission tunnel. It has a warmth and feels like a faithful dog pressing against your left leg. 

    R-Design also has such niceties as door illuminations making the car feel more affluent in the range than in some ways, it should feel. 

    The downside is that in the day, the R-Design is a touch too dark on the inside. What it gives you at night, it takes away in the day. 

    Living With It

    The XC40 R-Design is easy to engage with when you want to travel fast. It will reward you with its taught road behaviour and cosset you at night with its soothing ambience which feels a mile away from what it is.. 

    The Verdict

    I’ve not been kind to the R-Designs in the Volvo ranges and when driven back-to-back with other models I am still not sold. What then happened was I’ve been seduced by this R-Design. 

    Jumping from the Momentum Pro T4 in the range, you notice its driving manners immediately and this time, they really are noticeably different. But it’s not bad. I even contacted Volvo PR Barnaby Jones to tell him that I’ve changed. 

    Its sporty prowess is exaggerated by the use of a 4 wheel drive system. It gives added encouragement to really use the T4 petrols 190hp and though it does hit the economy, it’s the payoff you expect to pay in a sporty model. It’s just that, at almost £4000 more than the Momentum Pro, it has a lot to offer but does it justify that extra? I’ll let you decide when you go to Volvo to take a look.

    Love

    Minimal sharp edges within cabin trim

    Handling

    Supportive seats

    Loathe

    Price

    Dark interior 

    Lacking fluidity

    The Lowdown

    Car –  Volvo XC40 R-Design Pro Automatic AWD

    Price – £ 42,485 (as tested)

    MPG – 32.8 – 35.3 mpg (WLTP combined)

    Power – 190hp

    0-62mph –  8.2 seconds

    Top Speed –  130 mph

    Co2 – 163 (g/km)

  • CAR REVIEW | Volvo XC40 Momentum Pro T4

    CAR REVIEW | Volvo XC40 Momentum Pro T4

    ★★★★★ |  Volvo’s Momentum PROgress

    What Have We Got?

    Volvo continue to go full steam ahead with their SUV range and the smallest of their cars, the 40 series received the SUV treatment giving us the XC40 in 2017. It went on to win the coveted European Car of The Year award in 2018.

    A compact in visual presence SUV packed with well-fitting appointments and a premium feel. But with its £38k price tag, does the XC40 T4 petrol in Momentum Pro spec justify the premium price tag?  

    Driving

    Here is where the XC40 Momentum T4 excels. With this 190hp petrol engine, it has the ability to travel forward very quickly. Fitted to a softer sprung suspension set up, it can carry you and 4 passengers in floating comfort.

    The 2-litre turbo engine is fitted to full 8-speed automatic gearbox driving the front wheels travels with smooth elastic fluidity. There are no paddle shifts for this spec and it’s no hardship. There are very few occasions when you could choose a better gear ratio to be in.

    What can ruin the ambience of the Momentum Pro is the drive modes. Quite hit and miss in this model. Dynamic mode didn’t add anything to the already accomplished manners of the car. In some cases, it hindered a splendid driving experience.

    Handling veers onto the enthusiastic side quite readily with plenty of grip available. The ride tends to roll a bit but this is only to be expected from a high sided vehicle with a compliant ride. Adhesion to the tarmac immense and the steering alerts you to trouble ahead before it lose all grip. 

    Inside

    One thing that is worthy of note is the use of recycled bottles, turned into fluffy material and used on the door cards and transmission tunnel. In shorts, it has a warm feeling to it like a faithful dog pressing against your left leg. It’s actually rather pleasant. 

    The dashboard is laid out in typical Volvo logic and the 12.3” is easy to use, if somewhat clunky at times. However, all was not good with the driving experience. And that would be the plastic used on the centre console. It was somewhat rather cheap in feel. And considering the premium quality Volvo have gone, this felt so very wrong in an otherwise well thought out interior.    

    The rear doors have a kick up in them and while being a design feature, they do hinder some visibility over the shoulders and for those travelling in the rear.  

    Living With It

    The XC40 Momentum Pro is very easy to live with. Rear seat room, in particular, is generous and more so in shoulder width. The list of standard equipment is generous though there was no adaptive cruise fitted even though the radar button was fitted to the steering wheel.

    The Verdict

    The XC40 Momentum is a looker. It’s not as popular on the road and that might be because people aren’t looking to Volvo for this size of car. And that is a shame. It really does do a lot very well and very little to annoy. 

    If there is one thing that I can complain about, it is the T4’s fuel economy. It isn’t great. That said, it does power this little slice of Swedish luxury quite rapidly. I’ll complain about that even though I know you can get it with other petrol or diesel engines and there is also a hybrid of sorts model coming early next year. 

    So is this premium and worth that asking price? Forget flat-packed furniture with a cheap veneer added, this is a slice of rapid Swedish luxury, and I say it is worth it.

    Love

    Fit and finish

    8 speed automatic 

    Throttle response

    Loathe

    Disappointing fuel economy (according to the computer)

    Centre console plastic

    Dynamic drive mode 

    The Lowdown

    Car –  Volvo XC40 Momentum Pro T4

    Price – £ 38,210 (as tested)

    MPG – 33.6 -36.7 mpg (WLTP combined)

    Power – 190hp

    0-62mph –  8.1 seconds

    Top Speed –  130 mph

    Co2 – 154 (g/km)

  • CAR REVIEW | Volvo V60 Cross Country

    CAR REVIEW | Volvo V60 Cross Country

    ★★★★ | Volvo V60 Cross Country, Volvo’s Luxury Woodland Cruiser

    What have we got?

    Hot on the trail of the newly launched Volvo V60 range, Volvo launch their new “life style” version for those who need a bit more from their estate. When we say more, we mean an added ability to go off the beaten track and into places unknown.

    But has Volvo just jacked up the V60 by 60mm, clad it with some plastic and given it a 4 wheel drive system to make this Cross Country a viable off-roader? THEGAYUK went to find out.

    Driving

    One thing that impresses with the Cross Country is its ability to ride remarkably well on the road. The trouble with raising cars is it tends to at the detriment to the on-road handling dynamics. It’s no R-Design in driving style but then it was never supposed to be. On the road, it had a reasonably good blend of comfort. That increase in height allowing perhaps just a little more suspension travel to compensate. 

    The 187bhp D4 diesel engine spreads the torque power well to the driven wheels through an 8-speed automatic box. Over 25mph, the system automatically selects the front-wheel drive.

    The XC60’s off-road capabilities are more impressive. Considering these were fitted with on-road tyres, they had the ability to climb a reasonably wet hill with surprising vigour. Hill descent also showed up no nasty surprises either. Locking wheels were attended to by a system with rapid-fire adjustments.

    It has to be said that road tyres will give limited adhesion in the most arduous conditions but Volvo dealers are able to upgrade you to a more suitable off-road rubber should you wish. 

    Inside

    The inside of the V60 Cross Country is identical to the standard V60. In this guise, we had blond leather (probably not the best in a mud plugger), silver trim and quality materials. All adding to the premium feel that Volvo has headed into. It is a class-leading layout that feels a bit like home.

     

    Living With It

    As with the standard V60’s, there is very little to dislike about it in Cross Country guise. It does all that you would expect a Volvo V60 to do. The boot is the largest in its class and the cabin is nicely made. It just happens to be able to do something else.

    However, it does have its limitations. You need to be aware of the surrounding environment. Doing something stupid, and we mean REALLY STUPID in the V60 Cross Country, will get you stuck in the mud. Read that as: pilot it straight into a muddy bog and it comes to a stop!

    That said, my co-pilot and I almost did get it stuck fast. In typical ‘Gun-Ho’ style we floored it out of what caught out the car in front.  

    Get it stuck and it will result in a long possible overnight stay in the car while you wait for a man in a Land Rover to come and get you. Be sensible and realistic and you’ll be surprised at where this car can take you off the beaten track. Thankfully the cabin on the V60 is spacious and comfortable and the rear load area long enough to accommodate two sleeping bodies.

    Verdict

    This won’t be the big seller of the V60 range. Volvo even predicts it won’t be especially when there are the 3 popular XC ranges within the Volvo family.

    So has this been worthy of all the development hassle? Yes, it has. It uses XC60 architecture so development has already been carried out and proven. What this is then is a car that still shows Volvo have the ability to make an elegant estate design for those who don’t want a large SUV but need to get away from it all.

    It just seems a shame, that such a beautifully designed estate car will be used to get muddy. Then again, you can’t have your cake and eat it.

    Love

    The design

    Ride and handling

    Cabin space

    Loathe

    Infotainment can be fiddly

    Starting and drive mode buttons look gaudy

    Predicted depreciation highest in the range

    The Lowdown

    Car –  Volvo V60 Cross Country

    Price – £38,300 (starting from)

    MPG – 45mpg (combined)

    Power – 190bhp D4 diesel

    0-62mph –  7. 6 seconds

    Top Speed – 130 mph

    Co2 – 143 (g/km)

  • CAR REVIEW | Volvo S60/V60 R-Design

    CAR REVIEW | Volvo S60/V60 R-Design

    ★★★★ | Volvo S60/V60 R-Design

    R-Designed Volvo. How do you want it?

    What Have We Got

    Hot on the wheels of the recent Volvo resurgence in their 60 series of cars, V60, V60 Cross Country, R-Design estates, comes the much-anticipated saloon version.

    THEGAYUK were invited to try both models in R-Design trim, and, depending on your motoring needs, both were clear winners. One more than the other.

    Driving

    The all 250hp petrol engine option (no diesel) mated to an 8 speed automatic, work well. The drive is linear and it feels very fluid in its forward motion. 350Nm of torque come from a lowly 1800 to 4800rpm. And this fits in nicely with where the gearbox will try to keep the engine running. Go beyond it, and the good news is, you’ll still enjoy it. There is very little engine cacophony.

    The ride is silent and all composed. It’s a touch hard but fitting for the R-Designs purpose as a sporting drivers car. I rather liked it. It felt muted to road surface discrepancies that blight our roads. However, the S60 trumps the V60 when it comes to handling. The 30kg lighter and yet stiffer shell feels it. Saloon shell makes the car feel somewhat more surefooted.

    You could argue that the rear suspension might have been altered to compensate for what the V60 could be used for and I wouldn’t disagree with you. As a drivers car, the V60 is good, the S60 is better.

     

    Inside

    I’ll be honest, I’m not a big fan of the R-Design set up. When you get to try the others in the 60 range, you discover that dark interiors are not what you want. Everyone does dark, so when you get behind the wheel of a V60 Inscription with blond leather and wood, it feels special and fresh.

    That said, it is not like you are sitting in a rat infested dungeons with hard chairs and little enjoyment. The R-Design gives you bespoke bucket style seats. There is very little to complain about in the ergonomics and comfort. And a good job too because when you want to get the R-Designs shifting, they really grip onto you like a leather strapped chair in a BDSM dungeon.

    Living with it

    Style over function or the other way round? It’s a difficult one for me to suggest for you. As style goes, both body shapes ooze elegance not seen on a Volvo before. It’s a head turner. 

    It all comes down to what you, as a driver, want. Practical and it’s the V60 with its 529 to 1441 litres off luggage space over the saloons 442 litres. Well composed with a touch more sporting to take on the likes of that pesky Audi that loses you down that twisty road, and it’s the S60. 

    Neither will disappoint. They are easy to live with and they will fit your needs with a touch of premium class.

    Fast driving and they both do well, with the S60 doing it so much better. So much so that it really feels quicker to and more responsive. And to top it off, the smaller cabin design of the saloon really makes those Bowers and Wilkins speakers come alive.

    The Verdict

    For what it does, and if you want your saloon and estate to have the sporty potential that you crave, then these are for you.

    As for me, I might have been swayed by the R-Design. I’m getting old but I’m feeling kinky and used. I’ve been abused by the R-Design and I can’t say I didn’t LOVE IT!

    The Lowdown

    Car –  Volvo S60/V60 R-Design 

    Price (from) – S60 £37,935 / £40,210 (as tested)

    MPG – 35.3 – 39.8 / 34.0 – 39.7 (WLTP combined)

    Power – 250hp

    0-62mph –  6.5 / 6.7 seconds

    Top Speed –  145 mph

    Co2 – 155 / 157 (g/km)

  • CAR REVIEW | Volvo V60, 2019

    CAR REVIEW | Volvo V60, 2019

    ★★★★☆ | Volvo V60

    V is for Versatile

    Volvo life starts with the family. This is reflected in the advert for Volvo’s new V60 estate car. When they say ‘family” they mean ALL the family. Volvo is out there to show their support not just for the changes in the heterosexual family dynamic but also the new evolution in the family within the LGBTQ and culturally diverse communities.

    There is a lot going on at Volvo at the moment and the Swedish company are not resting on their laurels of strong build and sturdy cars. Recently, Volvo has been seen to getting involved in global causes but that’s all for another day, for we at TGUK were invited to the launch of the new V60.

    New Wagon

    It feels strange and yet refreshing to see a new estate car being launched when the market is bulging with SUV’s and crossovers that everyone apparently wants. Volvo themselves are no strangers to the SUV market with 3 models available. 

    Now an estate from Volvo isn’t new and the company have a strong reputation built on practical estate cars, so is the new V60 with its low slung body actually any good? News just in is that for boot space alone the V60 is a class leader with 529 to 1441 litres of space and a flat floor with minimal intrusion. I’ll admit that the height does seem a little low though this is more to do with the cars sleek elegant lines.

     

    Driving

    We tried 2 models, both identical D4 diesel models with 190hp of available power. What differed with these 2 models was the range spec but more importantly, the gearboxes. 

    While the automatic changed smoothly up and down and almost unobtrusively, its inherent setting was economy and emissions so it would always be in a higher gear, making the engine just a little less responsive to throttle inputs. 

    The manual model was something else. Precise selection of gears and an easy to control clutch pedal, not to light to be feel-less but also not heavy to be an annoyance in traffic made for a much more spirited drivers car. I like my autos, but I’d have to ask myself what sort of driver I would be most of the time.   

    Inside

    And that question gets answered inside. With four different trim levels, they alter so much of the inside. Racy and purposeful is what you get with the R-Design. It’s all silver inlays and black trim. The inscription is designed like a lounge. It’s calming and comfortable. And this is where the different gearboxes alter your mood in the car. 

    All this comes with what can only be described as Volvo’s legendary build quality. 

    Living with it

    I had another chance to try the V60. After the UK launch, there was so much more that I wanted to know. I had it in my head that it was good. Anthony French-Constant and I blasted one around an agility test of both driver and machine and we won. Albeit only beaten by Volvo UK by one second though we suspect favourable timings on the stop watch (possibly) All that excitement aside, was it as good as I remembered?

    Yes is the answer. At a recent range review, it quickly became apparent just how good it was and it needs to be. This size and model or car is quickly becoming extinct and that’s a shame. No SUV can match this for its all-round appeal of driver involvement and comfort.    

    The Lowdown

    Car –  Volvo V60

    Price –  From £31,810 

    MPG – 40.9mpg (petrol) – 64.2mpg (diesel) (combined)

    *Power – 150hp – 250hp

    *0-62mph –  6.7 – 9.9 seconds

    *Co2 – 157 – 117 (g/km)

    * Petrol/diesel 

  • CAR REVIEW | Volvo XC90 T8, 2019

    CAR REVIEW | Volvo XC90 T8, 2019

    ★★★★★ | Volvo XC90, Volvo’s Grand Tourer

    What Have We Got?

    Here we have Volvo’s very grand-lux, top of the range SUV in hybrid form. A vast car that is pitted against rivals from Audi, Mercedes and Range Rover. No easy task in this company of loyal devotees to try and woo your way. So is the XC90 T8 Inscription any good? 

    Driving

    There really isn’t much to shout about here and tell you that you need to drive it a certain way. It behaves in the normal way a car would be it, petrol or hybrid. 

    Except it doesn’t. You can motor quite well on battery power fed via the 87hp motors fitted to the rear wheels or thunder past people using the 2-litre 303hp petrol engine. And when l say ‘thunder’, I really do mean it. 0-60 is a disrespectful 5.5 seconds! This is a Volvo with green hybrid credentials. Surely this isn’t true. Wrong. It’s very true. 

    And added to that phenomenal blend of speed and power, comes 21” alloys shod with 275/40 section tyres. Fitted with air ride, you would be forgiven for thinking it had more tyre wall. That’s certainly true for all rides except “dynamic”. This is where the vehicle drops by 20mm and stiffens the ride. It’s not unpleasant, but it certainly detracts from the sumptuousness of what the XC90 Inscription Pro is all about. It’s an area that Volvo is yet to master if I am honest.

    One area this does excel in is the automatic gearbox cog selection. It always seemed to be in the right gear and throttle responses were both rapid and direct and that’s what I like. 

     

    Inside

    Interiors have always been a Volvo selling point and that sumptuousness that I just mentioned is found here turned to the max. The Inscription Pro package gives you blond leather and walnut inlays. Add to this, some of the finest door architecture with simple soft white lighting, it lifts the interior regardless of how bad it might be outside. 

    There is also 7 seats available, but the rear two, though keenly catered for with cubby holes and cup holder, it is a tight squeeze for tall people. And getting in and out is really only for the athletically loose and athletically strong in pushing the middle seat back. 

    Living With It

    I get it, I get what the plug-in hybrid XC90 is all about. I was sceptical about Volvo’s claim of almost 109mpg. In the real world this isn’t really achievable or so I thought. My real work commute is 24 miles. The hybrid battery will carry it for 21 miles. Through the power of maths and the engine that, according to the display, will return 30mpg, I can manage that figure. It works out that a tank of fuel with a recharge and home and work, I won’t see a fuel station for at least 11 weeks. That’s around 5 tanks of petrol over the year. 

    It won’t quite work that way though. I had to take a journey into Kent with a 104-mile round trip. Along with some other menial work, the XC went back with half a tank of fuel. Now if I’m honest, I have never sent back a press car with so much fuel still in it. So now you can see why I buy into this plug-in hybrid system.

    The Verdict

    There is a lot to like about the XC90 Inscription T8 and very little to dislike. My only real gripe was a finickity switch for the sunroof/blind. I couldn’t master its ways. 

    What I could master was the benefits of this twin-engine (as Volvo call it) hybrid. Together with what is now becoming a legendary interior design and a place for well being, I can’t really find much fault and though the asking price for this is up there with its competitors, it is worth EVERY penny.  

    Love

    Economy (for the right people)

    Interior architecture 

    Speed

    Loathe

    Finickity roof blind/sunroof switch

    Rearmost seat access

    No real hybrid charge on the move

    The Lowdown

    Car –  Volvo XC90 T8 Twin Engine AWD Inscription Pro

    Price – £ 79,010 (as tested)

    MPG – 108.6mpg (combined) 30.2mpg (on dashboard display)

    Power – 303hp (petrol engine) 87hp (electric motor)

    0-62mph – 5.8 seconds

    Top Speed – 140 mph

    Co2 – 63 (g/km)

  • CAR REVIEW | Volvo XC60 Momentum Pro

    CAR REVIEW | Volvo XC60 Momentum Pro

    ★★★★★ | Volvo XC60 Momentum Pro

    What Have We Got?

    Here we have Volvo’s mid-sized SUV, the XC60. By all accounts, it’s a popular car. Judging by the number of them on the road, you would be right. But is it any good? Does it cover ground better than others in its class and is the Momentum Pro worth the £42,105 asking price?  

    Driving

    When the XC60 arrived, I was a bit disappointed for it not being an automatic. Manuals in city driving aren’t much fun. That said, the diesel D4 engine works well with the manual box, better in many ways than the auto. It has a fluidity in its workings. Just keep an eye on the rev counter though. Unless really pushed, the engine is subdued in noise suppression.

    What then helped living with the manual was the spread of low down torque of 400 Nm from 1750rpm. That sounds quite high, but I can assure you that it will pull cleanly in 4th from below 1500rpm. And then come the problems, sort of. Because of the way it works and the gearing, 5th and 6th really are very redundant gears. They were not used on my 40-mile daily commute. Only on Sunday when the roads were clearer, was I actually able to use 5th.  

    The XC60 with its all-wheel-drive system is sure-footed and secure even when hustling it around. Its ride balance in “comfort” was just right. Aided no doubt by its generous 50 profile tyres giving it a good soft sidewall.    

    Inside

    Here is were Volvo really do exceed in excellence. Their interiors are probably the nicest places to navigate the great outdoors from. In the Momentum, you are treated to bright cream leather coverings and silver accent trim around the cabin. This isn’t the best from Volvo; they also offer wood that adds even more to the exceptional expensive feel of the cabin space.

    And that’s just what the driver feels. There is room for four others to enjoy the ambience of the car. Admittedly, for what looks like a large vehicle, it doesn’t exactly translate into masses of cabin space, but you’re not left feeling squeezed. It’s just right.  

     

    Living With It

    My week with the XC60 was one full of various driving conditions. From sunny days to torrential rain at night, it carried my passengers and me in safety and comfort.

    On the move, the XC60 has a calmness surrounding it. There were a couple of incidences where people pulled out in front of me, and the usual words were said. And then calmness. Remember that scene from Spaced where Brian is painting manically, and then he receives a call from Twist, and he is then unable to paint due to being calm and content? It’s like that.  

    The Verdict

    I could work for Volvo and sell these, day in, day out. The XC60 is a great vehicle. It’s calming, competent and exceptionally well put together which does belie the asking price. £42k is not a lot really when it comes like this and with this level of spec.

    If I am to nitpick, and I have to, I’d say there are a few areas it needs to be improved on. For a start, it needs a left footrest. It’s not like there isn’t any space there for it either. You can stretch out your left leg with ease, it’d just sometimes you need a place to rest that foot that isn’t on the clutch pedal. And the stop/start button. Its razzmatazz looks a little out of place and a bit too blingy. 

    And you see, I’m nitpicking and because of that, I’m giving this five stars. 

    Love

    Quiet and relaxed

    Ambience

    Price

    Loathe

    Lack of footrest

    Gaudy stop/start switch

    Both of the above again.

    The Lowdown

    Car –  Volvo XC60 Momentum Pro

    Price – £42,105 (as tested)

    MPG – 31.5mpg (during test)

    Power – 190 bhp @ 4250

    0-62mph –  8.3 seconds

    Top Speed –  127 mph

    Co2 – 139 (g/km)

  • CAR REVIEW | Volvo XC60 T8 R-Design Pro

    CAR REVIEW | Volvo XC60 T8 R-Design Pro

    ★★★★☆ | Volvo XC60 T8 R-Design Pro

    Volvo XC60 T8 R-Design Pro review

    What Have We Got

    This week we have a plug-in hybrid from Volvo. The Volvo XC60 T8 twin engine, which means it has a 2.0L petrol engine which is supercharged and turbocharged, producing 320bhp, powering the front wheels, with an 87 bhp electric motor powering the rear wheels. Together they provide a combined power figure of 407 bhp, enough to get you to 62mph in 5.3 seconds and on to 140mph.

    Our XC60 T8 is an R-Design Pro meaning it has all the toys and I mean all of them. It’s a beautiful car and extremely well built.

    Driving

    This is probably the most technically advanced car we’ve driven but is also one the most complete, accomplished packages we’ve seen.

    There are several driving modes to choose from:
    Eco (the most frugal settings) Dynamic (a balance between performance and economy, consider this ‘normal’ mode), Off Road (at low speed, makes the XC60 a serious off-road tool)Individual (allows you to personalise settings such as suspension, steering, gearbox etc) In Dynamic, the car is simply beautiful to drive. It’s very fast, very smooth and very easy to drive.

    Inside

    Inside the Volvo is an exquisite place, elegant and graceful. The materials are the best we’ve seen and the fit and finish are beyond compare. R Design features such luxuries as a perforated leather multifunction steering wheel with gearshift paddles, and nubuck leather upholstery. The sports seats are very supportive and infinitely adjustable and there is plenty of room inside for 5 adults in comfort.

    Our test car had the Bowers & Wilkins sound system which was incredible. 15 speakers and 1100 watts of power worked for us.

    Living with it

    Air suspension on the T8 R Design ensures a beautiful ride, soaking up the bumps and potholes of our roads with ease. The T8 is also fitted with adaptable, electronic dampers which means the suspension can be easily adjusted for ride and comfort, but more impressive than that, it constantly adjusts to the driving conditions.

    As a plug-in hybrid, you can drive it on just electric power for up to 20 miles, then it seamlessly switches to the engine’s power. If you have power in the battery at low speeds, on part throttle, you are essentially driving a big electric vehicle. It’s whisper quiet and silky smooth. When you need more power it ditches to the engine’s power, not so you notice though.
    The Verdict

    Our Volvo XC60 was genuinely breathtaking. It is the most advanced and the closest to an autonomous vehicle we have ever driven. The XC60 can steer, brake, and see better than us and uses these attributes to keep us safe.

    Volvo see this car as; ‘a clear step in our work towards fully autonomous cars’.

    It was a real pleasure driving the new Volvo XC60 T8 Twin Engine AWD R-Design Pro. Now we see what all the fuss was about.

    Loves

    Performance

    Interior

    Superb build quality

     

    Loathes

    Price

    Electric range only up to 20 miles

    I can’t afford one

     

    Lowdown

    Car – Volvo XC60 T8 Twin Engine AWD R-Design Pro.
    Price – £53,870 – £59,770
    MPG – 134.5mpg (manufacturer claimed. We only got around 40 mpg)
    0-62 – 5.3s
    Power – 407 bhp (87 bhp electric and 320 bhp petrol)
    Top Speed – 140 mph

  • Representation matters even in car parks

    Love love love this.

    Up until now if you were looking for a car-parking space and you happened to be an LGBT+ parent your representation was ZERO. Now thanks to Volvo, Westfield has got a wide range of icon representations for all different family types. From Grandparents to single mums to gay dads.

    The trial, conducted in partnership with Westfield London in Shepherds Bush where the new icons can be seen, aligns with the theme of Volvo’s TV advertising programme for the V60 – “The New Family Model”, which launches on 9 July. Over the years, the definition of family has evolved, hence the icons profile different examples of family within society, including same-sex couples, single parents and nuclear families.

    Mike Johnstone, Marketing Strategy Director, Volvo Car UK, said: “The introduction of the new V60 gives us the ideal opportunity to celebrate the modern family in all its guises. As the contemporary iteration of our mid-size family estate, the V60 perfectly reflects our human-centric approach to car design which aims to make its owners’ lives easier and safer.”