XC90 Inscription: Volvo’s Secret Weapon _
Volvo has built some impressive vehicles the past few years. The S60 sedan, V60 crossover and their Polestar counterparts are chiefs among them. Go ahead and add the new XC90 to the list.
Though not a tuned-up Polestar model, the test mule is a 2016 Volvo XC90 T6 AWD Inscription. And it’s gorgeous. At $78,000 fully loaded, it stacks up well against the highly-refined ned German and Japanese competition. Not just in terms of features and content, but in luxury, style and functionality.
With comfy seating for seven and all the traffic and safety features you could ever want or need, including forward collision warning, auto braking, lane keeping assist, pedestrian and cyclist detection and more, the interior is warm and inviting fore or aft. Even with a child seat installed in the rear can you access the third row, making this a true seven-seater.
The 2.0L turbocharged and supercharged four-cylinder feels more like a six-banger, boasting 320 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque, an eight-speed automatic transmission and several different $77,650 as tested drive modes, including eco, comfort, dynamic, individual and off-road. The T6 is all-wheel-drive so it’s got plenty of traction and it drives well.
Supercharging bolsters the low end of the powerband while the turbo takes care of the mid and upper ranges. I spent most of the week in comfort mode where most will spend the majority of their commute. It is fine (read smooth, quiet and yes comfortable), but the vehicle really wakes up when the high-performance program is switched on. It would be nice to have some control over (or presets for) the suspension system, however, it is still one of the best SUV suspensions I have tried in a long time – it’s got a nice compression stroke and the rebound is perfect. Very impressive!
Continue reading my review of the 2016 Volvo XC90 T6 AWD Inscription on the IGNITION MAGAZINE website!