Volvo Reveals the 2016 XC90 Ahead of its Official Debut

2015 Volvo XC90 exterior (Credit: © Volvo)

After leaks essentially ruined Volvo’s closely guarded XC90, the Scandinavian company decided to give us a full overview of the new crossover. First up is the striking, new look of the XC90. Gone is the old and boring look of the boxy crossover and in comes a sleeker look that is still distinctly Volvo, but that looks less like it belongs in the late 1990s. The new “Thor’s Hammer” LED daytime running lights make themselves known and appear as if they will become a signature of the brand. Additionally, the new, tattoo-like taillight design will also make its way across the entire range of Volvos in the coming years. Under the hood, Volvo outlined a pair of powertrains. The base setup looks to be a supercharged and turbocharged 2.0-liter engine that cranks out an impressive 316 horsepower. Volvo is touting this engine as not only a great performer, but also good on fuel and easy on the environment. The second powertrain is the Twin Engine Plug-In Hybrid, which will combine a 2.0-liter supercharged and turbocharged engine with an electric motor to deliver 400 horsepower and only 60 g/km of CO2 emissions. As with all Volvos, expect the XC90 to be among the safest vehicles on the road. It will be the first vehicle ever to offer run-off road protection and auto braking at intersections. The former safety feature senses if the drive runs off of the road and tightens the seatbelts to keep the passengers snug in their seats and better avoid injuries. The latter will actually stop the vehicle if you attempt to pull out in front of a car that is traveling too fast.

2015 Volvo XC90 interior (Credit: © Volvo)

Of course, the XC90 will also be uber luxurious on the inside. It will feature leather and wood in spades, a tablet-like touchscreen that houses nearly all of the controls, making the cabin clean and nearly free of buttons, and a crystal glass gear shifter. It will also have an available Bowers & Wilkins audio system with 19 speakers and 1,400 watts of power. Despite all of these features and luxury, the 2016 XC90 will remain relatively affordable, as the XC90 T6 AWD will base at just $48,900. This trim level comes standard with high-end features like navigation, 19-inch wheels and a panoramic sunroof. Full pricing details will come later and deliveries will kick off in the spring in 2015.