Volvo XC90 Named a Car of the Decade by Experts

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AutoTrader NZ
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Published 3 September 2020

The Volvo XC90 luxury SUV has been named a Car of the Decade by experts at Autotrader, the most recognized third-party car listings brand in the USA. It is the only luxury SUV to make the independently-chosen list.

According to Autotrader the XC90 that debuted in the 2015 model year is the perfect example of a modern vehicle primed for the future. It has a range of turbocharged, supercharged and electrified four-cylinder engines and offers good efficiency, a modern, minimalist interior, loads of connectivity and safety features, and unique Scandinavian elements.

“The Volvo XC90 is one of the best cars of the decade because it’s a spectacular luxury SUV that kicked off a long line of fresh new vehicles forever changing the course of the Volvo brand,” said Brian Moody, executive editor for Autotrader. 

“The XC90 effectively elevates the entire brand to a true luxury position, it’s the full embodiment of all that Volvo can do right. The XC90 is a perfect example of how design restraint actually adds to the allure of a given vehicle. Both inside and out, the Volvo XC90 is tasteful and luxurious. 

“Add to this a suite of advanced driver assist technologies and the Volvo XC90 becomes a compelling plot point in a long running story of Scandinavian style, engineering and fun that has become the Volvo of today and tomorrow.”

“The XC90 was named 2016 North American Utility of the Year and 2016 Motor Trend SUV of the Year, on top of more than 100 other awards from around the world,” said Anders Gustafsson, Executive Vice President Americas and President and CEO of Volvo Car USA. 

“For our best-selling vehicle to now be named an Autotrader Car of the Decade is just incredible, not just for us but for all our customers who chose to drive an XC90 instead of so many others on the market.”

The XC90 represents the essence of what a modern Volvo can be, and is Volvo’s most popular vehicle in the United States. For the 2020 Model Year, the XC90 has been completely refreshed.

The XC90 features a confident, luxurious take on traditional Scandinavian design. The exterior has a strong stance with a subtle, timeless quality and balanced proportions. The interior is a masterful composition of relaxing design, beautiful materials, and the very latest technology – all perfectly blended together.

The petrol-powered T6 turbo- and supercharged engine provides 246 kilowatts and the D5 twin-turbocharged diesel engine delivers 173kilowatts (R-Design specification respectively). The T8 Twin Engine Plug-In Hybrid offers a combined 311kilowatts in R-Design guise and does so without compromising interior space, providing the same cargo area and seven seating positions as all XC90 models.

The XC90 is built on the company’s Scalable Product Architecture SPA which allows for excellent proportions, exemplary safety, and a luxurious driving experience. The XC90 features:

  • Striking exterior design with a confident stance
  • Luxurious interior with a clear Scandinavian design influence featuring natural materials
  • Intuitive 9” Sensus Connect Touchscreen and 12.3” Digital Driver Display
  • Advanced Intellisafe City Safety features, including standard Pilot Assist, Oncoming Lane Mitigation, BLIS with Steering Assist, and Cross Traffic alert with Autobrake

Highlights Overview

Since its introduction for Model Year 2016, the second generation XC90 has received a host of upgrades, new features, and improvements. While Model Year 2020 marks the first full refresh, the XC90 line has been continuously enhanced throughout its first four years on the market.

For 2020, the XC90 features new concave front grille design, restyled front and rear bumpers, new Gloss Black R-Design theme and all-new wheel designs.

Standard equipment added includes a 12.3” Digital Driver Display, integrated roof rails, integrated tailpipes, 19-inch wheels, Road Sign Information, increased battery size (11.6 kwh) on T8 models, Autobrake has been added to BLIS with Cross Traffic Alert, and Haptic Feedback has been added to Pilot Assist.

New Colours added are Thunder Grey Metallic, Pebble Grey Metallic and Birch Light Metallic.

New interior options include Midnight Zinc and Slate Grey Tailored Wool Blend upholstery options, Slate Grey leather, Blond Leather in Charcoal Environment (R-Design), Grey Ash wood trim and Black Ash wood trim.