volvo xc90 r design video

Volvo XC90 2020 Review

Volvo's oldest model heads into a new decade with a price cut to boost its appeal

What is the Volvo XC90 T6 R-Design all about?

The Volvo XC90 is the Chinese-owned Swedish manufacturer's flagship SUV Model.

The full-size seven-seat luxury SUV comes in seven different models split into four different specification grades and three drivetrains – two petrol and one diesel – all mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission and Haldex on-demand all-wheel drive.

Here we're driving the turbocharged and supercharged petrol 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine (or T6) in combination with the R-Design spec.

The XC90 is the oldest member of the Volvo range and has been around in Australia since 2015. This latest minor update was introduced in mid-2019.

Since then there have been improvements in both the capped-price servicing offer and the manufacturer's listed price.

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How much does the Volvo XC90 T6 R-Design cost?

As just alluded to, the XC90 has had a fair old pricing haircut for 2020. It's explained in detail here.

This model drops from $104,990 to $96,990 (plus on-road costs), without any change to the specification level announced when the last update rolled out.

So that means a comprehensive suite of driver assist system that effectively deliver semi-autonomous capability, seven airbags and plenty of comfort equipment including four-zone climate control, powered and heated front seats, Nappa leather trim, a 9.0-inch portrait-style touchscreen and Apple CarPlay and – for the MY20 – Android Auto.

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There are numerous options; our test car came with Bower and Wilkins stereo, panoramic sunroof and tinted rear glass for $5500 and adaptive air suspension for $3000. Metallic paint costs $1900. The XC90 R-Design rolls on massive 22-inch Pirelli Scorpion rubber, so bear that replacement cost in mind too.

Also worth noting the T6 R-Design comes with 'optimisation' of its powertrain via Volvo's hot-shop Polestar, which means it gets a 246kW/440nm engine, rather than the 235kW/400Nm version the Momentum and Inscription are fitted with.

In September last year Volvo announced it would slash the cost of its three-year/45,000km capped-price servicing plan for the XC90 from as much as $3030 to $1795.

However, it has resisted the temptation to extend its warranty from three to five years.

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Why should/shouldn't I buy the Volvo XC90 T6 R-Design?

A key XC90 and Volvo asset is interior design, presentation and perceived quality.

The T6 R-Design really looks and feels good inside and backs that up by being able to fit six people – seven at a pinch – and a bit of luggage too. Fold down row three and four people have heaps of space to fit themselves and their gear.

The downsides of the interior are few; folding and accessing the rear seats can be fiddly, while the touch screen in the centre stack takes a while to figure out. In fact, it remained somewhat opaque to me for our entire week together. There seemed too much drilling down, up and sideways to make things happen.

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With its optional adaptive suspension, our T6 R-Design's ride could be very comfortable or pretty harsh depending on the mode selected. It's big (4950mm long) and heavy (more than 2000kg) so there seems little reason to ever regard it as anything other than a cruiser.

Drivetrain performance reinforces that. The engine and transmission battle wilfully, smoothly and without lag, but they never quite overcome the XC90's mass. The brakes also need a hefty prod for downhill corners.

All that weight impacts fuel consumption. Volvo claims an 8.5L/100km average, but we consumed premium unleaded at a rate of 11.8L/100km during our test. That's significant these days.

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Who will the Volvo XC90 T6 R-Design appeal to?

Families with a few bucks to spend are the primary buying audience for this vehicle. It can fit growing kids and their friends in all three rows and leaves a bit over for luggage as well.

The details are well looked after. There is storage and ventilation for all three rows and a booster seat in the middle of the second row.

There are also two outboard ISOFIX child-seat mounts and three top tether child-seat mounts in row two, but none in row three.

Naturally the XC90 is a five-star ANCAP performer, albeit rated in 2015. By the way, Volvo has set itself the target of having no-one killed in one of its cars by 2020 – yep, this year.

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Where does the Volvo XC90 T6 R-Design fit?

The XC90 is classified as a large SUV priced over $70,000 in the official VFACTS sales data.

There are no shortage of rivals for it in this segment and even further up the price ladder. They include the updated Audi Q7, the new BMW X5 and X7, and the Mercedes-Benz GLE and GLS.

Someone not needing all the space and size of the XC90 might also be tempted by its excellent smaller sibling, the XC60, or one of its many competitors.

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So, what do we think of the Volvo XC90 T6 R-Design?

The XC90 T6 R-Design is defying its age impressively.

Sure, it's got some issues like gulping fuel, but there's a fundamental design quality that still works well, especially when it comes to the interior.

Maybe it's in its latter years, but the XC90 is growing old gracefully.

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How much does the 2020 Volvo XC90 T6 R-Design cost?
Price: $96,990 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged and supercharged petrol
Output: 246kW/440Nm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Fuel: 8.5L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 199g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Five-star ANCAP (2015)