Volvo introduces its first SUV made under Chinese ownership: Volvo XC90. As always, we have put together photo comparison between two similar models, in this case, the Volvo XC90 versus BMW X5.
The new premium SUV aims to steal sales away from the BMW X5, Audi Q7 and Mercedes-Benz ML. Volvo XC90 is scheduled to debut at the 2014 Paris Motor Show in October.
With its completely revised design, the second-generation XC90 seems to have learned a lesson from the success of the BMW X5. The new design, while it remains unmistakably a Volvo, brings together proportions, elegance and sportiness in a single package.
The XC90 is arguably the first automobile in 15 years made entirely by Volvo, without the legacy of parts it inherited under Ford’s ownership from 1999 to 2010.
Looking at some of the differentiators that Volvo brings to the table we noticed that, unlike some of its competitors, the XC90 offers a third row suited for people other than children.
Volvo’s new interior design philosophy focuses around a fully integrated and WiFi-enabled touchscreen display system, similar to that found in the Tesla Model S. The interior now has just eight buttons, compared with an average of over 30 in other premiums SUVs. Simplicity and usability are key here.
By using stronger and lighter materials such as composite transverse rear leaf springs and hot-formed boron steel, the new Volvo XC90 is 280 lbs lighter than its predecessor.
The car also comes with impressive features, such as the “Safe Positioning” feature, part of the vehicle’s Intellisafe suite of technologies, aims to prevent severe injury or death in road-departure accidents. When the vehicle detects it’s leaving the road, the seat belts are tightened and remain tight while the vehicle is in motion.
The top-line Volvo XC90 T8 is powered by a twin-charged 2.0-liter I-4 paired with an electric motor, touts a combined torque rating of 443 lb-ft and around 400 horsepower.
The entry-level offering at launch will be the 316-horsepower T6, which is both turbocharged and supercharged.
Since looks are subjective, we invite you to take a look at the photo comparison embeded here and let us know in the comments below which one of the two premium SUVs you like best.
[Photos: Bimmertoday]
