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The X and Q factors
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The Volvo XC90 is here. Can it take on the BMW X5 and the Audi Q7? Ouseph Kallivayalil finds out
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CLASH OF TITANS The diesel-powered engines of (from top to bottom) BMW X5, Audi Q7 and Volvo XC 90
Nothing will get you attention on the road like being seated in a massive SUV. In August 2007, we drove the Volvo XC90 in the U.K. and at the time, the car hadn’t yet come to Indian shores. The XC90 has arrived here. Though an impressive SUV, i
t faces competition from the likes of the BMW X5 and the Audi Q7. Can the Volvo get past such tough competition and make a place for itself in the Indian market?
All three SUVs here are diesel-powered and as far as visual drama or impact is concerned, all three will be sure to grab attention. The XC90 has a wide stance and exudes confidence; the BMW has sharp looks as well. However, of the three, it is the Q7 that will garner the most attention and might even invoke fear in the onlooker. And why not? It is a huge vehicle; more than 5 metres long that could easily fit into a living room. The X5 maintains the identity of the earlier car but has a bit too many derivates from the older version. Therefore, the new car can easily be confused as the older, face-lifted X5. At the rear, it is the XC90 that wins; its tall lights and the exquisite detailing make you go ‘wow’.
Enough space
The XC90 is for those who prefer space more than others things. It has the width of the Volvo B7R (intercity bus) and it also has the most comfortable front seats of the three cars. But, while Volvo scores high on space, the best-quality interiors belong to the BMW. You won’t find any cheap bits on the X5 and the brushed metal, wood and leather are of top quality and everything is solidly built. The X5 comes with a chunky steering wheel and everything from the central console to the power controls works efficiently. The 5-series-like ‘tap-for-shift’ gear selector is almost a work of art and the iDrive knob that controls the screen has a superb finish too. While the XC90 has the best front seats, the Audi scores highest with regard to back seat comfort. The seat is well contoured and there is a good amount of thigh support. And if you are not using the third row of seats, which will be very often, legroom is almost at limousine levels.
Driving pleasure
When one compares any car with a BMW, the Bimmer, at least in the drive parameter, usually wins. So it isn’t a big surprise that the X5 is definitely the car that drives the best in this contest. The old X5 set the benchmark for SUV agility and the new X5 retains all the qualities of the older car. The weighty feel may not be traffic-friendly, but once congestion opens up, it is a treat. There is almost no slack in the steering and, even as you go faster, the weighty feel and instant responses remain. And grip is insanely high as well, the X5 being able to hold onto speeds that few SUVs can attain while cornering.
The BMW may be the best SUV to drive, with or without the Adaptive Drive, but the massive Q7 is not far behind. The steering is very light and direct and this actually makes it effort-free to drive in the city. You do lose some important feel and feedback from the wheel, but once you’re up to speed, body control is so good that the car just shrinks around you. The Volvo drives well too; superbly in isolation, actually. It feels like a stable and grippy platform and the brakes work well too.
But when compared to the other two, the XC90 feels only average. The steering is not as communicative, body control not as sharp and it just feels a tad softer all round.
Of the three, the BMW also has the more sporty-sounding diesel. More of a ‘teeth gnashed in a snarl’ than the V6 turbine-whoosh of the Audi or Volvo’s discordant in-line five, it’s a note you can almost like and look forward to. All three SUVs use six-speed gearboxes.
So who wins the contest? Without a doubt; the Q7! The Audi is the best overall car here; it offers the most comfort, looks the most imposing and is agile and easy to drive. The interiors of the Audi might not be as good as the Bimmer, but is a close second. Then it goes one up on the rest with that fantastic air suspension that allows you to put the car in ‘Dynamic’, ‘Comfort’ or ‘Lift’ for good clearance. Though the X5 has better interiors and a slightly better drive, as an all-rounder, the Q7 beats it. In addition, the Bimmer is much more expensive. That leaves us with the XC90. The Volvo is a solid and dependable vehicle though it doesn’t have too many features and options compared to the German SUVs.
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