MEDICUS MARCH 2016

D R I V E VOLVO XC90: INSCRIPTION D5

Staying true to its essence

Dr Peter Randell

W ith 196,276 car accidents in Western Australia in a five-year period, we all face significant risks of being involved in one of them. Does this new Volvo decrease that risk? More on that later. For now let me say, the all-new Volvo XC90 looks good – from those hammer-of-Thor running lights on the nose to the chrome- plated twin exhaust pipes and tall Volvo signature taillights at the rear. Within the spacious cabin, all is class. The fully-electric leather seats are cossetting, with extendable thigh supports and provide a characteristic high view point. A big portrait-layout touch-screen dominates the central column, and digital dials fill the driver’s second screen above the smart steering wheel. Seats in the second row have individual slide and rake controls, with a child- friendly booster seat cleverly built in centrally…along with a specific safety belt. This IS a Volvo! The outer two seats fold easily to access the third row, which is best suited to children. For a nearly two-tonne all-wheel-drive vehicle, performance was remarkably spritely; such have been the advances in engines recently.

diesel engine drives the D5, and a similarly-sized petrol unit is in the T6 variant. ‘My’ diesel produces 165kW and 470Nm of torque, yet with features like stop- start technology and low-friction internal components, driving through an eight- speed automatic gearbox, economy of 6.2l/100km is claimed by Volvo. The geek in you will be well satisfied with the XC90. The central infotainment system can be voice controlled after selecting the menu. A 19-speaker Bowers and Wilkins sound system with a lithotrophic 1400Watts of power has been designed about the acoustics of Sweden’s best concert hall, using ‘acoustic holography’. The Head Up Display shows speed, fuel level and sat-nav directions, with the map being brilliantly displayed on the large central tablet-like touch screen. Apple Car Play will also use the central screen to access your iPhone. USB and power sockets are de rigeur, of course. Now to the essence of a Volvo – safety. This company has led the automotive world with more than a dozen innovations, since taken up by

governments worldwide as essential items. Take a deep breath. City Safety to pick up potential collisions with cars/cyclists/pedestrians; 360 degree Surround Intellisafe; intelligent cruise control; lane drift correction; Cross Traffic Alert; Park Assist Pilot; Rear Collision Warning (when a menace from behind is detected approaching at a dangerous speed, brakes are applied at rest to minimise whiplash, hazard lights go into Fast Flash Warning and front belts tighten); and Run Off Road protection (belts pull on hard in anticipation of a rollover). Then there are the seats which have reinforced bases and shock-absorbing structures to soften hard landings with severe vertical forces, a Blind Spot Indicating System and the more mundane Electronic Stability Control and Anti- locking Brakes. With its impressive finish, performance and comfort, the new Volvo XC90’s safety features should see it raise the bar that extra notch, pushing SUV sales higher and accident rates lower.

RRP $96,950; Vehicle supplied by Barbagallo Volvo Cannington.

Driving Mode allows selection of three levels of performance – Comfort, Sport

and Classic. A two-litre twin turbo-charged

Powerful: For a nearly two-tonne all-wheel-drive vehicle, performance was remarkably spritely.

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