VOLVO GOES GREEN
Be the first to test drive the new Volvo XC40 subcompact SUV at our Eco Event. May 16 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Courtesy Volvo of Scottsdale 4001 N. 89th St. Scottsdale 85251
WITH FUEL EFFICIENT GAS ENGINES AND NEW PLUG-IN HYBRIDS By C. Haire
Europeans have a reputation for building large, powerful luxury cars. Unfortunately, these usually come with large gas-guzzling motors that suck up fuel in a hurry. Volvo builds large and compact vehicles and is well respected for both. The XC40, voted European car of the year, is a small SUV that packs a big punch. Pegged as “the younger person's Volvo,” this minimalist design comes in colors like vibrant orange, which aim to shake off the Scandinavian car's sometime stoggy reputation. Volvo is also offering luxury vehicles with plenty of power, yet great fuel economy figures. We received two top-of-the-line models to drive: the S90 sedan and the V90 Cross Country wagon version. Our review will concentrate on the latter. The base price of the V90 is about the same as the S90 sedan at $54,000. As expected, there were luxury options too long to list here, and after the electronic gadgets and Bowers & Wilkins stereo ($3,200!), the total tab came to $65,000.
SMALL MOTOR WITH SUPER POWER A 240 horsepower engine is standard, but the subject of our test is the optional T6 unit. This motor is tiny at only 2 liters, but thanks to a turbocharger, supercharger, and modern fuel injection, over 316 horsepower is generated. It’s enough to propel this 2-ton barge to 60 mph in only 5.6 seconds. Yet even with all-wheel drive, gas mileage is excellent, rated 22 mpg in the city and 30 on the highway. In order to get the real world economy, we drove this car for a week, not only in city commuting, but highway trips between Phoenix and Tucson. Driving this wagon was a pleasure. It offers the same luxury
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world as the sedan with a smooth ride, excellent handling, and a cabin swathed in the finest leather trim and other upscale materials. That 330 watt, 10-speaker stereo will spoil you for anything less. All controls for navigation, climate and sound are done on a large computer screen. I prefer simple knobs, so I didn't like this setup, but most consumers like operating a huge version of their smartphone, so this is what we got. The wagon’s rear hatch accommodated lots of camping gear. Fuel economy was 24 mpg in mixed commuting, 38 mpg cruising at 75 mph, and about 32 mpg cruising on back roads at 60 mph. This puts it in the same fuel consumption class as a small economy car.
FUTURE FUEL ECONOMY CARS Want better fuel economy? For 2018 Volvo is introducing a XC90 plug-in hybrid. This will have the same 316 horsepower engine for the front wheels, a powerful electric motor and battery for the rear wheels, for a whopping 400 horsepower output. It will be able to drive on battery alone for up to 19 miles and then switch to hybrid operation for up to 30 mpg. On a 40-mile trip combined, that could result in a 60 mpg figure. The tab is said to be about $100,000! This is the vehicle we wanted to test, but it was not available. Perhaps we’ll get it next time? C. Haire writes reviews of hybrid or gas-saving vehicles for Green Living magazine. He has also reviewed cars for Arizona magazine and newspaper readers and local TV audiences.
May 2018 | greenliving
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