My first professional review where I drive legally on the road in someone else’s car – and what a way to kick it off – in the ultimate Swedish/Japanese fusion Sleeper! See YouTube for my full video review, or TikTok and Instagram for a short, snappy and sweet version or keep reading for the review in written form. This specific car is also currently for sale with the fantastic Horton Cars, Volvo specialists between Oxford and Aylesbury.
The safest car in the world – beastified
The go to statistic when discussing an XC90 of any sort is the ‘did you know no one has ever died in an XC90. There’s a couple of variations of the car though where that may not be the first port of call to wow someone: maybe the newer hT8 models that use a turbocharged and supercharged 2.0 4 Cylinder block, as well as an electric motor. Or for the enthusiast who is enthused by more traditional means of automotive enthusiasm, this should certainly do the job.
Under the bonnet of RA11 KLO is a unique engine used in only 2 Volvo models – the S80, and this, the XC90 V8. Designed by Volvo in Sweden and built by Yahama in Japan, it uses a rare transverse configuration for the 4.4 litres of naturally aspirated V8-age. Official figures state 311 BHP and 440 NM of torque – figures that are in no way mind-boggling, but get the car to 60 in an adequate 6.8 seconds. You’re unimpressed, aren’t you? Well don’t be because numbers aren’t everything and that is most definitely the case with this car. It was not built for numbers, it was made for experience. An experience that I can only describe as Volvo on steroids. If you’ve driven or owned numerous Volvos then I’m sure you’ll not what I mean by a Volvo experience – if not, allow me to explain. Volvo experience means a comfortable and sensible, while being capable in nye on any scenario, be that on a twisty, carrying lots of people or things down a motorway, or nipping the kids to school before a trip to Tesco. Everything I just listed, the XC90 does with overwhelming ease. The XC90 V8 on the other hand does it with both overwhelming ease and smile-forcing fun.
The superb sound of that V8 combined with the car’s plentiful pulling power and sublime suspension setup that makes minimal fuss of all road elements from speed bumps and potholes to tight twisty bends means this is a genuinely fun to drive Volvo SUV. D5 cars and whatnot are by no means boring, but do that have sound and pull of a V8 – no.
The V8 is also the ultimate sleeper due to the minimal styling differences between the smaller engine cars. And by minimal I mean literally 1 or 2. If you get a well specced R – design car like RA11 KLO but in D5 guise you lose the V8 badge at the back and some V8 models get V8 on the grille. That is literally it. Very Volvo, doesn’t shout “LOOK AT ME!” like many rivals would but ensures an eagle Volvo eye would recognise a special car and above all, that those inside are happy.
The controls are well thought out, easy to find and easy to use and the car has everything you could ever need: sat nav, heated seats, parking sensors, air con – the lot (and this car doesn’t even have that many added options.) Seats are, of course, as comfortable as your grandma’s old arm chair and the materials and cabin as a whole has an air of quality and durability, instilling peace of mind everywhere.
Wrapping up
There’s really not much to dislike about the car, even MPG figures were impressive for 2011 4.4L V8 7 seater, beating the official figures by about 2 and a bit MPG with my average for the day being nearly 23MPG and I didn’t exactly cruise gently all day.
As mentioned, for a more detailed and visual look at the car, take a look at YouTube – maybe slightly biased but I’d say its worth the watch…