Volvo XC90 D5 AWD Active Geartronic 5dr Car Review - January 2012

Similar to the Volvo XC90 D5 AWD Executive, this vehicle gives a soft and pleasant drive, its supple suspension making it a smooth ride on most roads. Its 6-speed gearbox in automatic is just about strong enough for the cars’ size, though it can be a little hesitant at low revs.

TheXC90 has a 20 valves diesel engine and a 2400cc in-line 5-cylinder, producing a 197 bhp at 3900 rpm and torque figures of 309 lb-ft at 2000-2750 rpm. As with the other XC90 Volvo’s, it reaches a top speed of 127mph and covers 0-60 mph in 10.3 seconds, the only drawback here being that the diesel engine is a little louder than other Volvo’s.

Unlike most 4x4s the XC90 D5 AWD Active doesn’t suffer excessively in high winds, but like most 4x4s, the performance can be a little sluggish at times and poor turning circles make it hard to manoeuvre in small spaces.

With regards to looks, this version of the XC90 is not bad. On the outside, it’s smart, sleek and stylish. On the inside, airy and comfortable enough to sit for long spaces of time with ease.

Surprisingly for its size, the Volvo XC90 Active manages to hide its bulk, though it still manages a strong image. Bright, metallic paint glossed over a sleek and strong body makes for a striking design. The 4x4 car’s standard interiors consist of seven decent seats and a large boot space trimmed to perfection, though without the snazzy leather seats of the XC90 D5 AWD Executive version.

Unlike the Executive however, the Volvo XC90 D5 AWD Active has the additional MP3 connectivity, CD as standard, as well as power-steering, central locking, 17 inch alloy wheels, stability control, climate control, electric door mirrors, electric front windows, cruise control and rear-parking sensors. Blue tooth is an extra £275 while sat-nav is an extra £525.

The XC90 D5 AWD Active is incredibly safe, reliable and practical with a maximum 5 stars for Euro NCAP, great visibility, and loads of space. Volvo have managed to mix comfort with style with this XC90 range as the XC90 Active not only looks classy, but can withstand long journeys and it built to last.

A true family car, the 4x4 is known for its stability and practicality, and comes with a 3 year warranty or 60,000 miles which adds all the more security as it proves Volvo’s faith in its vehicles.

Cheaper than the Volvo XC90 Executive, the Volvo XC90 D5 AWD Active is priced at £35.175, making it nearly a whole £10,000 less expensive even though both cars do pretty much the same things when break down the logistics. It definitely represents the best balance in terms of cost and features in the XC90 range.

Unfortunately, being a large car the Volvo XC90 D5 AWD Active has unavoidable high CO2 emissions of 219g/km, putting it in the tax bracket K. By nature 4x4s are also uneconomical, even if the diesel engine cuts costs slightly (around £19 for 100miles).

However due to being in such high demand and thanks to its outstanding reliability and security, insurance ratings are pretty low and depreciation costs are barely noticeable. You could probably buy a used Volvo XC90 D5 AWD Active from £28,235, which is barely any less than the cost of a new one.