Volvo’s long-awaited new XC90 has hit the UK, initially with one petrol and one diesel option, the latter being this 2.0-litre 225hp D5 model. A T8 plug-in hybrid model, offering a CO2 figure of 49g/km, follows late in 2015.
Excellent
Class-leading emissions of 149g/km for this large, seven-seat 4×4 mean a 40% tax payer’s BIK bill is over £250 a month less than what they would pay for a Land Rover Discovery.
Good
The new XC90 is an impressive reworking of one of Volvo’s most successful products, and looks classy. Seven-seat practicality and a large touchscreen are also appealing, while despite offering a residual that’s 0.4 percentage points better than the equivalent Audi Q7 or Land Rover Discovery, it’s £5000 cheaper than either.
Average
The driving experience is stable and controlled, rather than particularly entertaining.
Poor
The infotainment system through that large screen looks good but than isn’t always the most intuitive, while our car also suffered a satnav glitch.
