I’ve finally found the vehicle of my dreams. Not that I sit and dream of cars very often, but once you drive the Volvo XC90 you can’t get rid of the feeling that anything else is a step down. I even feel a little guilty when I think of putting my family into my current car, as the safety features of the Volvo are, without question, the best available.
The XC90 is the first vehicle I’ve driven that made me think I could live in it, never mind drive it every day. Not that it is large, it isn’t. It’s the perfect size – very spacious yet it doesn’t feel like a huge vehicle to drive. This Volvo feels as if it were designed just for me. I have trouble pinpointing the exact features that make it so good. This time of year the heated seats are something that, I’m ashamed to admit, matter more to me than almost anything else. Anything, that is, except its safety features. With roll stability control, side impact protection and power-assisted rack and pinion steering, I know that no matter how terrible the conditions, my family will be safe.
A few weeks ago we took the XC90 for a weekend test-drive up to Collingwood. I was a little worried about the driving conditions but figured it would be a good test of the car and, if we were in an accident, it would give me quite an interesting article. Thankfully, we did not end up in the ditch despite my poor driving record.
The highways were covered with blowing snow and every so often we passed a car that had slid off into the ditch. It was the white-knuckle kind of road trip, or could have beenwere I not driving the XC90.
Volvo has created an elegance that can’t be matched, an elegance that is extremely hard to describe without sounding a wee bit nuts. The XC90 feels strong and sturdy and yet light and manageable. Cornering doesn’t make you feel as if you’re plastered against the inside of the vehicle and it has enough power to easily accelerate out of a tight situation. The ride is a little higher than in a car but you don’t get the wobbly sensation that comes from the higher gravity point of many SUVs and trucks.
What struck me most about our journey north was the feeling of comfort. The blowing snow and ice felt far beyond us. The XC90 tunneled through it gracefully. We were safe and untouched, driving as if in a space ship soaring over dangerous terrain.
The XC90 also has an electronic AWD (all wheel drive) system that maintains the best possible driving characteristics, which means that if one tire hits ice and loses traction, the system will automatically adjust to compensate. Our drive was over very slippery highways but I didn’t run into the slipping or sliding that I normally encounter. I felt more stable in the XC90 than I would have trying to walk in those conditions.
I have yet to mention the stereo system, which is almost as good as our home system. An added feature is that the volume automatically turns down when you shift into reverse. All this time I thought I was the only person who turned down the stereo when they backed up.
And speaking of backing up, when you’re in reverse in the XC90, you hear a very helpful little beeping when you get close to anything else. No more excuses for bumping the car behind you while parking.
When I think about the dream features I want in a vehicle, safety is my top priority. I once dated an undertaker whose job entailed collecting bodies from traffic accidents. Snow and rain meant a busy day. He told me that he picked up more bodies crushed in cars or thrown out on the road than from anywhere else – hospitals included. This image has stuck with me. The more I think of it, the more I realize how important safety is.
The next priority I have is comfort. My husband and I often take long trips. We enjoy driving, and being able to stretch out in the passenger seat while your partner drives is an important feature. As is a good stereo system and space enough for skis, hockey equipment, luggage and plenty of passengers. At one point on our ski trip, we were able to fit my husband and nephew in the back fold-down seats, with my niece and me in front of them and my sister and brother-in-law in the front.
In the XC90, Volvo has created a vehicle that’s elegant, powerful and safe. It’s perfect for a life full of children, travel and distant horizons.
Image courtesy Volvo
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