Editors' note: We've recently been able to spend more time with the 2016 Volvo XC90 T6 Inscription and have updated our first drive preview to a full, rated review.
The 2016 Volvo XC90 isn't just the latest iteration of the model; it's also the beginning of a whole new, more luxurious Volvo.
The leap in quality was best illustrated at the moment I settled in behind the wheel of the XC90 T8 Inscription. The range-topping plug-in hybrid model's cabin is bedecked with leather, metal and glossy bits. The shift knob for the transmission is a piece of fine crystal glass handmade by Scandinavian glassmaker Orrefors. The dashboard and console feature very few physical controls, but those that are there (starter, drive mode selector and volume knob) are little diamond-cut bits of metal sculpture. The a deliberate attention to detail here is delightful.
Under the XC90 T8's skin is a plug-in hybrid power train that starts with the automaker's new 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, which uses both a turbocharger and a supercharger in sequence to generate 316 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. That already potent engine is mated to Volvo's Crank-Integrated Starter Generator (C-ISG), a 34kW water-cooled electric motor that adds an additional 103 pound-feet of torque to the mix. The C-ISG is sandwiched between the engine and a shift-by-wire eight-speed automatic transmission. This combo handles the front-wheels' power while a second 65kW Electric Rear Axle Drive (ERAD) motor provides up to 177 pound-feet of instant, on-demand torque to the rear wheels.
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Total system output for the T8's "Twin Engine" power train peaks at 400 horsepower and 472 pound-feet of torque, which is good enough to hustle the heavy hybrid hauler to 62 mph in 5.6 seconds. More impressive is Volvo's preliminary claim that the XC90 T8 will be good for over 59 mpg once the EPA gets its hands on the SUV. The hybrid's 16 to 17 miles of pure electric range will no doubt help to inflate the XC90's city mpg rating. Volvo states that the 9.3kWh lithium ion battery can be plugged in and recharged in about 3 hours at a 22oV fast-charging station.
The plug-in hybrid features five drive modes that are selectable via a wheel on the center console. Hybrid is the default, a balanced setting; Pure attempts to operate in full-EV mode for as long as the batteries' charge will allow; and Power delivers the best performance from the gasoline engine and the two motors. There's also an AWD setting that optimizes the use of the ERAD for maximum traction (sort of like a virtual locking center differential) and a Save mode that makes use of the gasoline engine to sustain the charge of the battery pack -- for example, to maintain enough EV range for residential driving at the end of a commute.
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Many automakers offer "sport" and "eco" modes that only slightly adjust their vehicles' character; Volvo doesn't play it so safely with the XC90. The Hybrid drive mode is smooth, quiet and controlled. It's what I think most luxury buyers are looking for in a comfy SUV. Power mode transforms the SUV's performance dramatically. The XC90 T8 rockets forward like a thrown Mjolnir; all three of its motors suddenly alive and growling. The air suspension, standard at this trim level, firms up and begins a more lively communication with the driver. The change isn't enough to defy the laws of physics, as I learned on a twisty bit of road, but the better response from the XC90 did help to more predictably define the limits of the SUV's performance and resulted in an experience that was different enough to justify pressing the button every now and then.
My time with the T8 "Twin Drive" model was short; most of the day's testing was spent behind the wheel of an XC90 T6 Inscription model. The T6's Drive-E powertrain uses the same 2.0-liter turbo and supercharged engine and the eight-speed automatic transmission, but stops there. Power peaks at a still-respectable 316 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque, which is impressive for a four-banger. All-wheel drive variants of the T6 feature a conventional propshaft and Haldex differential setup.
The EPA estimates that the T6 AWD variant will cruise for a combined 22 miles per gallon of gasoline. That breaks out to 20 mpg in the city and 25 mpg on the highway. During a week-long test of the SUV, I averaged 18.5 mpg.
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On the road, the T6 feels just as comfortable as the T8, thanks to the Inscription model's air suspension, and nearly as luxurious. The non-hybrid model lacks the T8's shift-by-wire crystal shifter, instead making do with a conventional leather-and-metal knob. My example also featured an exposed, matte-finish wood trim that I enjoyed more than the T8's metal.
Despite the nearly 100 horsepower disparity, the T6 also felt quite lively in its most dynamic drive mode. The acceleration isn't as effortless as the electric torque supplied by the hybrid, but is still plentiful enough to reach 62 mph from a standing start in just 6.1 seconds. The feel of the XC90's eco and sport modes is just as night-and-day as that of the T8 model -- make sure you've got your foot off of the gas pedal when switching modes, the difference is that dramatic.
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The XC90's drive modes make other vehicle adjustments beyond just the responsiveness and power of the engine. Eco mode, for example, tweaks the performance of the climate control system to more efficiently use air conditioning. Additionally, the settings can also adjust the ride height of the optional air suspension. Eco to sport progressively lower the ride from the baseline comfort setting; and the off-road setting, which is only available at low speeds, raises the suspension for more ground clearance.
Editors' note: We've recently been able to spend more time with the 2016 Volvo XC90 T6 Inscription and have updated our first drive preview to a full
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