Easily Near the Top of the SUV Pack
Honestly, even before SUVs were all the rage I was into the genre. My Dad and I were often on the trail of the perfect Willy's Jeep, eventually ending up with a mid-70s Toyota Land Cruiser. While nowhere near as refined as today's sport utilities it boasted a heater that occasionally worked and luxurious vinyl seats.
OK, compared to the new Volvo XC90 it was an ox cart, but a mighty capable one. The Volvo is capable too, but with a much different mission. While it can hold its own in the dirt due to 226 mm (8.9 in) of ground clearance - T6 models on 16-inch rims (a real rare bird) are slightly lower at 218 mm (8.6 in) - the lack of a low gear means serious off-roading is off limits for safeties sake alone.
But that hardly matters in the vaulted minivan cum station wagon world of SUVs. If one in a hundred sport utility owners dare take their pride and joy off of the asphalt it's more likely due to losing control in a corner and drifting wide onto the shoulder than any purposeful wilderness expedition.
XC90 owners, however, should be able to keep their SUVs between the lines more easily than not. It's a wonderfully stable machine, not the most adept at handling compared to rivals BMW and Infiniti that manage the twisties with greater agility, but still very confidence inspiring overall. The Volvo alternatively offers a nicer ride than the sportier SUVs, with easier steering at low speeds which improves its parking prowess, despite its larger size.
Yes it's big. Nothing compared with a full-size Chevy Tahoe or Ford Expedition, but it's taller than many of its competitors and longer. That extra space translates into more usable cargo room, accessible via a slick split rear door. Its bottom quarter folds down like a traditional truck tailgate and the top three quarters lift upwards to act as a shelter from the storm - minivan style.
Honestly, even before SUVs were all the rage I was into the genre. My Dad and I were often on the trail of the perfect Willy's Jeep, eventually ending up with a mid-70s Toyota Land Cruiser. While nowhere near as refined as today's sport utilities it boasted a heater that occasionally worked and luxurious vinyl seats.
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| The Volvo XC90 is a mighty capable SUV, but more suited to the urban jungle than off-road exploring. (Photo: Shawn Pisio, Canadian Auto Press) |
But that hardly matters in the vaulted minivan cum station wagon world of SUVs. If one in a hundred sport utility owners dare take their pride and joy off of the asphalt it's more likely due to losing control in a corner and drifting wide onto the shoulder than any purposeful wilderness expedition.
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| Despite its large size, the XC90 offers a nicer ride and better low speed maneuverability than many other SUVs. (Photo: Shawn Pisio, Canadian Auto Press) |
Yes it's big. Nothing compared with a full-size Chevy Tahoe or Ford Expedition, but it's taller than many of its competitors and longer. That extra space translates into more usable cargo room, accessible via a slick split rear door. Its bottom quarter folds down like a traditional truck tailgate and the top three quarters lift upwards to act as a shelter from the storm - minivan style.