Swedish tradition puts form over function. Scandinavians have indeed become masters in the art of drawing attractive shapes with sometimes questionable utility.
That's exactly the impression I got from the 2009 Volvo XC90 R-Design. This big SUV, which used to be renowned for its comfort and solid feel on the road, has shifted to a sportier-looking mold. Overall, the package displays newfound personality... but at what cost?
Hail to styling
From an aesthetic point of view, the addition of R-Design is definitely not too shabby. Of course, any SUV that truly wants to live up to its "sport" label simply cannot be wearing a roof rack. So, the company quickly got rid of it.
The 20-inch alloy wheels, dual sport exhaust tips and deep, powerful growl positively add to the regular XC90's character. Inside, stitched leather seats and "R-style" accents (including metallic gauges with premium backlighting) further highlight the uniquely sporty attitude of this unique Volvo.
Before I forget, I must warn you about one thing: while my tester offered seating for up to seven, don't expect to sit that many people unless two of them work as contortionists for Cirque du Soleil. Access to the third row is pretty challenging and, once you finally get there, comfort and space are virtually inexistent.
Where's Volvo?
Comfort is the thing we have all come to expect from Volvos. Rather, expect to be sorely disappointed when you'll slide behind the wheel of the XC90 R-Design. In order to assert its sportier character, the vehicle now rides on a highly-rigid suspension that neutralizes body roll and makes sharp cornering maneuvers easier.
There's no shame in that from a driving standpoint, but someone should remind Volvo engineers that sharp corners are not a common encounter on the road. Ride quality would have been much more appreciated than aggressive handling, especially with such a family-oriented machine.
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| From an aesthetic point of view, the addition of R-Design is definitely not too shabby. |
That's exactly the impression I got from the 2009 Volvo XC90 R-Design. This big SUV, which used to be renowned for its comfort and solid feel on the road, has shifted to a sportier-looking mold. Overall, the package displays newfound personality... but at what cost?
Hail to styling
From an aesthetic point of view, the addition of R-Design is definitely not too shabby. Of course, any SUV that truly wants to live up to its "sport" label simply cannot be wearing a roof rack. So, the company quickly got rid of it.
The 20-inch alloy wheels, dual sport exhaust tips and deep, powerful growl positively add to the regular XC90's character. Inside, stitched leather seats and "R-style" accents (including metallic gauges with premium backlighting) further highlight the uniquely sporty attitude of this unique Volvo.
Before I forget, I must warn you about one thing: while my tester offered seating for up to seven, don't expect to sit that many people unless two of them work as contortionists for Cirque du Soleil. Access to the third row is pretty challenging and, once you finally get there, comfort and space are virtually inexistent.
Where's Volvo?
Comfort is the thing we have all come to expect from Volvos. Rather, expect to be sorely disappointed when you'll slide behind the wheel of the XC90 R-Design. In order to assert its sportier character, the vehicle now rides on a highly-rigid suspension that neutralizes body roll and makes sharp cornering maneuvers easier.
There's no shame in that from a driving standpoint, but someone should remind Volvo engineers that sharp corners are not a common encounter on the road. Ride quality would have been much more appreciated than aggressive handling, especially with such a family-oriented machine.
 |
| The 20-inch alloy wheels and dual sport exhaust tips add to the regular XC90's character. |