VOLVO XC90 WITH NEW D5 ENGINE

• New upgraded 200PS D5 engine
• 2010 represents XC90's best ever sales performance in the UK
• Ninth year of production and still one of the best performers in its segment  

Since its launch in 2002, the XC90 has been a sales success for Volvo.  At its launch, it offered a unique blend of attractive styling, practicality and seven-seat versatility that saw it become an overnight hit.  Since then, the XC range has grown with XC70 and the introduction of the award winning XC60 with its ground breaking City Safety technology and the recent addition of Pedestrian Detection.  In 2010, sales figures for the XC90 grew close to 7,000 units, one of the car's most impressive years and outperforming most of its key rivals.

With the latest upgrade to the engine management system on the D5 engine, it now boasts 200PS (up from 185PS) with a maximum torque figure of 420 Nm (up from 400 Nm).  Not only has the power figure been increased, but fuel economy has also been improved to now offer 34.0mpg, up from 33.2mpg on the combined cycle.   Along with these improvements, the D5 conforms to the Euro 5 emissions regulation and boasts an improved C02 figure of 219g/km, a reduction from the previous 224g/km.

The 2.4 litre turbo diesel D5 offers both strong mid-range urge and refinement. It is fitted with Volvo's six-speed Geartronic as standard and will accelerate from 0-62 miles per hour in 10.3 seconds and will go onto a top speed of 127 mph.

Volvo's Geartronic transmission offers the driver the best of both worlds. The transmission automatically adjusts its shift points to reflect the driver's style and also offers a manual, sequential-shift facility where the driver is able to choose gears individually by tipping the lever forwards to change up and backwards to change down.

The XC90 was Volvo's first Sports Utility Vehicle, offering a seven seat interior, class-leading safety and strong residual values.  The XC90 with the new D5 is available to order now and priced from £34,795 on the road for the Active to £44,230 on the road for the Executive.  The XC90 is fitted with all-wheel-drive and seven seats as standard and is available with five different trim levels. 

Trims levels include the Active, SE, SE Lux, Executive and R-Design, all offering a high level of standard equipment compared with most other premium brands.  In 2010, 27 per cent of all XC90's sold in the UK were either SE Lux or Executive specification.

The Volvo XC90 has a subtle front end, a gently sloping split tailgate and a shorter roof section to convey a smoother, non-aggressive impression and help the vehicle to look more compact than its dimensions suggest.  This has meant that many more female customers have felt comfortable driving the XC90 rather than a number of competitor's large 4x4s.

The chassis in the Volvo XC90 is designed to give the vehicle the same ride and roadholding characteristics as a passenger car. The suspension is, however, more substantial to handle heavier loads, the higher ground clearance and all-terrain possibilities, along with being fitted with Volvo's self-leveling suspension as standard.  The R-Design specification features a modified chassis and suspension set-up in order to further optimize stability and driving control.

The Volvo XC90 features AWD (All Wheel Drive) with Instant TractionTM as standard with an electronic BorgWarner coupling system to maximise traction between the front and rear axles, yet despite its substantial off-road abilities, it is as easy, responsive and rewarding to drive as any regular Volvo saloon or estate model.

In order to optimise safety in the Volvo XC90 and, in particular, reduce the risk of a roll-over, Volvo has fitted as standard a Roll-Over Protection System (ROPS) with Roll Stability Control (RSC) technology.  This uses a gyro-sensor to register the car's roll speed and roll angle to instantly calculate the terminal angle and risk of a roll-over, and automatically activate the DSTC (Dynamic Stability and Traction Control) anti-skid system, if required, to help the driver maintain control. 

For added protection, Volvo has also reinforced the XC90's roof structure with extremely tough Boron steel, which is four to five times stronger than normal steel.  In addition, the side Inflatable Curtain (IC) protects all three rows of seats and has been designed to stay inflated longer in case of multiple roll-overs, and to help keep occupants inside the vehicle.  Volvo has also designed the XC90 with a lower cross-member - concealed behind the front spoiler - at the height of a bumper in a conventional car to impact with and activate its crumple zones as intended.

The interior benefits from a seven-seat configuration, resulting in 64 possible seating layouts.  The middle seat in the centre row has an integrated child booster cushion and also slides forwards independently so it can be positioned directly between the two front seats, thus improving contact between a child and the front seat occupants. What's more, the armrest between the front seats is removable to create more leg room for the passenger in this centre seat.

The third row features two separate seats, offering full comfort for children or for adults of modest build. Unlike some rivals, these do not take up valuable space or have to be clumsily removed, but instead they neatly and simply fold away individually out of sight into the boot floor when not in use, so are always on hand.

Both the second and third rows of seats can be folded down to create an entirely flat luggage compartment floor and in addition, the front passenger seat also folds forwards to accommodate extra-long loads.

The interior of the Volvo XC90 complies with a strict industry standard called Oeko-Tex, which sets maximum levels for dangerous substances contained in textiles and trim materials. All the leather upholstery and trim fitted to the Volvo XC90 meets strict Oeko-Tex standards. Volvo Cars is also the only manufacturer in the car industry with a complete model range that features textiles that are so clean and non-toxic that they are certified according to the high Oeko-Tex standard.

Furthermore, the leather is tanned using natural plant substances and the components on the Volvo XC90 that most frequently come into contact with the skin - the door handles, ignition key and safety belt locks - are also compliant with Oeko-Tex and are allergen-free.

NB: Pricing, performance and economy data for each model can be found in the included price lists.